During summer months, we tend to see an increase in people needing foundation repair services. Note that it isn’t necessarily the heat itself causing the damage. This is largely due to the fact that during this time of year, we get a lot of dramatic temperature changes and can go from getting a lot of rain to hot, dry spells.
During spring months, the soil tends to be wetter, allowing the soil to expand. Once summer hits, the heat dries out the moisture, causing the soil to rapidly contract. Then, when fall comes and the nights start getting cooler, the soil expands again.
In general, the concrete used for your foundation was designed to withstand a lot of this stress. However, over time the pressure slowly builds and after years of expansion and contraction thefoundation cracks and needs repair.
Are There Ways to Prevent Summer Foundation Damage?
Yes, there are some ways you can take care of your foundation and try to prevent foundation cracks from happening. During the summer, the most effective strategy is to maintain consistent moisture levels around your home.
When temperatures rise above 90 degrees, it’s a good idea to water the foundation and surrounding soil, especially if it’s made from concrete. We recommend investing in a soaker hose so you don’t have to actually stand there and water the area. Place it about 24 to 36 inches from your home and let it run for 15 minutes whenever it gets really hot and dry.
Though this does help your foundation tremendously, we realize many homeowners associations and local governments place restrictions on water use—especially during the hot and drysummer season.
One way to help combat this is to do some strategic landscaping. Placing trees and bushes near your foundation allows the underground root system to trap moisture, even during the hottest days. Then, when the season gets wetter, those roots absorb the extra water, helping the moisture level remain consistent.
Use the height of your plant to determine how close to plant to your home. If the tree will get 15 feet tall, it should be planted at least 15 feet away from the foundation.
Spotting Early Warning Signs of Foundation Damage
We’ve covered the signs of foundation settlement before, but we’ll give you a quick recap.
If you see foundation cracks, rotting drywall, water stains, gaps where walls meet, sagging floors or doors and windows that are no longer closing properly, your house may soon face serious foundation issues.
Also, be sure to keep an eye on how the water drains from your house when it rains. If the ground is dry after a rain, the water is draining too quickly. However if puddles are forming or the soil remains damp after a dry spell, the water isn’t draining quickly enough. We’ve spelled out some ways to improve yard drainage if you need some tips.
Seeing the Signs off Foundation Damage? Contact Dry Basement®!
Discovering signs of foundation settlement and damage can be concerning for homeowners.
Dry Basement® Foundation Repair knows that a one-size-fits-all repair system doesn’t work for most homeowners. That’s why we engineered and patented systems that can be tailored for the soil conditions, location, type of house and other factors at each unique property.
Our estimators have been trained and certified by licensed structural engineers. They will talk with you, examine your foundation, and develop the best configuration to permanently solve your particular foundation problem.
Think you need foundation repair? Contact us. We offer free inspections and estimates, and service the Wichita, Columbia, Kansas City and Des Moines areas!