The foundation is an essential part of your home. It supports everything else—floors, walls, windows, doorways, and the roof. So, when you are dealing with foundation issues, countless other problems can occur.
In particular, roof and foundation problems tend to go hand in hand. When the foundation moves, so does your roof—and dealing with a roofing problem can be a difficult, expensive nightmare.
To protect the structural integrity of your house, proper care of your foundation is essential. By protecting your foundation, you will also be safeguarding your roof.
Here are a few ways foundation issues can result in roof damage and steps you can take to prevent them from happening.
Foundation Settlement
Most houses settle over time, no matter what type of foundation they are built on. This is due to the concrete expanding and contracting in hot and cold weather as well as soil getting wet and drying out over and over again. This can cause a number of warning signs, from doors and windows no longer closing properly to your roof’s ridgeline becoming wavy.
Inadequate Drainage
Foundation settlement can also be caused by inadequate drainage, whether that means your gutters are clogged or your downspouts are too close to the foundation. Drainage can become even more of a problem for those who have houses built on clay soil because the expansion on clay soil can cause your foundation to move.
Know that the Dry Basement® team can inspect your yard, checking for issues with sloping terrain and water pooling. We will create a plan of action for waterproofing your basement. This plan will be backed by our Better-than-Lifetime® Guarantee to keep your basement dry.
Tree Roots
The growth of trees around your home can pose a threat to the structural integrity of your home. Roots that grow too close to the foundation absorb moisture, leading to moisture loss around and under your home. As a result, the soil begins shrinking—negatively impacting the foundation’s stability. If your foundation becomes unstable, this can also make your roof appear saggy or wavy.
Faulty Plumbing
Plumbing failures can also be a good indication of foundation trouble, so be sure to get your plumbing inspected regularly. Small leaks or minor drips can cause costly shifts in your home’s foundation, which can inherently impact your roof.
Be sure to also have a sump pump installed in the basement of your home. Sump pumps collect water in the lowest areas of your basement or crawl space and pump any water away from your foundation. Dry Basement® installs sump pumps with most basement and crawl space waterproofing systems.
Improper Foundation Levels
Foundations need to be properly leveled in order to stand strong. An uneven foundation can lead to a number of issues, from sagging floors to bowed roofs.
Slight tilts in your foundation are normal, but considerable changes will affect the integrity of your home. Soil shifts and movements can contribute to this problem as well. It is important to have someone regularly inspect your foundation to look for improper foundation levels, which we will talk more about below.
Irregular Upkeep and Inspections
Lack of routine maintenance and inspections can lead to serious foundation issues. Having regular inspections can uncover problems that could signal foundation damage or structural issues. When you catch minor problems before they get worse, you save both time and money. You can also check out our common signs of foundation settlement to know when to call for an inspection.
Don’t wait until Foundation Repair is unavoidable!
However, if your foundation needs repair contact Dry Basement®️ Foundation Repair! Our estimators have been trained and certified by licensed structural engineers. They will talk with you, examine your foundation, and develop the best configuration to permanently solve your particular foundation problem. Contact us today. We offer free inspections and written estimates, and service in the Wichita, Columbia, Kansas City, and Des Moines areas!