A Strong Home Begins with a Solid Foundation
By Don Eloe
Construction Supervisor,
Denver Urban Renewal Authority
Home ownership is a great investment, but it is one that takes regular attention to make sure that it retains value. While many owners focus on the most visible parts of the home, one of the most important is often invisible: the foundation.
All houses settle to some degree, but extreme ground shifting or water damage can cause real problems. In particular, a damaged foundation can create serious safety issues, so it is critical not to ignore warning signs.
Here are a few things to keep an eye out for:
• Cracks in the sheetrock around the house
• Doors and windows that become difficult to open and close
• Cracks in the floors, walls or ceilings
• Walls that lean or bulge in the middle
• Leaking faucets or cracked pipes
• Sloping or sagging floors
If any of these issues are noticeable, it is important to seek professional help right away before more damage occurs or someone gets hurt. However, if you’re in good shape, then here are a couple of things that you can do to stay that way.
Maintain your Sump Pump. Just like wood, concrete can be damaged by water. Most home foundations are made of concrete, and it is important to make sure that they are waterproofed below grade when laid. From there, it’s just an issue of removing pooling water, and a sump pump is the best way to do that.
Not all houses have or need a sump pump, but if you do, it’s important to keep it working properly. Regular maintenance only requires a couple of minutes every 2-3 months and whenever heavy rains are forecast. To keep your pump working its best, pull it out and clean the grate at the bottom to make sure that rocks or other hard objects haven’t been pulled in. Once clean, put it back standing upright, and then verify that the power cords are unworn/undamaged and plugged in. Finally, check that drainage pipes are working properly and draining out at least 20 feet away from your foundation.
Gutters. Gutters are a simple and affordable means to collect and redirect water to a safer place. Make sure that the gutter downspouts on your home have extensions at the bottom to move water away from the foundation and into the yard. Ideally, extensions should be about 5 feet long, and affordable, quality brands can be purchased at hardware and supply stores. Additionally, homeowners should clean their gutters at least once a year to prevent clogging and damage.
These are just a couple of simple steps homeowners can take to help protect their home’s foundation. That said, even if everything is done perfectly, sometimes issues will still occur. Though foundation damage can be costly, problems should never be ignored. It’s not just the house’s safety that’s at stake.
If you are a low or moderate-income Denver homeowner, contact DURA for more information about funding for home repairs or upgrades through our Emergency Home Repair (EHR) and Single Family Rehabilitation (SFR) programs at 303-534-3872 or renewenver.org.