The Weather and Your Home's Foundation

The weather fluctuations we experience here in southwestern Ontario greatly affect our homes, even the strongest part of our home: the foundation.

How?

The ground contracts in cold weather, which means the ground pulls away from your foundation with each freezing and thawing cycle.

During times of drought or our during our hot and dry summers, the ground also contracts and pulls away from your foundation.

These frequent contractions create a gap of space between your home and the surrounding ground. When it does rain or when the snow melts, the gaps and areas of erosion easily allows water to settle beside and eventually penetrate your foundation walls.

When it rains aplenty, the soil around your home becomes saturated with water, and the tremendous weight of the wet ground exerts an immense pressure, pushing into your foundation walls.

This pattern of contraction and saturation is normal in southwestern Ontario, however problematic in relation to a foundation’s structure:

• Water leakage into the crawl space or basement
• Cracks in the foundation (effects which may be seen in all areas of the home)
• Foundation walls bowing inward

On a seasonal basis, it’s important to measure and monitor the ground around your home’s foundation to ensure there are no large gaps and enough grade to direct rainwater away from the foundation; this is often difficult due to landscaping, decks, patios and sidewalks.

However, the most important thing is to contact a foundation specialist if you notice cracks in your foundation or bowing walls. Foundation failure can have devastating and expensive consequences, and the adage is entirely true: An ounce of prevention is work a pound of cure!

We’d be pleased to offer you a free inspection and estimate for your foundation concerns. Please call us, or visit us online to submit for your quote.