Early Warning Signs Of Winter Weather Foundation Problems

Winter is coming soon and while that means short, snowy days and nights by the fire, it also can mean damage done to your home. By knowing the early warning signs for foundation problems in the winter, you can ward off issues that might snowball into bigger and bigger ones. Knowing what to look for in early warning signs for your foundation, you’ll be able to save your wallet from a lot of home repairs as well as your previous time.

At Foundation Solutions 360, we want to ensure that your home is in good shape this winter. After all, there’s nothing worse than the snow melting to find that there are many issues going on in your home. Additionally, by knowing what to look for, you’ll save energy in your home and ensure that after the holidays, you won’t have to spend money on costly home repairs. Keep in mind that if you do find yourself with a foundation issue, you can contact our home repair company for a free estimate.

Early Warning Signs To Look For This Winter

In today’s blog, we’ll be covering early warning signs to look for in your foundation this winter. By identifying these issues early on, you can reduce the amount of money you have to spend, especially after the costly holidays you may have just experienced. These early warning signs will help you save money in the long run and ensure that the foundation of your home is in good shape. After all, a foundation that’s in poor shape won’t make for a safe home to reside in. We recommend that you look for these signs as early as possible instead of waiting until the first snow hits, especially since in Michigan, we tend to have a wet winter. If you notice any of these signs, we recommend that you contact us as quickly as possible to cut down on any damage to your home.

Look For Ice Lensing Or Needle Ice

Ice lenses or needle ice are large pieces of ice that have formed when moisture and soil or a rock has diffused and become acclimated to the localized zone. The ice will accumulate within a little pore or a pre-existing crack. If the condition remains the same, then the ice will create a wedge between the soil area and move them apart. This can be incredibly detrimental to the foundation of your home. If you have water damage in your residence going into winter, then we recommend that you get that taken care of as quickly as possible so ice lenses or needle ice don’t form. Ice lensing or needle is also an early warning sign of frost heave in your residence. This type of ice occurs often in cold regions such as in Michigan.

Check For Areas of Frozen Soil Around Foundation

Along the lines of frozen and ice, you’ll want to look around the soil of your foundation. Frozen soil around your foundation can occur as the temperatures begin to drop. You’ll want to look for vertical ice fibers that form on the top-most layer of the soil. You’ll need to look closely for these fibers since they can be very small, but by catching them as soon as you notice them, you can eliminate their growth. Frozen soil is a natural occurrence and will form at the lower levels and then move upward. They can cause thick freezing and extended growth. As the ice grows, it can cause many problems in the layering of the soil because it can cause the foundation to shift and become damaged. Unlike when the soil is warm, frozen soil will push against the upward growth, which causes uneven lifting of the soil.

Inspect The Exterior Of The House

As a homeowner, you probably know to look around the outside of your home, but it’s vital that you do as the winter weather hits. We recommend that you look around your home with your home to photograph any problem areas, but an old fashion piece of paper and pencil will also do. You’ll want to look around the exterior of your home for cracks, loose fascia and soffits, peeling pain, loose siding, and check the windows and doors to see if they are aligned. You can also get on the roof and look over the gutters to ensure they are not overflowing with leaves. Take note of any areas of your home that looks off or not aligned. You’ll want to look for any abnormalities, but also take note if there are areas that mice or other critters can use as a cozy hideaway from the winter. As a homeowner, it’s vital that you inspect the exterior of your home at least a few times a year to know if a small issue can snowball into a larger one.

For more information on foundation, crawl space, or basement waterproofing or repairs, contact Foundation Solutions 360. Our home repair services have you covered this winter.