The 12 Tips of Foundation Repair: Christmas Edition

The holiday season is a time of joy, giving, and making spirits bright, when everyone is a kid again—dashing through the snow, jingling around the clock, dreaming of a white Christmas, dealing with foundation damage…Wait, that last one isn’t part of any of the songs. 

Foundation problems can happen at any time of the year. However, they tend to pop up or become the most noticeable at the absolute worst time, becoming unwanted guests at your holiday celebrations. 

You may not have a couple of burglars after you, but it doesn’t hurt to have the Kevin McCallister mentality, “This is my house. I have to defend it.” 

Learn how to repair and protect your home from winter villains like Jack Frost with these 12 tips from the experts at Groundworks. 

Foundation problems can be tricky to detect – sometimes tucked away in areas you rarely see. Other times, issues like wall cracks and leaking water are right in your face. 

Life gets busy, but you better watch out for these problems. Otherwise, they’ll make your wallet and your family cry, worse than Ralphie Parker shooting his eye out. 

Never fear, Groundworks is coming to town! Our experienced team will complete a thorough inspection of your home, determine the cause of the problem, and recommend customized repairs. 

As North America’s largest foundation repair provider, we serve more than 30 states and parts of Canada, providing trusted permanent solutions. Contact your local Groundworks company today to schedule a free inspection. 

Whether you’re looking to earn some extra cash or simply enjoy the greenery on your property, it’s crucial to be cautious when planting your Christmas tree farm or other trees around your home. 

Trees don’t actively attack your home, but as roots grow and search for nutrients, they shift the soil surrounding your foundation and concrete structures. This causes hydrostatic pressure that affects foundation walls, leading to cracking, inward bowing, and water intrusion. 

Exterior concrete, such as driveways and sidewalks, can crack and heave if it is near trees or their root systems. 

For optimal protection, plant trees and shrubs at least 20 feet away from your home and invest in foundation repair and concrete lifting methods. 

Did food start rolling off the dinner table during your Thanksgiving meal? You might chuckle at the sight of family scrambling to grab tumbling rolls or turkey, but don’t ignore that red flag. 

What made you laugh at Thanksgiving might end in tears around Christmas; your meticulously decorated tree can tip over, and Santa can take a tumble. 

A sagging floor that feels bouncy and uneven signifies a structural problem that must be addressed promptly. Groundworks reinforces your floor and can potentially lift it with specialized crawl space support jacks, providing permanent protection and peace of mind. 

We’re all familiar with Frosty the Snowman’s jovial, carefree personality. So, what happened to his cousin Frost Heave the Snowman? He’s not a jolly, happy soul. He’s a troublemaker in cahoots with Jack Frost, leaving damage in his wake. 

Influenced by several factors, such as soil type and changing weather, foundation heave results in parts of the foundation being pushed upwards. During frost heave, when temperatures drop, water in the soil freezes and expands, exerting an upward force on the foundation. 

Frosty’s relative just needs a friendly intervention. Frost heave can be addressed with foundation piers, wall repairs, and water management solutions. 

Hauling out the holly and other festive decorations is the perfect way to showcase your spirit of the season. As you adorn windows and doors with holiday lights and wreaths, watch out for ones that are difficult to open or close. 

Sticking doors and windows might seem like a minor inconvenience, but they mean something else could be going on beneath the surface, like foundation settlement. When your foundation settles, it throws window and door alignment out of whack, causing them to stick and not function properly. 

This is bad news if sticking doors and windows rob you of a quick exit and an alternative entrance for Santa. The good news is foundation piers permanently stabilize settling foundations, potentially lifting them and restoring window and door usage. 

Chimneys are Santa’s traditional entry point, and he’s counting on you to make sure yours is safe and secure. 

These structures are often built independently of your house, meaning they may not share the same foundation and can succumb to settlement. You’ll know something is wrong with the chimney if you notice brick cracks and leaning away from the rest of your home. 

Don’t let Santa think about skipping your house because of a cracking, tilting chimney. Give the busy guy a break so he can deliver your presents safely. Reinforce your chimney’s foundation with piers. 

Considering the last tip, you might say, “But, I don’t have a chimney.” Regardless, Santa still needs a safe way to access your house if you want presents this year. 

There are other ways the jolly old elf can hurt himself, and you’ve got to head those off at the pass to secure your spot on the nice list. That includes uneven concrete surfaces like your driveway, sidewalk, porch, patio, and slab floors. 

Cracking and uneven concrete are not only an eyesore but also a tripping hazard. An innovative concrete lifting and stabilization method can eliminate those problems. 

Santa and his reindeer are passionate about their jobs, and sometimes, their roof landings may not be so smooth. This could dislodge snow and debris from your roof, clogging your gutters and downspouts. 

If your gutters and downspouts can’t properly drain excess precipitation, it will collect next to your foundation. This will set off a chain of problems, such as hydrostatic pressure, wall cracks, bowing walls, leaking, and flooding. 

Make sure these exterior drainage systems are free and clear. And be sure not to pull a Clark Griswold by yanking the gutters off your house. 

Suzy Snowflake and Frosty the Snowman enjoy visiting your house in the winter. But, as they start to melt, they get all wishy-washy. Snowmelt and rain need somewhere to go, and sometimes they end up next to your house.  

If the soil has a positive grade, it slopes down and away from your house, allowing water to drain away as it should. A negatively graded yard slopes toward your house, allowing water intrusion and foundation damage. 

Protect your home by re-grading your yard, maintaining gutters and downspouts, waterproofing your basement or crawl space, and reinforcing foundation walls. 

As the cold winter winds whip around, Jack Frost won’t just be nipping at your nose. He’s got his eye on your crawl space, too. Nothing would make him happier than to find his way into your vented crawl space. 

When cold air passes through open crawl space vents, it chills the area under your house and can lead to frozen and burst pipes. Flooding, mold, structural damage, and high energy bills ensue. 

Wave goodbye to Jack Frost from inside your warm and cozy house. Invest in comprehensive crawl space encapsulation services, including installing a vapor barrier, waterproofing, dehumidification, insulation, and vent sealing. 

Along with a safe home, Santa appreciates visiting a comfortable home with healthy indoor air. Even the strongest Christmas candle or freshly baked batch of cookies can’t mask musty smells for long. 

Funky odors circulating throughout your house might not be the other night’s dinner. Unpleasant smells emanating from your basement or crawl space are typically the products of excessive moisture and water. 

Addressing these smells at the source with dehumidification and basement waterproofing or crawl space encapsulation automatically improves your indoor air quality, allowing Santa and your family to breathe more easily. 

Protecting your home with Groundworks’ trusted foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete lifting solutions is not a one-and-done process. It’s a gift that keeps giving throughout the year and for many years to come. 

When you partner with us, we’ll return every year for annual maintenance inspections to ensure these solutions continue to function to their full potential. We’ll be sure to check it twice! 

Don’t question whether you’re on the naughty or nice list. Santa won’t pass you by if you have a safe and healthy home protected by Groundworks. Our proprietary products are designed to permanently repair foundation and water management issues, safeguarding your home for years to come. 

Millions of homeowners across the U.S. and Canada trust our industry-leading solutions and outstanding customer care. We’re excited to help you, too. Contact your local Groundworks Company to learn more and schedule a free inspection.