Home & Garden
What You Need To Know About Foundation Sealing In California
Every house needs a strong foundation. Here's how to make sure yours is up to snuff.
The process of foundation sealing varies across the country. Soil composition, annual rainfall levels and yearly temperature changes all play a role. This is why California building code requires contractors to enlist a civil engineer to prepare a preliminary soil report. This report will detect any soil problems that could lead to structural defects, if not corrected.
If you are building new, rest assured that your contractor will work through all of these steps to ensure your foundation will last a lifetime. Depending on the soil, moisture and gasses can be prevented through construction techniques like a special mastic coating and drain board on the exterior of the foundation wall.
At the foundation footing, drain tile is installed to redirect water away from the house. Before pouring your basement floor, gravel fill is used beneath the slab with a poly membrane to resist moisture and gasses released from the soil.
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If executed properly, today's techniques will prevent cracks or gaps in the foundation. Where problems can come in, however, is in older homes with obsolete building techniques or owner neglect. If you have an older home, there are some warning signs to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for any cracks in the foundation, sloping floors, or misaligned doors and windows. This can suggest a structural issue that requires immediate attention.
If you spot any of these warning signs, hire a structural engineer on HomeAdvisor to help. Don't try to seal cracks or gaps on your own or with the help of a handyman before letting a professional have a look. You might make the problem worse by obscuring the issue. A structural engineer isn't going to repair the issue, but they are best equipped to diagnose the program and advise how to properly resolve it.
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Once you have a prognosis from a structural engineer, a professional contractor can help take next steps to maintain your home's structural integrity. If you only need to fill gaps to prevent further damage, there are several foams, caulks and fillers on the market that can cheaply and easily get the job done.
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