Your foundation forms the structural basis of your home, and thus must be protected at all costs. You can’t let the slightest landscaping snafus negatively impact your
foundation in any way. That’s why you should heed these seven landscaping tips that will protect your foundation.
- Plant trees away from your foundation. Your trees’ root systems are far-reaching and complex. They’re very large and obtrusive, and can grow under and around your foundation. This causes a lot of damage and brings a lot of moisture to those roots – something you never want more of as a homeowner.
- Respect drains and outlets. If you have a drain in your yard, it should stay put. Indeed, it was installed there for a reason, so leave it undisturbed. Even if you don’t like the look of it, avoid planting flowers or bushes around it, as this restricts drainage. In turn, this seemingly harmless act can cause foundation damage.
- Improve your gutters. Install gutter extensions to encourage water flow five feet or more away from your foundation. You can install underground downspouts to encourage flow even further out than that. Keep your gutters free from leaves and other debris, or else this can lead to overflow and pooling water. Be on the lookout for gaps, holes, or leaks in your gutters.
- Leave some foundation exposure. You may think it’s unsightly, but you should avoid covering up your entire foundation with vegetation or other ornamental objects. Be sure to leave a few inches that are visible so you are able to check on your foundation every so often.
- Slope flower beds away from your foundation. Inspect the grade on your landscaping to ensure water won’t pool around the house. Your foundation could fall victim to erosion if you don’t have the correct slope.
- Water evenly. If just one portion of your yard is landscaped, the soil there will tend to expand because you’re watering it more often. Soil expansion results in foundation cracks, which is why you should water your entire property evenly, regardless of what’s landscaped. This will protect your foundation against invasions of moisture or even lack of water in times of drought. When considering which plants to use in your landscape, go with deep-rooted plants over shallow-rooted ones, which can erode very quickly.
- Mulch the flower beds. Mulch locks in moisture and will thus prevent the soil around your home from drying out too quickly. Extremely dry soil can cause movement around your foundation, another no-no.
Contact Aftermath Structural Repair
For more tips on how to protect your foundation, or to learn more about our foundation repair services,
contact us at 281-231-8904. We can help with a variety of solutions to protect your landscape, home and foundation.
