Home & Garden
How To Protect Your Home's Foundation In Georgia
Take care when building new structures to ensure your home's foundation will last a lifetime.
Before starting any new construction, foundation sealing should be front of mind. This requires local knowledge of soil composition, annual rainfall and yearly temperatures. If you are building a new structure on your property, such as a garage or in-law apartment, take care not to disturb your home's foundation.
In Georgia, excavation near foundations requires the foundation is backfilled with soil free of organic material, construction debris and boulders. The backfill should be compacted in a way that does not disturb the foundation or waterproofing. If you are building new, reputable contractors 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.
In new construction, drain tile is installed at the foundation footing 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. This can be thanks to obsolete building techniques or prior 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 red flags, 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 a professional diagnosis. You might make the problem worse by obscuring the issue. A structural engineer isn't going to repair the damage, 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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