What Cold Weather Means for Your Foundation

When we think about building foundation problems in north Texas, we tend to think about Summer. Perhaps it's our nearly perennial droughts or maybe it's because we're outside in the yard more and we notice the soil more. In any case, you're among good company if thoughts of foundation problems are few and far between this time of year.

But, for all the Summer conditions that lead to foundation problems, there's a Winter condition, too. First off, where soil contracts due to lack of moisture during the Summer, it can expand during the Winter as ice storms, rains, and cold temperatures keep more water in the soil. Expanding soil can push a foundation upward; this is caused heave.

And, while we don't have the brutally cold winters like Chicago or Minnesota, it does indeed get cold in north Texas and southern Oklahoma. Frost damage can occur to foundations with unheated slabs on grade. Frost heave is caused when ice forms within the soil, causing overall volume of soil to increase. When the volume of soil increases, it can heave the foundation.

What can you do to prevent problems like excess moisture and frost heave? Try the following:

• Keep an eye out for the usual signs of foundation damage: cracks in the sheet rock, newly wrinkled wallpaper, stuck windows and doors, popped floor tiles, cracks in the fireplace, etc. Call a foundation repair professional if you see one or more of these problems and get an expert opinion right away.
• The next time it rains, pull on a coat and some waterproof shoes or boots and take a walk around the exterior of your home. This is your chance to look for puddles against the foundation. You do not want water against the foundation! Wherever you find water pooling against the house, mark it with a stake or other marker. Hire someone to fix the drainage at these points. (Or, you can do it yourself.)
• Check outdoor spigots and your sprinkler system for cracks and freezes. These items are your first line of defense come Spring and Summer, but now's the time that these items freeze and break.

These simple winter foundation maintenance tips can make a big difference between comfort, costs, and your family's piece of mind — so be sure to take a few minutes now so you won't have big problems later.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

First Hurricane of the Year

If you remember, we discussed Texas summers and the potential for heavy and sustained rains and, lo and behold, we've gotten our first hurricane of the 2010 hurricane season. Hurricane Alex came ashore last week and we here in North Texas have gotten plenty of rain.

How did your property hold up? Did you take the opportunity to get out and look for puddles around your foundation? Did you get a chance to see how water flowed through and around your property?

We're still expecting rain the next few days, so don't let the next few days slip by without doing a basic look-see of your foundation. Got any questions about what else you should be looking for? Then ask us about your foundation. We love questions and we love answering them. Ask us anything and we'll send you an answer and share the information with others.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Rainy Season Isn't Over, Yet. (Part 2)

In the last post, we discussed some of the heavier rains we can get even in summer and what you can do about them. Specifically, we discussed drainage and what you can do to keep your foundation in good shape. Today, we continue those thoughts.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, water can still get under a slab. What do you do then? Here's a few thoughts:

Install Moisture Barriers

Moisture barriers are vertical layers of plastic that are buried in the ground. As water flows up against a moisture barrier, it is stopped and prevented from getting under a home.

Install French Drains

French Drains are trenches filled with gravel that have a drain line buried in the gravel. French drains are designed to intercept and remove underground water.

Install Under Slab Drains

Rarely, it is necessary to tunnel under a foundation and install drains in thetunnels to collect and remove water. Drainage tunnels are dug by hand and typically measure 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep.

If you have more questions about what you can do, then ask us. Plus, get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Rainy Season Isn't Over, Yet.

Summer is finally here and it's going to be a hot one, but that doesn't mean no more rain. While we're several hundred miles inland, we still get rains from the occasional Texas or Louisiana tropical depression, storm, or hurricane. What's interesting about these rains is that they're heavy and can last several days. It's rains like this that really put your drainage systems (and ultimately your foundation's well-being) to the test.

Here's a handful of tips to make sure your drainage (and your foundation) are ready for whatever Mother Nature throws at it.

Installs Gutters and Downspouts

These are the first things added as they are the easiest way to drain a foundation.

Adjust Slopes

The next step is, if possible, to slope the ground away from the foundation. Typically a slope of an inch a foot for each 4 to 5 feet is adequate as long as water is not allowed to stand within 10 feet of a foundation.

Installs Drains

If grading is not possible, area drains, drains that collect surface water are installed. In some situations, shallow French Drains are used as a solution.

Water Direction

Advanced's focus is to, when possible, direct water into a street, drainage ditch, or swale. A swale is simply a very shallow ditch that is used to carry off water.

Look for more tips in our next post! Or, get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.