Biggest Threats to Your Foundation During the Winter
Posted on: 27 March 2018
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One of the last things any homeowner wants to be faced with is trouble with their foundation. And considering that the foundation is out of sight, chances are you will not be aware of any potential problems with it until the symptoms start to manifest in different areas in your home. Therefore, if you want to keep your property's foundation intact, it is essential to be wary of any possible threats that it could be under and mitigate the risk by hiring a contractor to do foundation work before it is too late.
What you may not know is that the risk of foundation problems becomes higher during the winter, more so if you live in a location exposed to harsh conditions and freezing temperatures. Below are just a few of the biggest threats posed to your foundation during the cold season.
The development of frost heaves
As the temperatures take a drastic dive during the winter months, there is an increased potential for water present in your soil to freeze too, which creates ice lenses. These ice lenses are dangerous because when they grow, they have the propensity of pushing the ground around them up and outward, which causes undue stress against the walls of your foundation.
When this process starts, you may not be aware of any immediate damage. However, when the ambient temperatures begin to warm up, the ice lenses melt, and the sudden lack of pressure from the surrounding soil can cause irreparable damage to the foundation. Although you cannot control the winter temperatures, one thing you can do is ensure that there are proper drainage channels that direct water away from your foundation walls so that moisture does not collect inside the soil during the winter.
Progressive vertical movement of the soil
Another potential risk to your foundation during the winter is the vertical movement of the earth surrounding it. When the temperatures drop, the soil tends to rise. The more extensive the vertical movement is, the more significant the variations in soil pressure around the structure. As a result, your property becomes susceptible to shifting and moving because the foundation is not sufficiently supported by the soil surrounding it.
If the shifting is left unchecked, your property will develop structural problems such as cracks in the walls, bowed walls and so on. If you notice any visible changes in soil levels, you should hire a foundation contractor who will know how to mitigate the problems to prevent damage to your foundation and home.