DIY Foundation Fixes That Don’t Actually Work

There is something deeply satisfying about fixing things yourself. A toolbox, a YouTube tutorial, a Saturday afternoon and the all-too natural confidence more-often-than not found in men; the ‘I don’t need to read the instructions woman, I can figure it out’. And let's be honest: we've all had our MacGyver moments. Give us some duct tape, a couple of tools and enough determination and suddenly we are convinced we can solve just about anything. After all, this is what being a homeowner is being about, is it not?

Well…foundation problems are one of those situations where improvisation can get expensive. Really, expensive.

That doesn't mean DIY has no place in foundation care. Quite the opposite, every now and then we’ve posted some guides to show homeowners what they can safely do themselves like monitoring cracks, maintaining gutters, checking drainage, extending downspouts, managing irrigation and addressing certain cosmetic issues. But there is an important distinction between maintaining your foundation and repairing a structural problem.

So today, we're going to look at some of the most tempting DIY foundation "fixes" and explain why they don't necessarily fix what is actually happening underneath your home.

1. "I'll Just Patch the Crack"

Let's start with something we've actually covered before. Small, stable, cosmetic cracks can sometimes be sealed or repaired by homeowners. That's perfectly reasonable when the crack has been properly identified as cosmetic and isn't showing signs of movement.

The problem begins when patching becomes a substitute for diagnosis. If a crack is caused by ongoing foundation movement, filling it with concrete patch, caulk or another material may make the crack disappear temporarily, but it doesn't stop the movement that created it. And eventually, the crack may come back.

When a wild crack appears you have to resist your pokemon trainer instinct to grab your caulk gun to deal with it and instead ask: ‘Why did this crack appear in the first place?’

If you've already determined that a crack is cosmetic and stable, by all means, grab the tools and fix it (we’ve shown you how before) But if it is widening, recurring or accompanied by other symptoms.., well, that's when your own personal toolbox should stay closed.

 2. "I'll Just Add More Concrete"

Remember the old saying: ‘If duct tape is not working, it is because you are not using enough duct tape’? You could kind group this one along those lines of thoughts. And although at first it might seem logical  to just add more concrete when dealing with a crack you have to remember that more material doesn't necessarily mean more support.

Concrete is strong, but adding concrete over or around an existing problem doesn't automatically correct soil movement, drainage issues or inadequate support beneath the foundation.

On the contrary, in some situations, adding weight or altering how loads are distributed can actually complicate the problem.

3. “Bro, do you even lift?”

This is where things start getting serious. When homeowners see an uneven floor or a section of foundation that appears to have settled, the natural reaction may be: "Why don't I just lift it back up?"

Repeat after me: ‘Foundations aren’t LEGO sets’. A foundation carries and distributes the weight of the structure above it. Changing the position of one section without understanding how the loads are distributed can create stress somewhere else.

Professional foundation work involves understanding the structure, the soil, the loads and the reason movement occurred in the first place. Sometimes stabilization is appropriate. Sometimes drainage or moisture management is more important. Sometimes both are necessary.

The important thing is knowing which situation you're dealing with before attempting to change anything.

4. "I'll Put a Post Under It"

Especially tempting in crawlspaces, is it not? You notice a sagging area beneath a pier-and-beam home, you grab a post and call yourself Master of the Crawlspaces.

The problem is a support only works if it is properly designed, positioned and founded. A random post placed beneath a beam doesn't automatically become structural support. The ground beneath it may not be capable of carrying the load, the location may not be appropriate, and improperly lifting or supporting a beam can transfer loads where they weren't intended to go.

In other words, you can accidentally create a new problem while trying to solve the old one. Easy now, MacGyver, put that toolbox away!

5. "I'll Dig a Trench and Redirect the Water"

Good instincts. Water management matters. We've talked about that quite a bit throughout this series.

But drainage isn't simply about getting water away from one particular spot. It's about understanding where the water comes from, where it is going and how it moves across the property. A quick trench may redirect water, but it could also send it toward another part of the house, create erosion, undermine soil or send runoff toward a neighboring property. It’s not just about getting the water away from the house, but about getting the water to where it should go.

Proper grading, downspouts, drainage systems and other solutions need to work together rather than being improvised individually.

