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How to Use a Drip Hose for Your Foundation

drip house foundation

When you’re a property owner in an area where the temperatures fluctuate, you should be wary of foundation problems. Preventing foundation issues at the onset is essential, to minimize problems in order to stop them from snowballing into extensive, expensive damage. 

If you suspect foundation troubles in your Dallas-area home, it’s a good idea to get in touch with an experienced foundation repair company as soon as possible. 

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Why Every Home Buyer Must Get a Home Inspection

A “dream home” will never stop being something we work towards and want for ourselves one day. However, you must inspect and verify your potential dream home before signing on the dotted line. 

Only then do you have an assurance that the time, effort, and money you invest in your new home is all worth it. To help you understand why a home inspection is an essential part of the home buying process, we have summarized the top reasons for getting one.       

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How Long Do Foundation Repairs Last?

How Long Do Foundation Repairs Last

Are you planning to get foundation repairs in your home?

When your home foundation needs repairs, there’s no point in postponing them. Ignoring the need for foundation fixes leads to increasing repair costs down the line.

Since foundation repairs may demand a considerable expense, many homeowners wonder how long the results last. You don’t want to discover that you need new fixes in a short while.

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What’s the Best Time of Year to have Foundation Repair Done

Are you unsure of when is the best time of year to have foundation repair completed?

Property owners may time repairs according to the expected weather. It makes sense to conduct certain outdoor work—like roofing and landscaping—during the warm and dry months.

Many property owners plan to have foundation repair completed during these months as well. They believe that the fixing of structural faults is easier during certain times of the year. However, this approach may lead to higher repair costs and potential complications down the road.

This article will give an overview of the facets involved in repairing your foundation in different seasons. As a general rule of thumb, the best time to have foundation repair completed on your property is always as soon as possible.

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Foundation Repair Process in 5 Steps

Are you looking to repair your home’s foundation?

The foundation of your house is an essential component. After all, it ensures the structural integrity of your home. Any issues affecting your foundation can threaten the stability of the entire building.

That’s why it’s so important to immediately address any concerns regarding your home’s foundation. It pays to take care of any smaller problems before they grow into more costly challenges in the long run.

In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at the repair process that is often undertaken to efficiently fix a foundation. Read on to learn more about how we can take care of your foundation repair needs in five steps. 

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How Much Does It Cost to Level a House in Fort Worth?

fort worth level house

Are you looking to level a house in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX?

Home foundations settle as time passes. Your foundation may be affected by settling due to expansive soil, intruding tree roots, and backfilled soil. Since foundation movement can quickly affect your home in serious ways, these problems need to be addressed immediately.

Not tackling structural problems straight away will start decreasing your home’s value and creating more issues down the line. Leveling is a crucial step in order to fix these common foundation faults.

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What You Need to Know About Bugs and Your Foundation

Which Bugs Cause the Most Damage and How to Prevent Them

Bugs are a major annoyance for homeowners. They can also be quite destructive. Not only will your everyday living spaces be subject to their invasion, but your foundation will be at risk as well. 

Which Bugs Are Typical Foundation Dwellers?

Certain types of bugs are more likely to be found around the foundation of your home. These include: 

1. Termites

Termites are a common problem and a big threat to the integrity of your home’s structure. They enjoy eating wood that is in or around the foundation of your property. You need to quickly intervene and exterminate after discovering a termite infestation.

2. Pillbugs

Pillbugs are typically unlikely to cause direct damage to your home’s foundation. While they will infest the areas around your foundation, they are not likely to cause damage to the wood. 

3. Carpenter bees

Female carpenter bees can burrow deep inside of wooden structures for nesting purposes. You should take care of removing these intruders as quickly as possible to protect the safety of your property. 

4. Cockroaches

Cockroaches are especially difficult to remove from your home. It’s not impossible to get rid of these pests, but it can take a few weeks for complete removal.

5. Carpenter ants

Carpenter ants are some of the most damaging bugs to the foundation of your home. Similarly to carpenter bees, their destructive effects are a direct result of them burrowing in the wood. Carpenter ants leave fewer obvious signs of destruction compared to termites but the damages can still be quite severe.

How to Protect Your Foundation Against Bugs

Taking adequate preventative measures is the best way to save yourself the time and money that a bug infestation will cost you. This will also help you minimize the risk of facing issues with other pests, such as rats or mice. To protect your foundation and home from these invaders, take the following steps: 

Step #1: Seal Gaps & Cracks

Bugs can enter your home through even the tiniest cracks in the foundation and its surrounding components. These gaps also serve as the entry point for excess moisture, which can create favorable living conditions for bugs.

If you find any cracks in your home, such as on the walls or the floors, contact a professional. These cracks could be caused by serious foundation issues. Make sure you don’t overlook areas where a bug infestation could compromise your home’s cabling, A/C, plumbing, or electrical wiring. 

