Having a properly graded yard is essential for maintaining a healthy and functional home. Proper grading ensures that water flows away from your home's foundation, preventing water damage, flooding, and soil erosion. Over time, however, the grading around your home can deteriorate or become uneven, leading to potential problems.
Here are some signs that your home may need to be regraded:
Water pooling around your home
If you notice standing water or puddles forming near the foundation of your home after rain or irrigation, it could be a sign that your yard is not properly graded. When water pools or saturates the soil around your foundation, it can lead to foundation damage. The excess water can cause the soil to expand, exerting pressure on the foundation walls and potentially causing cracks, heaving, or shifting of the foundation.
Erosion and soil displacement
Improper grading can result in soil erosion, where water washes away the topsoil from around your foundation, leaving the foundation walls exposed. This can weaken the foundation and make it more susceptible to damage. Proper grading with appropriate slopes and drainage systems helps to minimize soil erosion, preserving the integrity of the soil around your foundation.
Protects against frost heaving
In Iowa with the freezing temperatures, frost heaving can occur when water in the soil freezes and expands, causing the soil and foundation to heave upwards. Improper grading can exacerbate frost heaving by allowing water to collect around the foundation, leading to potential damage. Proper grading helps to minimize water accumulation and reduces the risk of frost heaving.
Cracks in the foundation
Check your home's foundation for any cracks or gaps. If you notice new cracks or widening of existing cracks, it could be a sign that the soil around your foundation is shifting due to improper grading. When water is not properly directed away from the foundation, it can cause soil to expand and contract, leading to foundation damage.
Prevents uneven settling
When water accumulates around your foundation due to poor grading, it can cause uneven settling of the soil beneath the foundation. This can result in an unstable foundation, leading to uneven floors, cracked walls, and other structural issues. Proper grading helps to prevent uneven settling and ensures that the soil beneath your foundation remains stable and compact.
Basement moisture or mold issues
If you have a basement, be vigilant for signs of moisture or mold growth. Excess water due to poor grading can seep into basements, leading to dampness, musty odors, and mold growth. Mold can be harmful to your health and can also cause structural damage to your home.
Uneven or sloping surfaces
Walk around your yard and check for any areas that are noticeably uneven or sloping towards your home. Ideally, the ground should slope away from your home's foundation to direct water away from it. If you notice areas where the ground is sloping towards your home or is not properly leveled, it may indicate that your yard needs to be regraded.
Water damage or erosion in other areas of your property
Aside from the immediate area around your home, check other parts of your property for signs of water damage or erosion. This could include washed-out areas, ruts, or gullies forming in your yard, driveway, or walkways. These signs may indicate that water is not being properly directed away from those areas, which could require regrading to prevent further damage.
Contact a foundation professional for a Solution
Proper grading is essential for protecting your home's foundation from potential damage caused by water, soil erosion, uneven settling, frost heaving, and other issues. It helps to ensure that water is directed away from your foundation, keeping it dry and stable. If you notice signs of improper grading around your home, it's important to address them promptly to maintain the integrity of your foundation and prevent costly repairs in the future. Consulting with a professional Basement waterproofing company can help you assess your foundation needs and provide an estimate for the appropriate solutions for your home.
How to find a reputable contractor for foundation repair
When it comes to foundation repair, it is important to find a qualified and reputable contractor who can accurately assess the damage and provide quality repairs. Be sure to ask for references, BBB ratings and read reviews online to make sure that the contractor you choose has a good track record of successful projects.
When done correctly, foundation repair can provide significant benefits for homeowners by ensuring the safety and security of their homes. Do your research and contact a reputable contractor to have them evaluate your home’s foundation and discuss any necessary repairs. With the right contractor on the job, you can rest assured that your home is safe and secure for years to come.
If you’re in Des Moines IA, or surrounding areas you can’t go wrong contacting BAM Basements and Masons for foundation repair, basement waterproofing, and basement wall repair services. We are a BBB A+ company with over 30 years of experience fixing all types of foundation issues. Contact us today to learn more.