6. "I'll Just Water the Foundation"

This is a particularly interesting one in clay-heavy regions. During hot, dry weather, soil can lose moisture and shrink. So a homeowner may think that the obvious solution is to simply water the soil around the foundation. And maintaining consistent soil moisture can indeed be part of good foundation maintenance.

But there is a big difference between consistent moisture and soaking one section of your house whenever you remember. If one side becomes significantly wetter than another, the soil can respond differently in different areas. That can contribute to differential movement.

The goal is consistency, not saturation. And for the we have a couple of well-detailed post guiding you on how to achieve exactly this.

7. "The Tree Is the Problem. Cut It Down."

Trees get blamed for foundation problems quite frequently. And sometimes trees can contribute to soil moisture changes. Large trees consume significant amounts of water, and their roots can influence the moisture distribution around a home. 

What would Treebeard say of you automatically accusing every tree near a foundation of being the culprit and wanting to cut it down? Removing a tree doesn't necessarily correct an existing drainage problem, soil condition or moisture imbalance. In some situations, the underlying issue may remain exactly where it was.

Before reaching for the chainsaw, understand the actual relationship between the tree, the soil, the moisture conditions and the foundation.

Sometimes the tree is part of the story and not necessarily the villain. And even if a tree is the culprit, things like root barriers and other services can solve the problem while keeping that beautiful tree blooming and adorning your beautiful yard.

8. "This Product Says It Fixes Foundations"

Humanity has never had a shortage of miracle solutions and the internet is exactly the same: foams, sealants, coatings, injection products, miracle compounds and all sorts of gadgets promise to make foundation problems disappear.

Some of these products may even have legitimate uses; for instance a sealant can address water intrusion through a crack and a foam may fill a void in certain applications but the problem comes when you assume that because something can repair a crack, void or moisture issue, it can repair every foundation problem.

Foundation movement has different causes, and different causes require different solutions.

9. "If It Looks Better, It's Fixed."

The most dangerous DIY assumption of them all. A crack gone, a door now closing, a gap filled, a puddle no more. Everything looks better and the problem solved, right?

Not necessarily. A cosmetic improvement and a structural correction are two very different things. This is where our previous advice about monitoring becomes important. Changes over time tell a much bigger story than a single snapshot.

If like any good villain, it keeps coming back, or keeps changing or reappears teaming up with other symptoms, the fact that you've made it look better doesn't necessarily mean you've solved the underlying problem.

10. "I'll Just Home Alone-it“

Okay, maybe nobody is actually going to turn their crawlspace into a booby-trapped fortress (except maybe your kids, but that’s an adventure for another time). But the spirit of Home Alone is worth remembering: sometimes the solution becomes considerably more complicated than the original problem. One quick fix leads to another. Then another. Remember that magnificent scene in Malcolm when Hal tries to fix one thing, but in order to do it has to fix about twenty more?

Knowing when not to DIY doesn't mean you have to become a hands-off homeowner. Quite the opposite. Sometimes the smartest thing you can do yourself is recognize that something has moved beyond your skill set.

However there are plenty of things you can still do yourself. As a homeowner we recommend you to keep an active role in foundation maintenance by

- Monitoring cracks and documenting changes.

- Taking dated photographs.

• Maintaining gutters.

• Extending downspouts away from the foundation.

• Adding rain barrels

• Watching for standing water after storms.

• Checking drainage around the property.

• Maintaining consistent irrigation practices.

• Monitoring landscaping and large trees.

• Addressing minor cosmetic cracks when they are known to be stable.

These actions aren't pointless just because they aren't structural repairs. They can be a great deal of help in catching changes earlier and provide valuable information if a professional inspection becomes necessary.

At iFix, we believe homeowners should have as much information as possible before making a decision. That's why we encourage DIY maintenance where it makes sense, while helping homeowners understand when a problem requires professional attention.

If you've tried a maintenance step and the problem keeps returning or if you are simply unsure whether you're dealing with foundation movement, drainage, crawlspace support, moisture management or a combination of several factors, then let us take a look. We always start by understanding what's happening, why it's happening and what your home actually needs.

Knowing when a DIY project is the best fix and when a a professional repair is, can save you time, money and a whole lot of frustration.