Flooding can cause a great deal of damage to your furniture, carpets, floors, and drywall. However, even more costly and problematic than these is the damage it can cause to your home's foundation. Below, The Dwyer Company, an experienced foundation repair service with three locations throughout Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, explains how troublesome flooding can be and what it does to your foundation.

How Flooding Can Affect Your Foundation

Foundation Cracks

Concrete is porous, and moisture pooling around the foundation can penetrate the blocks. Then, when the weather turns cold, the moisture within the foundation blocks will freeze and expand, resulting in small—or sometimes quite large—cracks in the concrete. This makes moisture penetration even more likely, weakens the structure of your home, could result in the need for costly foundation repair.

Settling & Sinking

Another problem with flooding is that your foundation can sink into the ground. Flood waters wash away the soil surrounding the structural supports, and as the remaining soil dries, it compacts and allows the foundation to settle. This can cause a number of serious problems, including slanted floors, cracks in your drywall or basement flooring, a leaning chimney, and doors or windows that stick or are difficult to close.

Mold Growth

In addition to physical damage, flooding can also result in mold and mildew growth on your basement walls. Not only is mold an eyesore, but some types can be very toxic. Other types cause coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, and other allergic reactions. It can also aggravate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Mold is difficult and expensive to remove, so basement waterproofing is essential if your home is prone to flooding.

The information above should help you understand how flooding can damage your foundation and why basement waterproofing is so critical. If you need immediate foundation repair, contact The Dwyer Company. This concrete repair service maintains locations in Bryan Station and Auburndale, KY, as well as in Tylersville, OH. Visit their website to schedule service or call (877) 399-3726 to request an estimate.