Settling Soils in Drought Locations:

If you’ve noticed, it’s been one of the driest years in a long time. Folks with dry basements might be happy, but those with sinking foundations are feeling the pressure. If that sounds like you, don’t worry – we’re here to help.

Why Your Foundation is Shifting During the Drought

When the soil dries out like it has this year, it shrinks and pulls away from your foundation. This can cause your home’s foundation to shift, which isn’t something you want to happen. This is especially common around areas like ours where we’ve got a lot of clay in the soil. Clay shrinks the most when it gets dry, and it’s a big reason why foundations start moving.

For those who’ve read our book, Foundation Repair Science, you’ll know that dry soil isn’t the only thing that can cause foundation trouble.

• Tree roots growing under your home can push things out of place.
• Too much rain can cause the soil to get muddy and soft – though not as bad as the dry conditions we’re seeing now.
• Sometimes, builders don’t go deep enough with the footers or don’t pack the soil around the foundation tight enough.
• And, of course, building on a hillside can cause extra movement.

This dry spell is making foundations shift quicker than we’ve seen in a long time.

What Happens When Your Foundation Shifts

When the foundation moves, you might start seeing cracks in your walls or feel your floors sagging. If you notice this, the sooner you call us, the better. Getting it looked at early could save you from more expensive repairs down the road. Waiting too long could mean bigger problems, like a wall or floor that needs major work.

Look for cracks in your walls, especially around doors or windows – it’s often a sign that something's going wrong underneath.

What You Can Do to Protect Your Home

One thing you can try to help keep your house from sinking in this drought is to water your foundation. You can run a hose around the base of your house every few days or set up a sprinkler system. This helps stop the clay from shrinking too much. Just make sure there are no leaking issues in your basement before and during the watering process. You should only water the soil for a short amount of time as well, usually 15 minutes tops. This is especially important if you’ve got a finished basement.

Watering your foundation might just save your house from settling and shifting any further.