Winter is officially upon us! Along with the warm cider, holiday festivities, and crackling fires we love so much, winter also brings some pretty rough, cold weather. With the Kansas City winter shaping up to be a little colder than normal, it’s a good idea to make sure your home is ready for anything old Jack Frost can throw its way.
Whether you’re worried about freezing temperatures, high winds, or an onslaught of snow, you can take a few simple steps to winterize your home for the upcoming inclement weather.
How to Winterize Your Home and its Foundation
Most people don’t realize the kind of damage a rough Kansas City winter can do on their home! Don’t lose heart there is plenty you can do to winterize your home, and KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair is here to guide you through some of the processes. During the cold winter weather, the soil beneath your home expands and contracts. As water and moisture from snow penetrate the soil, this process becomes even more extreme. These changes can lead to shifting soil and, as a result, foundation damage. To help prevent possible problems, here are a few things to look at.
- Take a trip into your basement (if you have one). Look for any cracks or imperfections in the basement walls, and inspect for any moisture. If you notice them, consider taking action. KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair would love to help you out with a free inspection! Also, consider installing a sump pump, which diverts water away from your home’s foundation.
- Make sure your grading is directed away from your home. The last thing you want to do is to divert potentially damaging water from melting snow directly to your home’s foundation where it can lead to damage.
- Ensure your rain gutters are working properly. A few hours with a ladder clearing them out can potentially save you a more extensive repair in the future. Be sure that they are diverting water away from the home’s foundation.
Excavation is Very Difficult in the Winter
Although some things are possible during the winter months, excavation is not usually one of them. Not only can the ground be rock solid after a freeze, but it also goes through freeze and thaw cycles. These freeze and thaw cycles can make the soil prone to collapse during excavation, which is not safe for workers or your home.
In most waterproofing cases, exterior waterproofing is necessary along with internal waterproofing and moisture barrier. Plus, if your waterproofing woes are being caused by foundation issues, you will also need foundation repair which is usually an exterior job as well.
Spring Usually Brings Lots of Flooding, Especially to Basements
Whether it’s just due to the snow melting off of your home and into the soil around your foundation, or it’s due to heavy spring rains, your basement will likely experience some water in the spring. If you have already waterproofed your basement, you’re in luck. You are unlikely to see any water, and if you do, your sump pump installation will take care of it.
If you’ve been putting off waterproofing, KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair will not only provide you with the interior and exterior waterproofing that you need when the snow clears, but we will also provide mold remediation if necessary and work to lower the moisture point. When water gets into your home, the air quality suffers. We want to make sure you and your family are safe for the whole year.
Coatings and Unexpected Winter Weather
Lastly, even if exterior waterproofing did become an option with a lull in the winter snow and ice, waterproofing becomes much more difficult. It is much more ideal to do this work in the warmer months, but we are happy to work with you in emergency situations.
When we put up waterproofing on the outside foundation of your home, there is a coating that we use to help it stick. When that coating is water-based, it can immediately freeze when exposed to the air which would compromise your waterproofing job. This is why we have to take the extra step and make sure that it is solvent-based in the winter months.
This is not a problem, but it is something to consider for your home in the winter months. Additionally, winter weather can delay our schedule and cause problems. This is an unfortunate reality of living in the Kansas City area! Weather makes the rules, but we come prepared!
Is Your Home Ready For Winter? 3 Important Steps to Take Now
You are running out of time to get your home ready for winter. Let KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair help prepare your home for the freezing temperatures!
Winter usually brings freezing temperatures, high winds, and snow that can damage your home.
During cold winter weather, the soil beneath your home expands and contracts. And when water and moisture penetrate the soil, this shifting can result in foundation damage.
Early predictions from the Farmers Almanac tell us this winter could have above-average precipitation. So now is the time to get your home ready.
Here are 3 important things you can do to make sure your home is in shape for the winter season:
Step 1: Check Gutters, Downspouts, and Discharges
- Make sure your gutters and downspouts are cleaned out, fully connected, and draining freely.
- Check your discharge location for all your downspouts and your sump pump. We recommend these discharges at least 10 feet away from your property.
- The last thing you want is the water from rain, sleet, or melting snow to flow straight at your home’s foundation where it can cause all sorts of damage.
Step 2: Check the Area Next to Your Foundation
- Make sure your landscape slopes away from your foundation.
- It’s common for the soil next to the foundation to settle over the season.
- You may need to add some topsoil to fill in any low spots that have formed.
- Focus on the 6-foot perimeter around your home to make sure the soil consistently slopes away from the foundation.
Step 3: Check for Cracks in Basement Walls and Floors
- Walk around your basement, look for any cracks or imperfections in the walls and floors, and inspect for any signs of moisture.
- Water can build up in the soil around basement floors and walls and create pressure, which can then cause water to press through any cracks.
- Be on the lookout for water stains, or other discoloration on the floor and walls. Also, look for any efflorescence, which is the white or gray powdery residue of salt deposits that water leaves behind.
- Even small cracks and leaks can lead to structural damage and moisture problems.
What To Do If You Find a Problem
If you see any problems, you should get them checked out right away. You can schedule an inspection.
We’ll thoroughly evaluate your property and give you a professional recommendation to solve the problem for good. Contact us today!
Your Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair experts in Johnson County, Kansas including Prairie Village, Leawood, Overland Park, Shawnee, Lenexa, and more!
KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair to the Rescue this Winter
Rain, snow, or sleet, KC Waterproofing, and Foundation Repair are here to help you with all your foundation needs. Whether you have questions about how to winterize your home or you have any questions or would like an inspection and estimate, contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
For more valuable articles like this one to keeping your Kansas City metro area home dry, visit our Ultimate Guide to Waterproofing Your Kansas City Home.
