Ponchatoula Foundation Damage: 5 Drainage Problem Signs

Just about every material problem has signs or symptoms. For example, if you go to start your car and you only hear a “click”—you probably have a dead battery. You can even look a little closer and find smaller clues that point to the cause such as leaving your headlights on overnight. The same is true for your home. If you have recently discovered that your Ponchatoula home has foundation damage, the root cause could be a drainage issue. But what are some of the signs that can signal that you have drainage problems? We’re glad you asked! 

What to Keep an Eye On

Recognizing and identifying these issues before they impact other areas of your home can save you a lot of time and money. If you notice any of these, it may be time to take a closer look at your foundation.

Keep an Eye on Your Landscaping

An easy-to-spot sign of soil not draining properly is precipitation that flows away in sheets, carrying mulch and other elements of your landscaping along with it. This can be remedied fairly easily by manipulating the ground around your landscaping. Building a swale (small, shallow ditch) or berm (mound) can redirect rain away from your foundation and channel it without allowing your mulch to tag along.

Check for Cracks in Your Foundation

You may not notice any at first, but this can be an obvious sign of foundation damage. But repairing the cracks without addressing the cause can be a waste of time and money. Pay special attention to cracks that are larger than 1/8 of an inch. If you notice these growing, you may have a significant problem. Growing cracks indicate foundation distress and likely an underlying drainage problem.

Uncontrolled Downspouts

The amount of rain that your roof and gutters collect has to go somewhere. But if your downspouts don’t channel it away from your home, then it goes straight into the soil adjacent to your foundation. This can cause massive problems as it will both wash away the soil supporting the concrete and also saturate the ground. And in our area, homes are built upon expansive, clay-laden soil which swells with moisture. Adding extensions to channel precipitation away is an easy solution to this problem.

Take a Look in Your Attic

While investigating drainage problems in the attic may seem backward, the clues you find there can give you a great deal of insight into what is happening on the ground. If you have a home with a crawl space, moisture could be building up from poor drainage. This moisture will rise to the top of the home and condense on the underside of the roof. This condensation can create mold and mildew. What better vantage point than the attic? Checking out your attic can not only alert you to potential foundation issues but can also prevent you from having to replace your roof.

Overflowing Gutters

With all of our beautiful oak trees and other foliage around our homes, it doesn’t take long for leaves, sticks, and other debris to fill your gutters. As water flows off of your roof and falls from the sky, it will have no place to go other than over the sides of the gutters. Just like the problems with downspouts, the water falls and collects along your foundation and causes issues. Taking a seasonal look at your gutters can drastically improve your home’s drainage, preventing potential foundation problems.

While these are only a few signs of possible drainage problems, recognizing these and other signs of foundation damage can save you a lot of time and money. 

Does Your Ponchatoula Home Have Foundation Damage?

When choosing a foundation repair company, it’s important to select a local, trusted, and experienced company. One that understands our unique local soil conditions and offers a proven, effective method of repair. For over 30 years, WCK Foundation Repair has repaired and restored foundations for homes across Tangipahoa Parish and South Louisiana. Discover more information about foundation repair and see what we can do to help you with your Ponchatoula foundation damage.

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