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Foundation Maintenance Tips for the DFW Rainy Season

Foundation Maintenance During the Rainy Season in DFW

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In many parts of the country, April marks the beginning of the rainy season; hence the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.”  But here in the Dallas/Fort Worth, May is historically our rainiest month.  And while we need the rain to get us through the hot, dry month’s that follow, it can also wreak havoc on your home’s foundation unless it’s handled properly.

Proper drainage is essential in order to protect your home’s foundation.  Over time, standing water can seep into it and weaken it.  Here are some simple ways to make sure your foundation is ready for the DFW rainy season.

• Check for depressions in the ground adjacent the foundation and fill them in topsoil to ensure that water drains away from your home. Most foundation repair contractors agree that a slope of 5% (six inches over the first 10 feet) is needed to prevent pooling.
• Re-seed or re-sod bare patches in your lawn near your home.
• Repair leaky gutters and make sure your downspouts and extensions are properly fitted and positioned to evacuate rainwater away from the house.
• Remove debris from gutters and downspouts to keep them from backing up and overflowing onto the ground near your home.
• Check your driveway, patio, and walkways for cracks. Small cracks should be filled with concrete or asphalt to keep rainwater from seeping into the void and raising the surrounding concrete which can worsen the crack.
• In some cases, you may want to consider installing French drains in low-lying areas near your home’s foundation and concrete patio to prevent pooling.
• Make sure your foundation isn’t being threatened by tree roots. According to the North Carolina State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences website,  “One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground.”  That can be a benefit during the rainy months.  But root systems that grow too close to your home can also grow beneath its foundation, driveway, sidewalks, and patio; exerting tremendous upward pressure on these structures.

To have a healthy foundation, you need to maintain a consistent soil moisture content level.  This can be a real challenge here in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, but these simple maintenance activities can help.

Do you think you may already have foundation problems? Now is the time to have it checked out.  Call Atlas Foundation at 817-478-1181 to schedule a free, no-obligation estimate.

Mud Jacking Explained

Mud Jacking Explained

Mud jacking is a commonly used method of foundation repair in Fort Worth and the greater DFW area but many people have never heard of it. Most homeowners don’t give much thought to their concrete driveways, walkways, porches or patios unless the concrete begins to sink or crack. This can negatively impact your home’s curb appeal and can also be a safety hazard for your family and guests.

Fortunately, it is possible to easily and quickly repair sunken concrete using a process called mud jacking, also referred to as slab jacking. Simply put, it is the process of raising sunken concrete back to its original level using a mixture of sand, soil, water, and cement. A mixture of the four materials is mixed to form what foundation repair pros call “mud.” The mud is pumped beneath the sunken portion of the concrete to lift it. The mixture cures to form a solid, stable foundation that stabilizes the slab back in its original position.

How Your Home Foundation Ages

5 Ways You May be Damaging Your Home’s Foundation

Although severe foundation damages are mostly caused by natural disasters such as floods, storms, and hurricanes, there are certain human activities that can damage your home’s foundation.

The following are a few common ways you might be damaging your foundation and what you can do to avoid expensive foundation repair.

Overwatering the lawn can result in damage to your foundation

North Texas sits on a highly expansive clay soil that quickly expands in the presence of excessive moisture and cracks as soon as the moisture is lost. If this happens repeatedly in the soil adjacent to the foundation, it could cause shifting in the foundation itself. For this reason, it’s advisable to have a programmable drip irrigation system that automatically detects the level of moisture in the soil and waters the lawn accordingly.

Poor drainage can damage your home’s foundation

Water must never be allowed to pool near the foundation. As such, all rain water must be drained away from the home. Starting at the roof, ensure that your gutters are clear and that you’ve installed downspouts that gently guide rain water to the ground. Then, further guide this water away via drainage channels. Experts also recommend grading the soil and plant beds adjacent to the foundation for improved drainage.  Installing French drains in areas that are prone to pooling water and also help.

