West Hills Water Damage--from a Leaking Foundation

5/10/2016 (Permalink)

A Well Constructed Foundation May Prevent Water Damage in West Hills

Foundation Problems Can Lead to Serious West Hills Water Damage

Foundations take an especially hard beating by water, as they are partially or entirely buried in damp soil all the time. They are the areas of your home which are in continual contact with water, and unfortunately, can be a cause of water damage in West Hills. If rain water is not properly diverted and controlled, it can inflict a large amount of damage to the foundation of your home, even possibly compromising the structural integrity of the foundation.

The purpose of a slab foundation is to give weight-bearing support to a building. It is made of concrete and fits over footings which are also made of concrete. The footings usually anchor to the slab with reinforced steel bars or rebar. Under the foundation, soil should be leveled and able to create a moisture barrier between the home and the ground. Some of the problems with slab foundations come from them being constructed improperly, water and sewage leaks underneath the slab or the movement of soil under the slab.

There are three main ways that water affects a foundation:
Hydrostatic Pressure 
This can cause more than just a leak in your basement. When water over-saturates the soil around the foundation, the result is hydrostatic pressure, which can push the walls inward, making them bow and crack. This can happen suddenly, over time, or during a period of torrential rains.
Expanding Soils
Clay-rich soils in some areas will expand when they are drenched with water, which puts an enormous amount of pressure on the foundation walls. This will make them crack, shift or bow.
Erosion
Underground springs and rainwater can wash the soil which supports the foundation slowly, creating foundation settlement. Early signs of settlement are not always obvious, and can be easily dismissed until they’ve become serious enough for the intervention of a professional. Signs of this type of water damage include unlevel or uneven floors, sinking, windows and doors which don’t close properly, tilting chimneys and cracks in drywall.

Excess Moisture
When water is not properly drained away from the house, it can contribute to water and West Hills water damage under your slab. Downspouts that are disconnected or the lack of gutters let excess water dump onto the soil near the foundation in heavy rainstorms. The soil will become over-saturated without the proper drainage. Landscaped beds and poor areas around the foundation don’t flow away from your home and add to drainage issues as well.
Any leaks under a slab foundation can present problems with West Hills water damage because of the excess moisture that can seep into your home. It could also cause lifting of the affected area, which pushes the soil up and affects the stability of the slab. Foundation problems with your home, once they’ve started, many times lead to more problems. They can be related directly to sheetrock cracks, floors that are uneven, mold in the basement, and can decrease the value of your property. Leaking water under a slab foundation will need the immediate attention of a professional service.

Get in touch with SERVPRO of Canoga Park/West Hills if you suspect you have a water leak under your foundation. Just call (818) 998-1500 so that they can come and evaluate your situation.