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The need for foundation repairs arises from a
combination of the heavy rains, hot drying days, occasional plumbing
problems, and the highly expansive
soil of the Dallas-Ft Worth area.
DFW's soil is most
often the root cause of our foundation problems.
Our soil contains varying levels of a clay material called
Montmorillonite. Due to the
presence of this clay, water may cause the soil to expand by as much as 30%,
up to 6 inches in some areas of Dallas-Ft Worth.
The different levels of
moisture at the perimeter and interior under the house creates upheaval,
slumping and slab
breaking forces, that create the need for foundation repairs. It is also possible that the problems began during
construction, due to inadequate soil compaction, improper land slope
(drainage), or inadequate foundation design.
Watering
- Excessive water on one or more sides of a house causes soil
swelling at the perimeter, while the center of the foundation remains
relatively stable. Stress builds and
slabs break, leading to the need for repairs.
Drainage
– When land slopes toward the house, water flow is under and around that
portion of the foundation, causing swelling and sometimes erosion. Slope
must be downward, away from house. Check for adequate drainage of A/C
units and gutters. No ponding or pooling of water near the house.
Sun and Heat – Areas
of the foundation that receive full sunlight dry out first. Both in summer
and winter, walk around
the house and look for soil pulling away from the slab. In the absence of
shade trees, the Southwest corner quickly bakes dry each summer.
Trees and Shrubs
– Planted close to the house, roots reach under the house, sucking moisture, causing excessive
drying and soil shrinkage.
Plumbing Leaks – Localized
swelling of the soil occurs due to dripping water or sewage pipes and when
left unattended, will cause the need for foundation repairs.
Soil Compaction – Builders
sometimes fail to adequately compact the soil. Poorly compacted
areas provide inadequate foundation support, leading to foundation failure.
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 Drying heat and expansive soils are at the heart of most of
our DFW area foundation problems.
Proper drainage plays an important role.
Click
here to learn more about causes
of foundation stress and failure.
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