The Impact of Weather on Your Foundation & How to Protect Your Home in Southern Ontario

house eavestrough during rainstorm

The weather here in Southern Ontario can change drastically from season to season. That’s nice for those of us who enjoy both cold weather and warm weather activities, but it can be hard on the foundations of our homes. Obviously, we want to do what we can to protect our home’s foundation, so it’s important to be aware of the impact that the weather can have. 

Here are a few ways that Southern Ontario weather can affect your foundation and what to do about it. 

Hot Weather

While we only get a few months of hot weather, it can get hot, and the ground can quickly become parched and dry. During hot, dry spells, the soil around your home will contract or shrink. As the soil dries out, it may cause your home to settle, which may cause cracks in your foundation. 

Cold Weather

A typical winter in Southern Ontario often consists of several freeze-and-thaw cycles. When snow and ice thaw, the meltwater will seep into the soil, but when it gets cold again, it will freeze into ice and expand the soil. This cycle can occur numerous times throughout the winter. 

This expansion that occurs with each freeze-thaw cycle can put pressure on your foundation, which can lead to cracks and potentially even structural damage. 

Heavy Rainfall and Foundation Damage

Excessive rainfall is another condition that can affect the foundation of your home. During heavy rain, the soil will become saturated with rainwater and swell up, putting pressure on your foundation. 

Additionally, water can leak through any cracks that may already be in your foundation and cause those cracks to become larger. 

How to Protect Your Foundation

Although the constantly changing weather in Southern Ontario can take a toll on the foundation of your home, there are steps you can take to help protect it. Here are a few things to consider: 

  • Perform outdoor maintenance – regularly inspect the outside of your foundation for cracks or damage. If you notice minor cracks, you may be able to fix them yourself with epoxy. Major damage, however, should be fixed by a professional.
  • Landscape properly – your landscaping can play a significant role in protecting your foundation. Your lawn should slope gently away from your foundation to carry rainwater away from your home.
  • Use window well covers – If your home has window wells, you can purchase inexpensive plastic covers from your local home improvement store to help keep water from getting in through the window wells into your basement. 
  • Make sure your sump pump works – if your home has a sump pump, check it periodically to ensure it is clear of debris and is functioning properly. You should also make sure that you have a generator or battery backup that can be used in the event of a power outage. 

Contact Conterra Foundations today.

Do you have concerns about your home’s foundation? If so, you can count on the experts at Conterra Foundations. Call us today to arrange for one of our foundation experts to inspect your home and prescribe a solution.