Ten Steps to Maintaining Your Foundation

1. Make sure that the soil around your foundation is graded so that the water flows away from the foundation. The soil should drop 4 to 6 inches in 4 to 6 feet.
2. Avoid trapping water against your foundation. Water can be trapped against the building by raised flower beds, using metal edging or other borders that do not have openings to allow water to escape, by sidewalks or other obstructions.
3. Place soaker hoses around your foundation to keep the soil damp during dry periods.
4. Keep the majority of the shrubs around your house under 3 feet tall. Large plants need large amounts of water, which can cause foundation problems.
5. If you have large trees around your house, and the trees are closer to your foundation that the height of the trees, consider installing root barriers to keep the trees from pulling water out from under the foundation.
6. Use the downspout extensions or splash blocks on all downspouts.
7. Make sure that all paved surfaces that border your foundation slope away from your foundation. This is particularly important for pool decks.
8. Keep the soil around your foundation between 2 to 4 inches below the brick line or edge of your siding. The soil helps to hold the water in the ground and reduces seasonal settlement.
9. If your sewers backed up or become blocked, have them tested for leaks. Many times the sewer blockages are caused by roots, which means there are openings in your sewers.
10. Leaking sprinkler lines and pool circulating systems cause foundation problems. Have your systems tested for leaks every two to three years.