Water damage can absolutely damage your foundation — and it can do it much quicker than you would expect. To better protect your home from water damage, it is important to learn more about what water damage does to your home and its foundation.
How Long Does It Take For Water To Damage A Foundation?
Water works quickly to damage your home. In just a few hours, leaks, flooding, or even mold development could occur. This could lead to damage to your floors, walls, and electrical appliances–and this doesn’t even mention the immense amount of damage that can be done structurally.
That is why it is so important to begin the restoration process within the first 24 hours. If not, water will start its slow procession toward destroying your home. First, you will note that personal belongings that are vulnerable to water — such as books and photographs — can begin to bulge or warp beyond repair. Soft and upholstered furniture will also soak through, and walls and floors can absorb the water, causing swelling to occur. You could even note that your paint or wallpaper will begin to peel or blister.
After the first week, the damage will lead to mold. As the days pass, the mold will spread rapidly with the humidity in your home and become a biohazard. As the damage to wood surfaces and walls intensifies, metal surfaces will start corroding.
Beyond the first week, your costs rise significantly. No longer are you just fixing the source of the water damage. Now, you have to take care of all the consequences of the water damage, including removing the mold and fixing the structural issues.
How Do I Protect My Foundation From Water Damage?
There are several things that you can do to protect your foundation from water damage and ensure that you do not have to deal with structural repair or restoration down the line.
Maintain Good Drainage
Good drainage means ensuring that the land around your home is graded properly. This typically translates into 6 inches for every 10 feet away from the foundation.
Install a French Drain
A French drain is a trench that is filled with either rocks or gravel and is embedded with perforated pipes that direct the water away from the house. Depending on your home, you may need to have one on just one side of your house or several sides.
Clean Your Rain Gutters
Clogged gutters can’t properly direct water away from your home and will result in water spilling over the sides. Eventually, this water can pool in your yard and seep into your foundation.
What Is Considered Foundation Water Damage?
In order to be able to contact the right professionals, it is important to know what signs to look for that will tell you that there is water damage in your foundation. Thankfully, it is easy to spot these signs if you know what you are looking for.
Moisture
Dampness is a home’s foundation that allows fungi and bacteria to breed, which can become a biohazard for you and your family. If you find that your foundation is perpetually wet or damp, that could mean that there is water seeping in.
Mold/Mildew
Mold and mildew will present themselves as grey, white, or green substances on the walls. They are more than just an unsightly presence in your home–mold can have respiratory repercussions for people who already have breathing problems, and they can lead to wood rot and damage structural supports.
Cracks
Cracks can instigate moisture problems, but they can also be a consequence of them. The way this works is that the water from the exterior of the foundation exerts pressure on the walls, which causes them to crack.
Discoloration
Because concrete is so porous, it can get discolored when groundwater stays on its surface. These stains come from the minerals that form when the water dries in the concrete.
The Best Water Damage Restoration In Orlando
If you are looking for a water damage restoration company in Orlando that can help you with your floor, fire, or mold damage, look no further than Janney Restoration. We specialize in restoration, which means that we will provide the high-quality service that you need to know that your home is safe for you and your family. Contact us to learn more about our services.
