When you live in Wilmington, North Carolina, hurricane season isn’t just a calendar note—it’s a reality that demands preparation. It’s important to know how to protect your homes foundation from hurricanes. Most residents focus on roof inspections, sandbags, and emergency kits, but your home’s foundation deserves just as much attention. After all, it’s what everything else rests on.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to proactively protect your foundation from hurricane-related damage. From pre-storm inspections to drainage fixes and pier reinforcement, here’s what you need to know to keep your home safe before the winds and waters arrive.
Why Wilmington Foundations Are Vulnerable
Wilmington’s coastal climate brings unique risks:
- High rainfall and storm surge lead to soil saturation
- Sandy and clay-mixed soils shift easily under pressure
- Frequent flooding undermines the soil beneath foundations
If unaddressed, these conditions can result in foundation cracks, uneven settling, and crawl space water intrusion.
Step 1: Schedule a Pre-Storm Foundation Inspection
Before the first storm warning, get a professional foundation inspection. Ram Jack Wilmington offers in-depth evaluations that assess:
- Existing cracks or signs of movement
- The condition of pier systems or slab foundations
- Vulnerable crawl spaces and drainage patterns
Early detection means early intervention—often at a much lower cost than post-storm repairs.
Step 2: Plan Your Drainage Defense
One of the biggest threats during a hurricane is water pooling around your foundation. Here’s how to fight back:
- Gutters and downspouts: Ensure they’re clean and channel water at least 6–10 feet away from the house.
- French drains and sump pumps: Useful for homes with low-lying yards or crawl spaces.
- Grading: Adjust the slope of your yard to direct water away from the home.
Good drainage protects both your foundation and basement or crawl space from moisture intrusion.
Step 3: Reinforce Your Pier System
If your home has a pier-and-beam foundation, now is the time to reinforce it. Moisture-soaked soil can weaken pier stability, especially under strong storm conditions. Ram Jack’s engineered steel piers and helical piles are designed to bypass weak upper soils and anchor your home deep into stable ground, perfect for Wilmington’s shifting coastal base.
Final Thoughts: Be Ready, Not Reactive
Hurricane season isn’t a “what if” for Wilmington—it’s a “when.” Protect your homes foundation from hurricanes, starting from the ground up. Whether you live near the coast, the Cape Fear River, or downtown Wilmington, your foundation faces pressure every storm season.
Schedule your free foundation inspection with Ram Jack Wilmington today, and weather the next storm with confidence.
