Your home's foundation supports your entire property. However, over time, the elements can take a toll on the structure, leaving it vulnerable to water damage and dangerous cracks. For example, when a rigid material like stone or concrete gets wet, the repeated expansion of water freezing and thawing can form cracks in the material and force them wider. For this reason, keeping your home’s lowest level dry in winter is essential to avoid a cracked foundation. Here are some of the best ways to prevent excess moisture.

How to Prevent a Cracked Foundation

1. Shovel Snow

Snowmelt from your roof and from paved areas near your home can run off into nearby sections of soil, including the soil around your foundation. This can saturate the soil, especially when all the snowmelt from a large area like a roof or driveway is concentrated into a small area of the ground. When the soil is wet enough, the water will seep into the neighboring foundation, potentially leading to severe water damage and cracks. Shoveling snow off your roof and away from nearby ground areas helps reduce the amount of snowmelt that reaches your foundation to avoid more serious damage.

2. Drainage & Gutters

If you’re not able to shovel snow before it melts, the next best option is to redirect the meltwater somewhere harmless. Quality rain gutters that undergo maintenance every year can channel water from your property to a safer spot, such as a rain barrel, a drain, or a channel sloping away from your home. If you still have issues with wet soil near the home, either due to water from your downspout or snow melting on the ground, you can also add solutions such as a drainage ditch or sloped landscaping to move water away from the house.

3. Waterproofing

Concrete is a porous material, which allows it to absorb large amounts of water. However, treating the surface of your foundation with a water-resistant coating seals the small pores and prevents them from absorbing liquid, reducing the risk of cracks. Consult with a local basement waterproofing company to inspect your foundation and apply a sealant such as bitumen or acrylic coating. However, you'll need to seal the structure before any cracks form since once you have a cracked foundation, you'll need repairs in addition to waterproofing.

If you have a cracked foundation in the Tri-State Area, call Reliable Crack Injection. Based in Cincinnati, OH, for over 20 years, owner Randy Bientz handles all calls personally and is available on nights and weekends to make sure your home is safe and secure. He offers discounts for multiple cracks, as well as a 20-year guarantee on his work. To get a free estimate, call (513) 368-4366, or learn more about his services online.