MORE LOCATIONS6 Critical Winter Foundation Issues To Watch Out For In Connecticut
Winter weather in Connecticut can be tough on residents and their homes. Snow, ice, and freezing rain affect your roof and siding and can also damage your foundation. Cracks in your foundation further compromise your home’s structural integrity and create pathways for water to seep in. Connecticut’s cold and wet winters make it especially important to address foundation issues promptly. We have highlighted common foundation issues to be aware of in winter.
Impact of Erosion on Your Foundation
- Rain, melting snow, and sleet can lead to soil erosion in your yard, which poses a risk to your foundation. The yard’s grade should slope away from the foundation to direct water outward, but erosion can disrupt this balance.
This issue becomes even worse if gutters are damaged or misaligned as they fail to catch water runoff effectively. Overflowing gutters, caused by improper slopes, insufficient capacity, or missing sections, can exacerbate the problem, allowing water to pool near the foundation and increase the risk of damage.
Cold Air and Dry Soil
- The cold air that accompanies snow often leads to dry conditions. Cold air pulls moisture out of the soil around your home. This drying process affects all soil types and can cause significant problems for your foundation. As soil dries out, it may crack, compromising its integrity.
Additionally, dry soil tends to shrink, pulling away from your foundation walls. This creates gaps where the soil no longer provides the necessary support for your foundation, leaving it more vulnerable to structural issues. Both the shrinking soil and the resulting lack of support can have long-term negative effects on your home.
Uneven Floors, Bowed Walls, and Sticking Doors
- High humidity and soil expansion can lead to structural issues like cracks, sagging floors, and walls bowing inward. Doors and windows may stick, and your chimney could start leaning or cracking, all pointing to foundation movement.
Sinking Foundation
- Gaps or shifting in the soil beneath your home can cause your foundation to sink or settle unevenly. Cracks in the foundation further weaken its ability to support your home. Timely identifying the issues and making necessary repairs can prevent long-term and costly damage.
Freeze-Thaw Cycles
- Freeze-thaw cycles can wreak havoc on concrete and asphalt driveways as well as your foundation. When water seeps into the porous surface of a concrete foundation wall, it freezes and expands, putting immense pressure on the material.
Over time, this process can cause cracks to form. Each freeze-thaw cycle exacerbates the damage as water seeps into existing cracks, freezes, and forces them wider. This repeated expansion can significantly weaken your foundation’s structural integrity.
Winter Snow Melt
- Winter temperature fluctuations often cause snow to melt and refreeze multiple times. During these cycles, water ideally flows into the gutters to be directed away from your home. However, ice dams can obstruct this flow, forcing water to drip near your foundation.
When this happens, the excess moisture can lead to foundation cracks, sinking, and uneven settling, posing serious risks to the stability of your home.
Winter Proof Your Foundation In Connecticut
- Understanding what damages your foundation during winter can help you avoid costly repairs down the line. Small, unchecked issues can escalate into major problems. It’s advisable to hire a professional foundation repair company like Crack X to winter-proof your foundation before the harsh weather sets in. We specialize in resolving all types of foundation concerns and offer a warranty.
If you have foundation issues, call us at (877) 727-2259. Our experts from Crack-X will assess the damage and provide necessary foundation repair services. Crack X is a structural repair company providing services in Rhode Island, Maine, and New Hampshire, NH.