How to Prepare Your Foundation for Fall

Summer has flown by!

It’s hard to think about it, but it’s almost fall! School is starting, cooler weather is approaching, and beautiful colors will soon be on the trees. Summer is still here, but it’s not too early to start thinking about preparing your home foundation for the fall. A little bit of time now could save you from big problems later. Check out these tips and tricks and get your home foundation ready for fall while still being able to enjoy the rest of your summer and not stress about what might happen with your home over the harsh fall and winter seasons.

Prepare Your Foundation Exterior for Fall

The main point of working on the exterior of the foundation is making sure that no water gets inside of the foundation. Additionally, you are working to keep the cold out and the environment inside nice and comfortable. The first thing you should be doing is taking a trip around the perimeter of your home and checking the foundation, gutters, and your roof for any damage that you can spot. If there is roof damage, shingles should be repaired before possible ice or snow settles on the roof and causes further damage. If there is foundation damage, it should be repaired as soon as possible. Foundation damage should never wait because you’re scared of the outcome–it will never get better, only worse, and cost more!

Additionally, make sure to check out sidewalks and driveways. Seal up any small cracks that have formed and work to resolve any big issues with driveways or sidewalks as they can become trip hazards. While you’re there, check around the home and see if there are any problems with the grade of the slope next to the foundation. If it is draining directly into the foundation, this can cause obvious problems with rain and snow. Fix it now and avoid problems later.

Once it gets a little closer to the actual fall season and leaves are starting to fall and cover up your lawn, don’t just let them be! Rake up the leaves and dispose of them properly. Additionally, make sure that you are periodically checking your gutters for debris and leaves. These can be the deciding factor in whether or not your basement or crawlspace floods. On that note, make sure that your downspouts are also at least five feet away from the home as you are doing these small tasks. This will make sure that you don’t have water flowing directly into your foundation and causing problems with waterproofing and foundation damage. Lastly, check out your crawlspace for any signs of waterproofing or foundation repair issues and get them fixed as soon as you can.

Basement Authority of West Virginia can help with your crawlspace and foundation repair problems!

Interior Preparations for Fall

Now it’s time to move on to the inside! While it’s going to cost a little money, it’s important to get your heat checked before the fall and winter begins. Number one, you’ll beat the rush. Number two, you won’t be left without heat in a surprise incident. This can be annoying, but it can also be dangerous if the weather gets too cold. Plus, emergency repairs are more expensive than repairs you can take your time on. Take the time now and get it all checked out so that you are surprised with a big problem come fall and winter.

Next, make sure that your home has no big cracks or gaps. If so, there may foundation damage. Not only do these cracks and gaps let in water, cold, and critters, they are a signal that there is something bigger going on. Take this notice and call the professionals at Basement Authority of West Virginia. We can come out and do a free estimate on the problem and let you know what the problem is, how it can be fixed, and how much it will cost to do so.

It’s still summer, but it’s also time to make sure that your home is in tip top shape for the coming fall and winter season. We want you to be safe, comfortable, and healthy in your home, and making preparations for harsher seasons is one of the first steps to getting there. If you find a problem with your home’s foundation, call Basement Authority of West Virginia! We will work with you to find a solution and get you ready for the fall and winter season.