Don't Let Soil Erosion Damage Your Foundation
Your foundation must be constructed on firm soil so it can then support your home. But when the soil begins to erode, you might begin to notice various problems with your foundation. Most soil erosion is caused by wind and water. As the soil erodes, a space might form around the foundation where water can collect. The uneven pressure placed on your foundation can also cause foundation damage.
What Causes Soil Erosion?
If you live in a region that receives a lot of rain, the water might wash away the soil around your home. Homes that are built on a slope are more vulnerable to soil erosion due to the force of gravity. However, if your soil is eroding more rapidly than usual, something else might have changed.
Make sure that your home doesn't have a plumbing leak. As the pipe leaks, your soil will be washed away by excess moisture. Also, if a neighbor has a property with drainage issues, the water might flow onto your property and cause soil erosion.
Why Is Soil Erosion a Problem?
If a void forms underneath your foundation, this can cause a dangerous situation. Your floor might become uneven and may bow in certain areas. In more extreme cases, it can cause a total foundation disruption and can cause walls to buckle. Some buildings collapse under these conditions.
What Should Be Done About a Damaged Foundation?
If you suspect that your foundation is damaged and that you have issues with soil erosion, a foundation repair service will be able to help. The process of repairing a foundation is expensive but is also unavoidable.
There are DIY techniques that can fill voids around a foundation. For example, you could fill the void with concrete mortar. But trying to fix your concrete foundation yourself is risky, and it's better to leave the repairs to a professional foundation repair contractor.
What Can Be Done to Stop Soil Erosion?
Besides fixing the foundation, you will need to fix the underlying cause of soil erosion on your property. Your property will need drainage channels installed such as a drain tile. Also, you will need to fix any leaking pipes. Otherwise, your home will continue to lose foundation soil, which is important to the structural integrity of your home.
How Does a Contractor Replace Soil Around a Foundation?
The foundation repair contractor will use one of several methods to fill the void in your foundation such as mudjacking, which is the injection of a sand-cement slurry, or by injecting a polyurethane foam underneath the foundation. They might also replace damaged sections of your foundation to make it as good as new.
Contact a company like Straight Line Construction to learn more.