The sole role of a housing foundation is to support the weight of the house and to hold other elements of the house (such as the roof and the walls) erect and firmly in place. We are a team of skilled professionals offering services for foundation repair new orleans and professional advice to help our clients avoid drainage issues around the foundation of the house.
A properly maintained foundation must be designed to avoid water seepage into the substructures and the interior foundation which weakens the entire housing structure. A weak housing foundation can cause severe loss of structural strength of a house.
Problems associated with weak foundational structures can be as a result of contraction movements of soil particles caused by continued loss of soil moisture especially during the dry seasons. Plants such as flower gardens near the base of the house also contribute to loss of soil moisture and subsequent destabilization of soil particles.
Additionally, foundation problems are occasioned by uncontrolled drainage around the foundation areas from leaking gutter drains among other plumbing failures. This article provides tips to help one avoid drainage issues with the foundation of the house.
Regular Sprinkle-Watering of the Foundation
The aim of this tip is to maintain the moisture level of the soil around the foundation of the house especially during the dry seasons when the rate of evaporation is high. When the soil is moist, the particles expand and put pressure on the house foundation. On the other hand, dry soil is light in weight and adds considerably less pressure on the foundation.
Common practice recommends watering at least twice a day; once in the morning and once again in the afternoon before sunset. Also, it can be advisable to install a water sprinkler to aid with this important practice.
Install Long Downspouts to Drain Roof Water Away from the Base of the House
A downspout drains roof water collected by the rain gutters to direct the runoff to more appropriate drainage channels. The aim of this tip is to avoid collection of roof water run off at the foundation areas of the house.
Additionally, if the house lacks rain gutters, one can install French Drains around the base of the house such that all roof-water falls and drains into the channeled drains. Surface drains can be quite efficient in draining water away from the house foundation. Larger drains can be designed where the anticipated amount of water runoff is high.
Give the Base Area around the House a Proper Grading
The purpose of grading the soil around the house is to avoid accumulation of water anywhere within 10 feet of the foundation.
Appropriate grading should ensure the soil around the area within 10 feet of the foundation slopes away from the walls of the house by at least 6 inches. The sloping on graded soil forces water downwards and away from the base area of the house.
During grading, one may be advised (if required) to add an extra layer of soil to ensure the proper measure of gradient is achieved. In this case, clay soil is an appropriate type of soil to use because of its small particle sizes and for its poor water seepage characteristics.
Avoid Planting Shrubs Near the Base of the House
Plants are fierce absorbers of soil moisture. Dry soil is often a major cause of earth movements and settling and sinking of the foundational levels which causes cracked walls or collapse of buildings structures in extreme conditions.
To avoid faults with the foundation of the house, it is advisable to plant flowers, trees and other shrubs as far from the foundation of the house as possible.
Having the professional knowledge on how to effectively drain water around the foundation of the house will save the homeowner so much costs on foundation repair.
Additionally, it is never late for our clients to seek repair services and professional guidance from the experts. We are available to all our clients in New Orleans and are eager to talk to you today and provide a guide/estimate. Call us on
Richard Earls
Richard has been involved in construction and foundation repair since 1991. He specializes in repair of homes in the historical Garden District and French Quarter in New Orleans.