The foundation of your home is one of the most often overlooked but incredibly important parts of a house. Without it, there would be no structure. So you must take care to protect it by performing foundation repair and waterproofing.

1. Check for cracks and repair them by calling a waterproofing company.

Cracks in the foundation are a common sign of foundation problems. Inspecting your foundation yearly is a good idea, and spring or summer is an ideal time to do it. Simple surface cracks are less worrisome than deep cracks, but either way you should call in a professional if you see them. Simple cracks might be able to be patched, but large or deep cracks may need serious repair work.

2. Cleaning your gutters.

The best way to protect your home’s foundation is to understand how water gets into your basement. Clogged gutters and downspouts are one of the leading causes of water draining into basements. Cleaning them out can go a long way towards keeping that water out. This should be done at least once a year, and it is best done at the beginning of winter and again at the beginning of summer.

3. Contact a waterproofer when you see mould.

Even if water and flooding have never been a problem in your basement, if mould is present, that is a sign that water is getting in and doing damage. Professional waterproofing experts can create an effective system for keeping your basement dry and safe, and it should be less costly than you might imagine.

4. Check the grading around your house.

Finally, one other thing you can do to improve your property value is to make sure that grading around your home is well maintained.  You want to grade the land away from the foundation so that water will run away from, rather than toward, your house.  A professional will need to tell you the best course of action if the grading is wrong or if the home has settled oddly and created pooling spots.  Landscaping re-grading is a large and expensive project, usually best left to professionals.