Our team sees a variety of foundation issues from cracks to crumbling. However, there are a few causes of foundation problems that we find in Everett homes. Here are the top three causes for foundation issues in Everett:
Saturated Soil
Did you know that a gallon of water weighs 8.3 pounds? Yep, water is heavy, and a lot of water can crush a person or submarine. You’ve probably seen this type of issue in an action movie where a damaged sub needs to get to the surface or be crushed. That’s hydrostatic pressure.
So what do crushed submarines have to do with your Everett home’s foundation? After all, you live close to Puget Sound but not in it. Actually, the soil in your yard surrounds your foundation, and it can soak up a lot of water.
In Everett, you see rainfall an average of 172 days a year or almost every other day. The average rainfall is 42 inches per year, which is higher than the national average. Of course, the rain doesn’t conveniently fall every other day. You probably see several days in a row when it rains.
Your soil becomes saturated with water, and it can apply a lot of hydrostatic pressure to the foundation of your Everett home. This pressure can cause cracks, holes, and pieces to crumble. If you suspect that you might have damage, our team can quickly evaluate the condition of your foundation.
Tree Roots
Everett and the state of Washington are home to some massive trees. In order to grow tall, a tree needs to spread its roots and seek additional water and nutrients. The most common, native trees in Everett include:
- Big leaf maple
- Bitter cherry
- Blackwood cotton
- Paper birch
- Quaking aspen
- Shore pine
- Western white pine
As tree roots spread, they’ll take advantage of every opportunity to move forward. This includes cracks and holes in the foundation of your Everett home. Once they move into your foundation, they’ll create pressure to enlarge the cracks and holes, damaging your foundation as they grow.
Our team sees many cases of tree roots damaging the foundations of homes in the Everett area. If you have tall trees in your yard or ones close to your home, it’s a good idea to let us evaluate the condition of your foundation to ensure that no roots have moved in.
Broken or Damaged Gutters and Downspouts
With all those rainy days in Everett, a lot of water runs off your home’s roof and onto the ground. If your gutters or downspouts aren’t working properly, this leaves standing water close to the foundation. This can cause hydrostatic pressure too along with erosion.
Over time, this standing water can corrode your home’s foundation, causing it to crumble or crack. While you may think your gutters and downspouts are in great shape, these essential items do experience average wear and tear and damage due to storms and other factors, depending on the material.
In some cases, the gutters and downspouts might be clogged with leaves and other debris from your roof. It’s always a good idea to walk your property in Everett at least once a month to look for any signs of damage. Don’t forget to look up at the gutters.