3 Common Problems with Wooden House Stumps and Practicable Ways to Avoid Them
There are several things that can make a house with wooden stumps to require premature restumping. The stumps may settle due to soil movement, they may be attacked by timber pests like termites and borers or they may suffer rot resulting from high humidity. What is for sure is that wooden stumps that have undergone serious structural damage must be repaired or replaced, which usually costs a significant amount of money.
Preventative maintenance is important to help minimise damage caused to your wooden stumps and reduce the need for frequent house restumping service. Here's what can be done to ensure your wooden house stumps remain in tiptop condition for as long as possible.
Moisture damage
Any rainwater that runs off from the roof surface should be directed away from the foot of your house below which the wooden stumps are located. You can achieve this by installing rain gutters and downpipes to direct the water into a storage tank instead of letting it go to waste. Make sure damaged rain gutters and downpipes are fixed to prevent any leakage. Also, make sure any water pipes located below your floors are leak-free. This will ensure that your wooden house stumps do not rot because of consistent exposure to wet grounds.
Pest intrusion
Attacks by insect pests such as termites and borers can have a devastating impact on the structural integrity of your wooden house stumps. Aside from asking a pest control service to inspect your stumps regularly to ensure early detection of any invasion by timber pests, you should also allow them to install bait systems like in-ground termite bait stations in your yard to trap termites before they can find their way to your house stumps. If you have any tree stumps around your home, make sure they are removed, as they can attract and harbour timber pests that can attack your house stumps later on.
Sinking of stumps
Concreting the holes used to set in wooden house stumps can help prevent soil movement. Concrete poured at the bottom of the holes provides a solid base that prevents sinking of the wooden stumps when the soil table moves. When poured on the sides of the holes, concrete can also help prevent stump deterioration resulting from unfavourable soil conditions.
Now that you are informed about potential problems that may be faced with wooden house stumps and their possible solutions, you stand a better chance at reducing the frequency of restumping. However, if you do need help, contact a professional.
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