How Can I Prevent My Walls from Bowing?

It is possible to get ahead of wall damage. If you’re looking to prevent these kinds of destabilizing conditions from appearing in the first place, you can:  

• Schedule Regular Home Inspections 

Most homeowners tend to ignore their basement, crawl space, and foundation until something goes wrong. While that’s entirely understandable, you’ll want to start scheduling regular home inspections if you want to prevent any damage from appearing in the first place. 

The professionals in your area can help you walk through your home at least once a year with an eye out for moisture damage. With a checklist of symptoms in mind, you can inspect your basement, crawl space, and home exterior for signs of damage that might cause your walls to bow. This way, you can work to prevent that damage from worsening in the weeks and months to come. 

• Invest in Home Waterproofing Measures 

You also have the option to invest in home waterproofing measures before any signs of damage appear in your home. These measures come in a variety of forms, including:  

• Sump pumps 
• Interior drains 
• Full crawl space encapsulations with a vapor barrier 
• Waterproof insulation 
• Dehumidifiers 

Most home waterproofing measures deliberately drive water away from the perimeter of your home, helping you prevent hydrostatic pressure and moisture, in general, from making a mess of your structural supports. That said, no home waterproofing measure is permanent. As such, you’ll want to continue to schedule annual inspections with your local professionals to ensure that all the measures in your home remain in top shape.