Tip
After a rainstorm look for water puddling near your foundation. If there are puddles, then you need to re-grade, install a moisture barrier, french drain, cut a swale, etc. to keep water and humidity from affecting your foundation, basement, and home.
Routine Care
Inspect foundation
Damage to your foundation can cause the house or building to shift and crack.Termite damage can be devastating.
Timing: May (yearly)
How To
The foundation of your house or building should be checked for the following:
Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for any cracking, heaving, or deterioration. Repair as necessary.
Make sure that soil against your foundation is properly graded away from your house. Soil should slope 4-6 inches away from the foundation for a distance of about 3 feet away from foundation walls. Fill in areas where water may puddle against the foundation.
Make sure that the splash pans for the roof gutter downspouts direct water at least 3 feet away from the foundation, and that the water does not drain back against the foundation.
Inspect foundation walls for signs of termites (such as evidence of tunnels or dirt bridges). Check flashing and termite shield. If you suspect termites, contact a professional exterminator.
Inspect where pipes go through the foundation (including in the garage) and caulk and seal as necessary.
If you have wood siding, be sure that no dirt, mulch, shrubs, etc. are touching your wood, as this can become an easy pathway for pests and moisture to enter your home.
Benefits
Maintaining Value
Allergy Control
Energy Savings
Health & Safety
The benefits of this task are relatively high. Doing this task can help prevent serious damage to your foundation and by pests, including termites, which can be very costly to eliminate and repair damage from.
Costs
The cost of this task is very low from an investment of time standpoint. It is estimated that this task should only take about 30 minutes to complete, depending on the size of your house and the amount of shrubbery around your foundation. The task is relatively easy to do, and no specialized tools are required.
Originally posted at http://www.petermuehlbronner.home-wizard.com/tip/tip_fdn_1