As most people know, the foundation of any home is a very important thing indeed. After all, without the foundation of a home, its overall structural integrity would be much more greatly challenged. Through the foundation of any given home, we are able to provide stability to the structure, stability that would not otherwise be found. However, there are still numerous considerations to be made when it comes to the stability of any given home. These considerations will range from the actual construction of the foundation to the attention given to it later down the line.
First of all, it is important to invest enough into the foundation at the time that the home is being built. Ideally, at least 8% of the total cost of the home will be spent on the foundation alone. In some cases, as much as 15% will be directed towards the foundation. For many people involved in the world of construction, it is clear that investing enough money into the materials and construction going into the foundation will mean that the foundation itself is higher in quality. Of course, however, this is far from the only thing that must be considered on such matters.
In addition to investing enough money into any given foundation, ensuring that the right type of foundation is ultimately chosen will also be very important. Fortunately, there are a number of different types of popular foundations, ranging from slab foundations to crawlspace foundations to full basement foundations. In parts of the country where soil quality all too easily lends itself to erosion, such as in the state of Florida, a slab foundation is going to be ideal. However, many parts of the midwest find that basement foundations are the best, especially in areas that are particularly prone to severe weather events like tornadoes.
But when you have a basement foundation, there are some additional things that must be considered and kept in mind. For instance, the risk of flooding is a very real one indeed, as up to 98% of all basements found within this country will experience some type of water damage at some point or another. As a matter of fact, more than 35% of all people have lost valuable possessions to flooding and water damage as of the current date – and it is only likely that this number will rise in the future.
Fortunately, there are steps that can be taken to avoid this damage – and the need for a home foundation repair service, for that matter. For one thing, exterior waterproofing services can go a long way towards preventing flood damage. Exterior waterproofing services and other basement waterproofing services, even interior ones, have been shown to have a high return on investment as well, up to 30%. And of course, exterior waterproofing services will almost certainly save you money just by protecting the valuables within your home. If you happen to use your basement space primarily for storage purposes, exterior waterproofing services become only all the more valuable. As a matter of fact, all basements are likely to benefit from exterior waterproofing services.
Of course, even practical day to day steps outside of steps like the application of exterior waterproofing services will also be able to be taken. After all, even just ensuring that your home’s gutters direct the water they funnel at least ten feet away from the home can ensure that no foundation repair services or foundation repair contractor is ever needed. So too can planting your plants and garden at least two feet away from the foundation of your home, if not even further away, for that matter. Ensuring that the plants are not planted too deeply is also ideal, as this will help to ensure that no water is diverted from the roots to your foundation.
At the end of the day, there are many things that can be done when it comes to the care and keeping of the typical foundation. From the building process to its maintenance years down the line, keeping up the quality of one’s foundation will only pay off in the long run.
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