What Can I Do to Minimize Deep Foundation Issues?

As we said above, the root cause of the foundation issue must be resolved to stop it from returning. A number of measures can also be taken as a preventative step to stop deep foundation issues from forming. These include: 

Interior Drains 

Interior drains are effective below-ground drainage systems and are among the best options for effectively collecting seeping water to keep it out of the basement. Asides from being capable of handling a large volume of water, interior drains are perfectly positioned to pull water out of the soil bordering the foundation. This reduces the impact of the hydrostatic pressure and prevents soil from becoming bloated with moisture. 

This water also needs to be drained from the surrounding soil due to the clay bowl effect. This is where the soil surrounding your home is naturally looser due to being disturbed by the construction of the foundation. Earth outside this radius is naturally denser, and it effectively corrals excess moisture toward the basement walls. 

Learn more about JES’ BasementGutter™ Interior drain system solutions here! 

Sump Pumps 

Any interior drainage system works best when paired with a sump pump system. Once the drains collect water, it needs somewhere to go other than into your basement. The water is then directed to a sump pump so it can be properly removed from your home. Sump pumps are useful for homes that see a heavy volume of water. These pumps ensure that water is forcefully expelled from the home and are useful for situations where gravity isn’t a reliable force to move the water. 

JES recommends installing a SafeDri™ sump pump alongside basement drainage systems. 

Extended Discharge Lines 

Ensuring that the water is drained from your house, be it from the basement or roof gutters, and is discharged outside of the clay bowl goes a long way toward mitigating water damage. Many homes are equipped with discharge lines and outlets that disperse water a mere foot away from the foundation. 

Not only does this open up the potential for water damage and foundation issues, but it can also create a continuous cycle of water entering and exiting the home. 

An extended discharge line carries water an appropriate distance from the house. Thereby reducing how much water can penetrate the soil bordering the house.