When the elements gradually wear down the topsoil, soil erosion happens. This will result in the underlying earth becoming exposed. But, this naturally occurring phenomenon can worsen in places affected by agricultural overproduction or deforestation. People also get rid of the root system that is holding the topsoil whenever they get rid of the trees and crops. Exposed soil quickly erodes and loosens during windy periods or heavy rains.   

You need to call a professional foundation repair Colorado Springs if you think that soil erosion might be threatening your house. These professionals can check your home and suggest the ideal thing to do.  

Here are several ways that you can do to lower the risk of soil erosion. 

Piles, Meshes, and Nets 

In more severe occasions, professionals might have to install protective barriers or covers to keep soil in place. However, this method is only appropriate when the soil is too rocky or loose to use other methods, or the gradient is extremely steep for traditional stepped terraces or retaining walls.  

Piles, meshes, and nets come in a huge range of selections. This includes: 

• Anchored soldier pipes – This is a much more rigorous form of the retaining wall.  

• TECCO mesh – A much more flexible type compared to rock drapes. 
• Rock Drape – This is a highly malleable steel net that stops debris from falling. 
• Shotcrete Facing – A concrete compound that’s sprayed to hold the soil in place.  

You shouldn’t attempt to install nets or meshes by yourself. Only licensed experts can conduct these slope stabilization methods since they’ve got the right training and tools.  

Stepped Terraces 

In this technique, the professionals will install small retaining walls at steady intervals. After that, they’ll level the ground at every successive layer. This will generate a sequence of stepped terraces. This is a similar method used by the farmers whenever you plant rice in the mountains.  

Because every successive layer needs to be analyzed carefully, this isn’t also a Do-It-Yourself job.  

Retaining Walls 

This is a protective wall placed at the slope’s bottom. This will stop the soil from falling down. The retaining wall, after being anchored, contradicts gravity’s force and holds the whole slope in place.  

Again, this isn’t a Do-It-Yourself job. Aside from being risky, you are also required to have certain tools that are designed specifically for this job.  

Proper Landscaping 

Tactically planting grass, trees, and bushes around your house are one of the most successful steps in avoiding erosion. You can also utilize gravel, mulch, and rocks to cover exposed patches if you are living in an area suited poorly for planting.  

Fortunately, you can do this on your own. However, you really have to consider proper placement.  

• The roots will not be able to control the level of moisture that surrounds your house if you plant too far away. 
• On the other hand, the roots can eat into your foundation if you plant too close. This will cause long-term damage. 

In addition to that, this landscaping technique is ideal for areas that have a flat surface.  

One way in order to check for problems in the structure is to examine every corner of the window and door frames with a tool called carpenter’s square. If they are not square, it could basically be because there has been structural movement down under. Be conscious that improper installation of your door or window could end up not being square in the corners. As a matter of fact, if only one door or window is not square, this is most likely the cause since the structural movement would probably affect more than one frame. 

You can also inspect for uneven floorings by putting a marble on the flooring and look if it rolls. Slightly uneven floor is not usually bad news however, some foundations are engineered to ride the flow of the soil similar way the ship sails through the waves. The buildings with these kinds of foundations should not often be perfectly even all the time however, if the flooring has slope in more than one portion then, you must have it inspected by the professional foundation repair Euless TX 

 When there is structural movement, it may end up in the cracking of the foundation and these cracks may at least indicate the location as well as the direction of the force, which has caused them. A V-shaped crack could mean an upward moving pressure. An upward moving force may happen when the land expands and when the moisture level has risen in the earth beneath the foundations, sidewalks, patios and driveways. On the other hand, the float walls are actually built into structural basements standing in the expansive soil and this float wall is definitely designed in order to contract and expand with the soil movement. When the walls are already rigid, the pressure of the expanding soil may push on them as well as damage the floorings above. 

Downward Force 

A downward pressure will form a vertical crack that is bigger below than the top part and the pressure usually originates from the subsidence of the soil which is located under the foundation of the building. In addition to that, the structure may also be impaired by the inward and outward force. The horizontal cracks are actually not that serious however, when the surface that is above or even below the cracks has been forced outside or inside, there could be some issues. Outward or inward pressure may be the result of the vehicle traffic which is too near to the foundation, pressure of moving earth as well as water, or improper backfill.  

 If you can identify the source and the direction of the force that has caused all the cracks, then it will be easier to locate the source. However, if the problem is hidden though, it may be very difficult to recognize and some costly repairs as the walls, ceilings and the floors should need to be opened in order to reveal the problem. It is also, very possible that you will not be aware that there is any problem until the structure itself suddenly fails.