Al Carrell : Okay, so we're talking about laying a foundation and here this guy's going to show us how to water the lawn? I don't think so. Actually, water has a lot to do with your foundation, because moisture can affect it. For example, if you live on clay soil, it can be this thick when it's dry, and swell up to this thick when it gets wet. What you want to do is maintain a constant moisture level, and you can do that by putting a soaker hose out. Now the soaker hose you put flat down against the ground. You turn it upside down with the holes facing down, and you turn it on very gently. Let it run for about an hour, and then move it on around and do this all the way around the foundation. What this is going to do, it's going to maintain a moisture level, so if you do have a rain, it's not going to have any big effect.
Another thing you want to do, is to not plant any thing, any bushes or anything like that up real close to the foundation. Leave them about 18 inches out. Also, now this is sloped nicely, but a lot of times a builder doesn't really build a slope in here, and when that happens you want to bring dirt in so that water will wash away from the foundation. However, you don't want to get the dirt up so high that it's against the brick. Keep it well down below the brick. You probably noticed we've got these little slits in here. It looks like that the guy forgot to fill in the mortar there. Well, don't go run out and buy a bag of mortar and fill 'em in, they're there for a purpose. They're called weep holes, and they allow any moisture that comes from condensation inside this wall to drip on down here and it's a way for it to get out and not cause any problems within your walls. If you'll take care of your foundation, it's going to take care of you and you'll love your house for a long, long time.
Episode 002 1995 - 96 Season
| Post Tension II | Regular Slab | Pier and Beam | Block and Slab | Watering Foundation | Basements | Radon Gas | How Much Down? | Faucet Replacement |
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