How Drought Can Lead to Foundation Problems?
How Drought Can Pose Danger to Your Foundation
A long-term drought can damage more than just the plants in your yard. In 40 of the 48 contiguous states, homeowners have reported foundation damage due to drought. Changes in the environment that result from a lack of adequate precipitation can spell trouble for your home’s foundation, leading to the need for repairs.
Shifting Soil
Although you may think of the earth as a solid material, the soil on which your home sits is affected by changes in moisture content. Certain types of soil, especially clay, expand or contract significantly due to changes in temperature and available moisture. As the soil moves, it takes your foundation with it, causing the piers to support your home to shift and move. This movement can cause the failure of the piers and cracking of slab foundations. Dry soil may also pull away from your home’s foundation, making the ground around and beneath your home unstable and cause shifting and settling of the structure. Even small amounts of movement can lead to more extensive damage to your foundation that only a professional foundation repair company can address. Using a soaker hose to water the ground around your foundation can prevent these changes from occurring and protect your home.
Questing Tree Roots
If you live in an area with extensive foliage or large trees, drought can pose another danger to your foundation. As moisture becomes scarce, the roots of plants move outward, seeking new sources of water. Questing roots will not stop when they encounter your foundation; instead, roots can burrow through your foundation and your basement, causing cracks and holes that lead to structural instability. Damage from tree roots can be minimized using methods such as root barriers and relocation.
If your home’s foundation has been affected by the Texas drought, Structured Foundation Repairs, Inc. can help. Our staff has the experience and knowledge to restore your foundation and help you maintain it under any weather conditions. Visit us on the web or call 972-484-1200 to learn more.