Why You Should Practice Preventative Maintenance For Pier & Beam Foundations

Foundation Repair Prevention Now, Saves You $$ Later.

The best foundation is the one that you don’t have to think about. With concrete piers and beams, your house fits snugly into its own little world where all of its parts are in plain sight for easy maintenance–including those pesky crawl spaces! As a bonus (or perhaps because they’re so obvious?), insects can go more quickly with this type of foundation than slabs or block walls. There’s nothing between them but dirt/cementless space; no hidden crevices may harbor pests like termites who love eating away at our homes’ structural integrity over time.

Water Is Great To See In Every Place Except Your Foundation

We are talking about drainage, the slow killer of foundations of any type. Ensuring proper drainage to prevent any issues from occurring later is key in foundation repair prevention. Foundation problems are a surefire way to ruin your house. It is vital to keep your foundation solid and water-resistant.

Since piers are exposed, they must have good drainage not only for them but also for any other features or parts of the house that could be damaged by moisture seepage from below. A home is only as solid and sturdy as its foundation. Meaning that a sound drainage system will keep moisture from seeping through into the structure, which can lead to rot or termites in wood (or even mold). You do not want to have water pooling under your house. A good drainage system and regular maintenance will help keep this from happening!

Foundation Damage Checks

Adjusting your piers and beams regularly, as recommended by us, is one of the most excellent methods to make sure that your crawl space foundation stays in excellent working order. Compared with concrete-slab foundations, pier and beam foundations have fewer support points. As a result, they aren’t as robust as other foundation types and require additional attention.

We understand how terrible it is to hear that, but misaligned piers and beams can lead to astronomically expensive difficulties with your house if left ignored. A mantra we say at the office and on our website is, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”—and potentially hundreds of dollars—with this foundation style.

Careful Of Any Standing Water

Water is the most common cause of foundation damage and weakening and an easy fix to get ahead of foundation repair prevention. It can come in through cracks on our perimeter grade beams or from above, like roofs or siding that have been improperly installed causing rot; then there are bacteria to consider as well. Next, the soil softens up around piers, which causes gradual settlement over time. Until structural problems arise with walls, it will eventually be leading to total failure if left unchecked and repaired. Always let a foundation repair company know about any standing water near your foundation before they come to do the inspection.

Gutters And Downspouts Need To Be Checked Also

The ground around your foundation should not have any gutters discharged directly onto it, as this could lead to significant structural problems inside the house if there’s even a tiny movement in just one pier! If there is any water discharge, it is recommended to be 5 feet from your home. If you do have a garden close to the house, drains must be installed to ensure that water is effectively drained. Outside bedding like peat, mulch, and barks often retains more moisture. So be mindful and aware.

Crawl In The Crawl Space

Inspecting the crawl space is a great way to ensure that your home’s structural integrity doesn’t suffer from any unnoticed movement. After every six months, notice if there are signs of degradation in this area and address it as soon as possible before more severe damage occurs!

Trench Drains for Digging

Drains are always a good idea because they can help prevent soil from becoming wet. This will reduce movement in the ground and limit damage during heavy flooding or any other unexpected circumstances that may cause rain, not just thunderstorm floods!

Contact Childers Leveling For All Your Foundation Repair

Foundation Needs

It’s always a good idea to get an expert opinion on whether you’re dealing with foundation problems or just settling. Most owners will never think about their foundations until there is something wrong. But this can differentiate between knowing what needs fixing and wasting time and energy trying other things first! Consult with the best foundation repair prevention experts around, so you know what will work well for your foundation. Contact Childers Leveling today at (800) 299-9563 or online and schedule your FREE 27 point analysis of your foundation.