We know some of you are looking forward to ice skating at Crown Center or taking the kids sledding down your favorite local hill, but winter weather has a downside.
Harsh Midwest winters can destabilize your foundation and cause structural problems.
We’ll describe what extreme cold and the moisture in the ground can do to your foundation – and what you can do to prevent the damage.
What Happens To Your Foundation During the Winter
When the temperatures dip down into the freezing range, the moisture in the soil below your house freezes and expands. The expansion causes pressure that results in a frost heave. This movement causes cracks in walls, floors, ceilings, and foundations.
When the temperatures become warmer (as you know they will), the thawing ice may cause the ground to collapse. This could lead to foundation problems and issues with your floors, footings, walls, and driveway.
How to Prevent Foundation Problems Caused by Winter Weather
There are a few things you can do to prevent foundation problems from occurring. Here are some items to add to your to-do list this fall.
Make sure your gutters are functioning properly.
Healthy gutters are essential for keeping your roof and foundation healthy. Make sure your gutters are free of debris before winter comes.
It’s also imperative that the water flowing through your gutters is directed away from your foundation. Check your downspouts. Are they long enough? Does the water coming out of them flow away from the house?
Make sure the soil next to your house slopes away from your home.
Walk the perimeter of your home to make sure that the soil slopes away from the foundation. You may need to purchase top soil to add around the foundation before the first frost.
Make sure your sump pump is functioning properly.
A functioning sump pump will act as a backup should water infiltrate your basement. Make sure your sump pump drains properly – away from your house.
Seal the cracks in your foundation.
Small cracks become big ones when water seeps inside and freezes. So seal the cracks in your foundation – with the help of a professional.
Contact JLB Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing.
Freezing and thawing cause foundation problems. Keep your foundation healthy (and your basement dry) by having JLB Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing inspect your home.
JLB Foundation Repair and Basement Waterproofing serves the following counties (and cities) in Missouri and Kansas:
- Clay County
- Jackson County
- Cass County
- Buchanan County
- Leavenworth County
- Johnson County
- Ray County
- Clinton County
- Platte County
- Wyandotte County
- Chillicothe, MO
- Overland Park, KS
- Lee’s Summit, MO
- Kearney, MO
- Liberty, MO
- Leawood, KS
- Kansas City
We can help you get your Kansas City home ready for cold weather with the following techniques:
- Basement waterproofing
- Home drainage solutions
- Waterproofing systems
- Sump pumps
- Crawlspace encapsulation
We can also help if you currently have foundation issues caused by harsh Midwest winters. Call 816-656-6835 to schedule an inspection.
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