In yet another series of weird winters, 2019 is starting with big snowfalls and record lows. Is your house ready for the freezing cold and what are some things you can look out for this winter?
Throughout the entire US, this winter has been one for the books, but it seems like the midwest has taken a beating.
Be Prepared!
If you were lulled by the mild end of 2018, you may not have prepared for the beginning of this year. The good news is that it is never too late to get your home ready. Even the people that got a headstart may have been caught off-guard by some of the weather this year.
Although weather predictions have gotten better over the years, there are just too many variables that can impact the outcome. Sometimes meteorologists have to change their forecasts on the fly, as things change and temperatures and storm totals fluctuate.
A best-case scenario is to always be ready for what the weather can throw at you and your house. However, we know that we rarely live in a best-case scenario world. It is in our best interest to adapt to the weather and get ready for Mother Nature.
Weather can impact foundations, whether it’s heat, cold, rain, or drought, but hard freezes can damage your foundation walls.
Protect Your Foundation from Freezing Damage
When the soil freezes, it can become harder than concrete. As the temperatures go up and down, layers of soil can freeze causing pressure on the foundation from the ice expanding and contracting. This constant flexing puts a lot of stress on your foundation walls, causing cracks, bowing, and other problems.
Frost heaving, or flexing, can be quite damaging. Some movements can be around four to eight inches with reports of shifting as big as 24 inches. It’s easy to see how soil movement like that can damage your foundation.
There are ways to lower the impact of frost heaving, but it is not something the average homeowner can do. Three factors affect frost heaving. If you can control one of them, you can minimize the impact.
- Type of soil
- Water supply in the soil
- Freezing plane in the soil
The type of soil the home is built on can cause foundation issues. Blame can be placed on construction errors or shortcuts, but aren’t as common. Soil fluctuation occurs more with clay soils than other types of soil. Too much or too little water can impact any type of earth.
Jerry’s Waterproofing Can Help
If at any time you fear that your foundation is being compromised, contact the helpful experts at Jerry’s Waterproofing. We can help with a variety of services, from foundation repair to radon mitigation to waterproofing.
Let us help you keep your house safe, dry, and stable, no matter what Mother Nature throws at you.