Your home depends on its foundation.
And your foundation needs proper soil grading around its perimeter. Grading prevents excess water from eroding , heaving, and cracking the foundation, causing the need for foundation repair.
Once the foundation cracks, the walls can begin to bow, doors and windows don’t close correctly and a whole list of home structural problems ensue.
It’s crucial that the home foundation grading is done properly. A qualified contractor determines the required grade. An excavator uses the home foundation footprint to create the grade.
Then, the home foundation grading begins. Here are the steps:
- Grading is most important in the fill wedge of the foundation. The fill wedge is the soil next to the foundation that was excavated to build the home, then later soil is pushed back to ‘ backfill’ the foundation after the home is constructed . The backfill wedge is roughly the first 4’ of soil around the house The backfill wedge is rarely tamped in lifts for proper compaction. The soil settles over decades.
- Mulch is added over time to add to the problem. To improve the grading remove mulch and small plants from around the house and area must be cleared of all rocks, tree roots and other debris.
- Grading begins. Use a clay based soil, once tamped clay sheds water much better than topsoil . The new graded soil must be tamped with a hand tamper or a plate vibratory gas tamper.
- Add mulch over the newly graded area. Make sure the new elevation of the backfill material is at least four inches below the bottom siding piece.
- Make sure gutters and downspouts are clean, add downspout extensions as needed. Taller window wells are often needed during a regrading job.
Once this is completed, you should have a home foundation grade that will protect your home’s foundation and keep your property from being damaged by heavy rains and water damage.
If you suspect your home’s foundation may need to be graded, contact out experienced home foundation grade contractors at M Taylor Enterprises in the Montgomery County, MD, Silver Spring , MD or Washington, D.C. area and diagnose the problems and give you an estimate. We get the job done quickly and efficiently. Call us at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com.
