Soil: Unless you're an avid gardener, you may not pay much attention to it. The soil in your yard actually plays a very important role, however; it helps keep all the water outside where it belongs and away from your home. It's important that you have enough soil around your home's foundation and that it's sloped properly to create maximum drainage. Soil erosion occurs when soil becomes loose and depletes.
Soil erosion can be caused by a few factors, the most common of which is bad weather like heavy rain. Excessive rain can displace your soil and carry chunks of soil away with it, taking away from the remaining supply that's safeguarding your foundation. Northern Virginia has already experienced quite a few rainy days this summer, unfortunately making the chance of soil erosion more likely. Soil can also erode as a result of too much land development or yard work. If you're constantly digging in your soil or moving around plants and trees in your yard, it can contribute to displacing your soil and causing it to erode.
You might shrug off soil erosion as no big deal, but soil erosion can cause a lot of damage to your foundation and hit you with a whopping repair bill as a result. Here are a few effects soil erosion can have on your foundation:
- Foundation Cracks: Cracks in your foundation are not only unsightly but can cause a myriad of structural problems if not repaired quickly. Even the tiniest hairline cracks can grow and cause your walls to sag, bugs to get inside, an increased risk of water damage, and more.
- Basement Flooding: As mentioned, a weakened or cracked foundation allows more water to get inside your home. If much of the soil surrounding your foundation is eroded, the remaining soil will have a harder time absorbing water. Water is more likely to collect right at your foundation, and all this excess water can easily find its way inside and create a flood.
- Instability: Soil erosion can cause your foundation itself to erode or shift. When this happens, it greatly compromises your home's structural integrity and can put you and your family's safety at risk. If your foundation begins to crumble or fall apart, it can also be very expensive to replace.
Prevent Soil Erosion: Call NV Waterproofing
There are a few things you can do on your own to prevent soil erosion, but the best way to prevent erosion is to contact a specialist! NV Waterproofing has been offering expert wet yard solutions and erosion control services in Northern Virginia for over 30 years! Our waterproofing technicians will take all the necessary measures to ensure that the soil in your yard is sloped properly and will not erode easily. For expert erosion control services in Northern Virginia, call us today at 1-703-690-3889.
