For many years, I had no idea what a damage contractor even was. However, all that changed when a pan of hot oil caught fire in my kitchen and set fire to my house. Half of the property was completely destroyed by the fire but thankfully, my family made it out OK. Once the fire service had finished doing what they needed to do, I called in a team of damage contractors who helped to clean up the property and to demolish the parts which could not be saved. I have since rebuilt the house on the same plot of land.
The house you have inherited from your grandparents or parents is an asset that needs to be well maintained. With housing costs at an all-time high, people are looking for ways they can cut down on rental payments. Through inheritance, you can focus your income on other high priority expenses. However, the sign of relief is only guaranteed if you understand that the strength of a house lies on its foundation. As such, you must keep a keen eye on the condition of your inherited house's foundation especially if it is an old home. This article highlights the possible causes of damage and the steps toward foundation repair.
Extreme Evaporation From Trees -- If there are large trees near and around the foundation of your house, then you need to be careful how you handle them. Extreme evaporation from the leaves leads to dehydration; therefore, the trees' roots go deeper in search of water. First, as roots sink deeper, they loosen the soil, which weakens the foundation. Secondly, roots have the capability of breaking through a foundation's walls, which can be seen through a crack on the surface of the floor. As such, make sure that you keep the trees watered to avoid extreme evaporation. It will control the growth of roots and protect your old foundation.
Plumbing Leaks -- Once you are done with the paperwork of your inherited home, ensure that you make a thorough check on the plumbing system inside and outside the house. Specifically, make sure that there are no leaks in the plumbing system underneath the house. If there are leaks, the moisture will soak the foundation and make it weak over time. It will lead to erosion, which causes foundation shift thereby resulting in fault lines on the floor. In such cases, call a contractor to ascertain the condition of the foundation especially if it is an old house.
Poor Drainage -- When there is poor drainage around the house, water will settle on specific spots on the compound and cause the soil to shift to that area, thereby drawing soil from the foundation. This shift creates an uneven support as erosion washes away soil from the foundation walls. When this happens, you will notice cracks on walls as the foundation shifts against the stationary walls. Therefore, you want to make sure that any water that finds its way to the compound has an outlet route. For example, build drainage channels around your inherited house. This way, even rainwater will drain away from the foundation quickly.
Share6 November 2017
