4 Reasons Why You Should Repair Your Foundation Before Winter Hits
Winter presents a whole new number of threats to the foundation of your home. The weather conditions make it more difficult to perform repair work and can also escalate damage to your building structure that may already be under strain. Learn more about why it’s so important to repair your foundation before winter arrives.
Freeze and Thaw
When the snow melts and the wet soil freezes, the expanding water starts to push outward on the foundation causing what’s known as frost heave. When the temperatures increase and the ice starts to thaw, the ground thaws and causes the soil to collapse around it. This process can cause cracks and bowing in the foundation floors and walls. If the cracks are not immediately fixed, water will enter and freeze inside the wall, making the damage even worse.
Water Damage
The freeze and thaw cycles can also cause gaps to form around the house. This can make basement flooding a reality, especially when the snow and ice start to melt. If the home doesn’t have adequate waterproofing in the basement, serious water damage can occur. Waterproofing can be done in the winter, but it’s far less challenging to have it completed in the fall.
Frozen Soil
It is more difficult to dig through frozen soil around the exterior of the home than it is to dig into dry soil. The mound of soil that is created after the area is excavated is also susceptible to freezing temperatures. And if it’s not done correctly, snow and soil can also mix together. This can make the cleanup extremely difficult and costly.
Frost Damage
If the foundation wall or footing is left exposed too long to the freezing temperatures, frost can start to form that can cause even more damage. That’s why it’s important to have your foundation repaired in the warmer months, or if possible by a contractor who specializes in winter weather repair.
Winter weather is the main culprit for foundation problems, so if you’re planning to wait till spring to fix a small issue – you might want to think again. If you spot a foundation concern in the summer or fall, you should never wait! Having your foundation prepared before winter hits is always the best option. But it’s not the only one either. If you find any concerning issues late in the fall or winter, we can still take care of your foundation repairs in the winter months. The technology we use can unthaw frozen soil and allow us to work through the repairs no matter what time of year it is. To learn more about our services, contact the Foundation Experts today!