You may not realize it, but seasonal weather changes actually impact the foundation in your Houston home.
The Houston and San Antonio areas we serve both experience extreme wet and dry seasons. These seasonal weather extremes combined with Houston’s expansive clay soil wreak havoc on Houston’s foundations, threatening the foundation and home’s structural integrity.
We’ve written this guide to help you better understand the problem, and what you can do to protect your home.
How Seasonal Changes and Expansive Clay Soils Cause Foundation Damage
Houston soil has a lot of expansive clay, which is highly susceptible to wet and dry conditions. Expansive clay is also called “swelling and shrinking soil.” You might think of it like a giant sponge. As the clay soil gets wet it expands, and when it dries out it contracts and shrinks.
Expansive clay soil causes a lot of damage to homes, roads, and other structures. The repair bill comes to approximately $2 billion each year.
Unfortunately, that is what our homes in Houston are sitting on: expansive soil.
Expansive soil continually shrinks and swells based on the amount of moisture in it, which ultimately means that the soil is moving and shifting every time it is either saturated or dried out. As the soil moves, the foundation supporting our home moves and shifts as well.
How Wet and Dry Seasons Impact Foundations in Houston
The Houston climate is humid subtropical, which means it has four distinct seasons.
Throughout the year, Texas soil is either experiencing very wet and rainy climates or dry ones. It can also have severe weather in the form of heavy rain and flooding brought in by tropical storms.
What does all this mean for our home’s foundation? Plenty.
When there is too much rain, the soil around and under the home becomes saturated. Then, during a dry spell, the saturated soil dries out.
How Does Dry Weather Affect Foundations in Houston?
Periods of dry weather in Houston cause the soil to dry out significantly. As the moisture leaves the soil, the soil hardens and shrinks.
If the dry period lasts long enough, the soil loses too much moisture content, reducing its volume or density. As the soil shrinks, the foundation moves with it.
How Does Wet and Saturated Ground Affect Foundations in Houston?
Wet and saturated ground in Houston can have a detrimental effect on foundations, primarily due to the expansive clay soil in the region.
When expansive clay soil becomes saturated, it expands causing foundation movement, cracked or sloped foundations, cracks in floors, walls, or ceilings, and possibly structural damage.
Why You Should Be Worried About Foundation Problems Due to Seasonal Changes
Your home may be your castle, but your home is not built like a fortress. Homes are made stable by a concrete foundation, but the foundation can be weakened over time due to the shifting soil.
House movers estimate that the average home weighs between 80,000 and 160,000 pounds. All of this load is transferred down into the concrete foundation and into the soil.
This keeps everything stable and keeps your house from falling.
However, in Houston, the extreme seasonal weather changes continually shift the soil and can therefore cause foundation issues.
You might not think the soil around your foundation could move or shift the weight of the slab foundation enough to cause this damage, but it does. It can expand up to 30%, which is more than enough to create a serious foundation issue.
Concrete foundations do not hold up well when under the stress of shifting soils and they end up lifting, cracking, house settling, and sinking. This can cause both vertical and horizontal cracks in your foundation and damage to the plumbing systems that run underneath the foundation slab.
Unfortunately, all this damage leads to moisture and water seeping into your living space (along with mold and critters). It also causes drywall to crack, doors and windows to stick, and even structural damage that makes it unsafe to live in.
While you may not notice the damage any given year, there is a cumulative effect. Over time, serious foundation damage can occur.
For Houston homeowners, these are serious challenges.
Luckily we can implement effective drainage solutions that help water to move away from your home and also minimize any foundation repair. Give us a call at A-Best Foundation Repair.
Protect Your Foundation From Seasonal Changes With These Proactive Measures
While you can’t control the weather or the soil around the home, you can be proactive. There is a lot you can do to minimize this problem and protect your home:
- Properly grade the yard and soil around the foundation to ensure water flows away from the structure.
- Install a french drain or basin system to divert water away from the foundation.
- Maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil around the foundation by using soaker hoses around your foundation.
- Plant deep-rooted trees and shrubs away from the foundation to help absorb excess moisture.
- Consider using moisture barriers or foundation waterproofing to prevent water infiltration.
- Regularly inspect and repair foundation cracks to prevent water seepage into the soil.
- Consult with a professional to assess the foundation and implement necessary repairs or reinforcements.
- Address any plumbing leaks promptly to prevent soil moisture fluctuations near the foundation.
If you are already experiencing problems, you’ll need professional help to stabilize your foundation. You might need piers or underpinning for crawlspace repair.
However, you should never embark on DIY foundation repair.
Review: How Do Seasonal Changes Affect Home Foundations?
Seasonal changes can have a significant impact on your home’s foundation. And Houston is particularly susceptible to this property damage.
The humid subtropical climate leads to seasonal fluctuations between wet and dry spells, which can cause soil around foundations to become saturated and then dry out, affecting the stability of the foundation.
The presence of expansive clay soil in the region exacerbates these issues, as the clay expands and contracts with moisture changes, leading to foundation movement, house settling cracks, and other structural damage.
Proper maintenance strategies can protect your home from seasonal foundation problems.
By taking proactive measures and seeking professional help when needed, homeowners in Houston can mitigate the risks associated with seasonal changes on their home’s foundation, ensuring its long-term integrity and stability.
Still have questions about your foundation? Give A-Best a call.
FAQs Related to Seasonal Changes and Impact on Foundation Problems
Can dry weather cause foundation problems?
Dry weather can lead to soil shrinkage, causing foundation settlement and potential cracks. Lack of moisture in the soil during dry weather can significantly impact the stability of a foundation.
Do foundation issues get worse over time?
Yes, foundation issues can worsen over time if left untreated, leading to more severe structural damage and costly repairs. Regular inspections and timely maintenance can help prevent the escalation of foundation problems.
How do I protect my foundation from moisture?
To protect your foundation from moisture, ensure proper drainage around your home. Additionally, regularly check for and repair any cracks in the foundation to prevent moisture infiltration.
