Foundation Cracks And Leaks: How to Protect Your Home In New York

House foundations are built to last for generations. But this doesn’t mean that the wet and cold weather in the state of New York can't cause cracks and leaks. Hiring a local experienced contractor for an inspection and repair estimate can help you stay on top of water and moisture problems that originate in the foundation of your house.

Moisture is one of the biggest damaging factors to your home. Both ground water seepage and rainwater can enter the foundation of the house, causing considerable damage to your home.

A well-built house needs a solid base structure and sealing this foundation is one of the most important aspects of construction. Without proper sealing, your home is vulnerable to moisture as it seeps in through the floors and walls of the foundation. This can lead to future problems such as serious mildew and mold problems that can contribute to health issues.

What is Foundation Sealing?

The goal of sealing is to waterproof the foundation so that construction materials stay dry and unaffected by moisture and gases in the soil. The process of sealing house foundations will vary depending on where you live based on annual temperature, amount of rainfall, and the composition of soil.

Sealing is done using specific materials and construction methods:

• Applying a drain board and mastic coating to seal the exterior wall of the foundation.
• Installation of drain tile at the footing of the foundation to divert water away from the house structure.
• Poly membrane sealed over the gravel fill before basement flooring is poured.
• Sealing the edges of poly membrane to stop moisture and gases from seeping into your home.

Detecting Foundation Damage

Older homes need to be checked regularly for any damage to the foundation. If you notice any of these signs, contact a structural engineer for an inspection to determine if you can seal cracks yourself or need the help of a professional:

• Misaligned doors or windows.
• Jammed doors or windows that are difficult to open.
• Bulging or sloping floors.
• Cracks in ceilings, doors, or windows.
• Exterior cracks.

Repairing and sealing the foundation can be a complicated job, even when you know what existing problems need to be fixed. Hiring a professional to do the work for you ensures that it’s done right. Contact a HomeAdvisor expert and waterproofing company in the state of New York to learn more about foundation sealing to maintain and reinforce the structural integrity of your home.

This Patch article is sponsored by HomeAdvisor