Your home's foundation, although it's likely made of concrete or concrete blocks, isn't totally invulnerable. You may be surprised to learn that it's not impermeable either. Here are four ways that winter weather can attack your home's foundation.

1. Erosion

Rain, sleet, and melting snow can cause erosion throughout your yard, which can be an issue for your foundation as well. The grade in your yard should slope away from your foundation to direct water away, and erosion can alter this slope. Also, any water that comes down from your eaves can erode the soil and expose the base of your foundation wall.

Erosion is especially likely if your gutters are twisted or misplaced so they don't catch all the water as it cascades off the roof. If the gutters overflow because they're not sloped enough or large enough to carry away the amount of rain your roof collects, or if you have any sections of gutter that are missing altogether, you can expect to have problems as well.

You can also get erosion around your foundation wall if the downspout dumps water near the house as soon as it reaches the ground. Instead of dumping water at the base of your walls, downspouts should be carrying it 5-10 feet out into the yard. If yours don't carry water far enough away, you may need to add downspout extensions.

2. Water Intrusion

Water can actually push through your concrete basement walls. This is because concrete is porous, meaning that it can absorb water. Water from outside can push into the concrete and then through it, and eventually make its way all the way into your basement.

A wet basement can lead to rot and mold on any wood supports in the basement, and mold and damp can even move up through your walls and spread throughout your home. Basement waterproofing measures and sump pumps can help you reduce moisture in the basement and avoid these issues with mold and damp.

3. Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is what drives water through your porous concrete wall. Hydrostatic pressure is generated by the weight of water in the soil surrounding your basement, and it pushes inward on the walls. This pressure can not only push water through concrete, but can shift or damage the wall itself.

In fact, hydrostatic pressure often causes foundation wall cracks and bowing. If you see a crack in your wall that's diagonal, stair-step, or horizontal, or if the wall seems to be sagging inward slightly, this could be why.

You should periodically check for any new cracks in your basement or any that have widened recently. Other problematic signs to look for are any cracks that seem to be bulging (due to a bowed foundation wall) or that have one side of the crack pushed in slightly.

4. Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Freeze-thaw cycles can damage concrete and asphalt driveways, and they can also damage your foundation wall. This damage occurs when water is absorbed into the outside of the porous concrete foundation wall, then freezes and expands. The expansion places a lot of pressure on the concrete, sometimes forcing it to crack.

The next cycle may even compound this damage. The water can seep into the small cracks and freeze, pushing the sides apart so that cracks widen with each freeze-thaw cycle.

As you can see, winter can be a dangerous time for your home's foundation. Wet weather and cold weather can both cause damage to your foundation, especially when combined. Fortunately, a good foundation contractor can help you to both repair any current foundation damage and can use waterproofing to reduce chances of future damage.

For more information about the foundation waterproofing and repair services we offer, get in touch with Bonilla Foundation Repair today. We offer premier foundation services throughout Houston and the nearby areas.