The 7 Mistakes Homeowners Make
It’s not always easy to take care of your home when you’re busy taking care of your family. However, if you skipped out on doing your regular maintenance checks for signs of damage, you could end up risking their safety. If you can’t find the time to inspect your home, be sure to hire someone who can. Otherwise, you might end up making these 7 mistakes homeowners make that end up costing them a fortune.
Forgetting About the Downspouts
Have you checked your downspouts recently? A downspout is a pipe that carries water from your home’s roof to the ground. Not many people do, but if your downspout is pointed toward your house, then it could be funnelling water directly towards your foundation. This not only will put water pressure on the walls but will also cause the soil to expand which can cause your foundation to crack. Water needs to be carried away from the house to prevent water damage, basement leaks, and foundation decay. So be sure to check that your downspouts are pointed away from the house and are far enough away from it.
Ignoring Musty Odors
One of the worst mistakes you can make is ignoring a noticeable musty odour in your home. Why? Because this smell is often associated with mould. And if you don’t go looking for the source, you could end up with a serious health issue and even structural damage to your home. Mould loves to grow where there’s lots of moisture present, and since your foundation is made of a porous material, it’s quite susceptible to mould. This is especially true if the weatherproofing fails and cracks develop in your foundation. When mould enters your foundation, it’s not only difficult to access, but it can also spread throughout your home if not addressed. If you happen to smell a musty odour in your basement or in other areas of your home, it’s important to call in a professional to perform an inspection.
Disregarding Basement Condensation
You should never pass off condensation on your walls as simply a humidity issue. In many cases, it’s also a sign of a foundation problem. Moisture can seep in through foundation cracks causing your walls to sweat and small puddles of water to form. If you find this to be a common occurrence, call a foundation repair expert immediately.
Changing the Grade of the Property
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to change the finished grades to add new landscaping elements. However, this should be avoided. The grade is designed to direct rainwater away from the home. If you change the grade, it could push the water in the opposite direction and towards the home, causing water damage and structural issues.
Hiring the Cheapest Contractor
You know what they say, “You get what you pay for!” And oftentimes, amateurs will charge extremely low prices to drive sales but then use inferior materials and unskilled labour to make up for the discounted rate. If the deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. If you make the mistake of hiring an amateur, you’ll likely have to hire a professional after to fix their botched job. Save yourself the hassle and money and hire a skilled expert who specializes in their field.
Forgetting to Test the Sump Pump
If you’re not testing your sump pump regularly, you could end up coming home to a flooded basement without warning. Testing your system is easy and only requires that you slowly pour a bucket of water into the sump pit until it triggers the float. Then you simply wait and watch to see if the sump pump turns on and starts to pump the water from the pit. The pump should turn itself off once the float has moved below the shut off level. If this doesn’t happen, you may need a replacement.
Discounting the Cracks on the Foundation
When you allow a hairline crack to go unchecked by a professional, you could risk the chance of it becoming a serious threat to the structure of your home. Cracks can fester into major issues, which can threaten the integrity of your home. Any small cracks should be fixed immediately, and any large cracks should be checked by an expert foundation crack repair company.
As a homeowner in Ottawa, it’s important to stay on top of your regular maintenance checklist to prevent costly repairs before they begin. If you’ve found concerning cracks in your foundation, signs of mould or condensation in your home, water damage around your home and in the basement, or any other signs of structural problems, it’s time to call the Foundation Experts. We’ll help find the source of the problem and ensure it doesn’t happen again. To learn more about our services contact us today.