Step #2: Keep the Edge of the Foundation Clear

Landscaping can help you protect your property’s foundation. Clear your foundation’s edge of anything that has been lying around there for a while, such as discarded items or plants. Taking the following precautions will help you decrease the risk of facing a bug infestation: 

  • Assuring that perimeter soil is at least six inches below the brick line or wood.
  • Regularly mowing your lawn.
  • Trimming plants and shrubs that are close to the edge of your foundation.
  • Raking the leaves on a regular basis.
  • Refraining from creating a compost pile near to the foundation.
  • Not storing any firewood up against your house.

Step #3: Control Moisture Levels

Many bugs and other pests need humid conditions for their survival. Moisture-rich soil surrounding your home are more than likely to entice critters to enter your property. While you can’t change a wet climate, you can take the following steps to control the moisture levels of your home: 

  • Point your downspouts as far away from your foundation as possible.
  • Clean your gutters on a frequent basis.
  • Conduct drip or leak checks around your property and fix any issues you find.
  • Ensure that land around the foundation is sloped downward for at least eight feet.
  • Check out these drainage solutions that can help you preserve the integrity of your foundation.

Step #4: Hire a Professional Pest Prevention Service

Sometimes you need the help of a professional to take fully protect your property. Adding insecticide along the edge of your foundation can significantly decrease the chance of facing bug infestations.

Step #5: Seal Your Crawl Space or Basement (for Pier and Beam Foundations)

You can seal your crawl space or basement walls by using a moisture-resistant barrier on the ground. This will help you to effectively remove excess moisture and decrease the humidity levels of this area. It may also block bugs from accessing your home through your foundation.

However, it’s important to ensure that there is adequate cross ventilation. Make sure that ventilation screens are intact, as well.

Conclusion 

There are many different types of bugs that can invade your home. Some of these can cause a lot of damage to your property, such as termites, carpenter bees, and carpenter ants. The best way to protect your home is to prevent these bugs from entering in the first place. You can accomplish this by:

  • Controlling the moisture levels around your foundation
  • Getting professional pest prevention services
  • Sealing any gaps, holes, and cracks
  • Clearing your foundation’s edge of plants, discarded items, excess soil buildup, and debris
  • Ensuring drainage is adequate

If you suspect your foundation may be compromised because of insects, contact Granite Foundation Repair today. We can perform a free foundation inspection to help you determine whether or not bugs are damaging your foundation and how to get rid of them.

How Long Should I Wait After Foundation Repair to Make Cosmetic Repairs?

How Long Should I Wait After Foundation Repair to Make Cosmetic Repairs

Has your home undergone foundation repair lately?

Now that your foundation has received the necessary repairs, you can rest assured knowing that your home is in better shape. The fixes will likely add years or even decades of stability and durability to your home and its components.

However, the results of foundation repair often aren’t visible from the outside. You may still have numerous cosmetic fixes to make. For instance, you may see cracks on your walls, floors, and sheetrock that may be in need of repair

These cosmetic fixes are rarely, if ever, included in the standard service agreements of foundation repair companies. That’s why we are going to list the top things to keep in mind after your home has received foundation repairs. You’ll learn about what steps to take to restore the aesthetics of your property.

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Can You Fix Foundation Problems by Yourself?

fix foundation problems yourself

In an age of self-sufficiency, people are encouraged to perform Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects. From lifestyle TV shows, vlog tutorials, and magazine articles, we are encouraged to make and fix things on our own. Nowhere is this more obvious than in home projects.

We assemble our furnishing kits, tighten leaking faucets, and repair damaged furniture without additional help. These are acceptable, since we want to save money and build a sense of competency in our repertoire of home skills.

However, when it comes to foundation issues, doing the work yourself isn’t recommended at all. The stakes are too high, making it important to entrust highly qualified professionals with the foundation repair process.

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Clogged Gutters Can Cause Foundation Problems and More

granite-foundation-gutters

Did you know that clogged gutters can cause foundation issues?

Gutters are helpful as they capture all the water hitting your roof or melting after the wintry weather ends. The pooling of water is bad for your roof, which is why gutters are installed to direct this water to the ground.

The correct installation of gutters angles them in a way that allows water to easily travel into the downspouts. They’re responsible for depositing the water far enough away from your house.

While gutters are designed to protect your roof and home, they can actually have the opposite effect if they become clogged with leaves, sticks, and other debris.

Considering that foundation problems can also damage your roof, a negative feedback loop can emerge if you don’t target the root issues.

In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the consequences of clogged gutters . This is an important issue, as blocked gutters can turn into extremely expensive and time-consuming problems if you don’t keep a close eye on them.

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