Incorrect landscaping can impact your foundation

First, trees take up a lot of water from the soil which necessitates extensive watering. It means that the moisture levels in your foundation will always be fluctuating. Secondly, roots of large trees sometimes find their way into small cracks within the foundation which could worsen existing damage. To avoid these problems, plant small bushes at least 3 feet away, large bushes at least 5 feet away, and big trees at least 10 feet away from the house.

Improper swimming pool installation can affect your home’s foundation

Swimming pools naturally seep water into the surrounding soil. If the swimming pool is too close to the house, this can result in exposure of the foundation to excessive moisture. To prevent this, ensure correct installation of the pool, making sure that it’s a safe distance from the foundation. In addition, ensure sufficient water proofing.

Extensive interior remodels can damage your foundation

Finally, those nice remodels you might be considering could also have an impact on your foundation. Adding rooms, subtracting walls, and making other structural changes to the house affect the performance of the slab because it shifts the weight of the house. Ask your constructor to provide further advice on this before you go ahead with any remodel.

If you think any of these things may have damaged your home’s foundation, call Atlas Foundation Company at (817) 478-1181 and schedule a no-cost, no-obligation estimate today!

How North Texas Soil can Affect Your Home Foundation

North Texas Soil And Your Home Foundation

The North Texas soil is a major factor in foundation damage. The majority of the north forms part of the Texas Blackland Prairie which is made up of relatively deep soil with the bedrock sitting far below.

In the western part of this prairie, a chalk bedrock helps to support home foundations. However, the rest of the region doesn’t offer any support to foundations which can lead to rapid damage. As if that’s not enough, the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex is located on a slope. So you might find that your home is sitting directly in a drainage path!

The nature of the North Texas soil is, however, the biggest problem. A large portion of the DFW area is located on thick clay soil. During the rainy season, the soil absorbs a lot of water and expands. But as soon as drought sets in, the water is lost and soils quickly contract and crack.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Texas is affected the most by this expansion/contraction trend because northern soils contain the highest levels of clay compared to other regions in the country. Even compared to South Texas, the upper third of the state contains a lot of clay particles, making it prone to seasonal expansion and contraction. The area covering Dallas through Tarrant to Collin and Denton counties is among the worst with over 50% clay content.

When North Texas soil expands and then shrinks, your home and its foundation will rise and fall. Over an extended period, say a few years, this could cause foundation sinking and settling. Since different areas of the soil expand and contract at different rates, the settling is usually uneven which can result in cracking. And in some cases, this can require expensive foundation repair work to prevent the problem from getting worse.

But that’s not all. Clay soils also drain rather poorly. Even several hours after rain or snowing, you’ll still find water pooling next to your foundation. This too can cause heaving and sinking and ultimately lead to foundation failure.

What you can do

If you’re worried about your foundation having seen signs of settling or shifting, don’t wait. Act now. Ensure that your gutters are clean, create drainage channels to direct rain water away from the home, and install a drip irrigation system to ensure consistent moisture in soil adjacent to the foundation. Above all, call a foundation expert to further diagnose the problem. You’ll save thousands of dollars, and possibly the home!

Atlas Foundation Company has been providing reliable foundation repairs for homeowners in the Greater Fort Worth area since 1958, and we stand behind our work with a free lifetime structural warranty

If you think your foundation may be in need of repair, give us a call and schedule a no-cost, no-obligation estimate.

Foundation Warranties Explained

Foundation Warranties

Shopping for a foundation repair company in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas can be a little overwhelming. Different foundation repair companies offer different solutions, different levels of expertise and different warranties on their repairs. Many offer lifetime transferable warranties on their work, but include a lot of confusing fine print. Homeowners need to be sure they understand exactly what is covered by the warranty, including the fine print.

Here are some things to consider when comparing foundation warranties.

What are Transferable Foundation Warranties?

Not all foundation repair companies offer transferable warranties and those who do often have confusing terms. If you sell your home, your transferrable foundation warranty can be assigned to the new owner, but this doesn’t happen automatically. Most foundation companies require that you fill out the necessary transfer documents within 30 days of the transfer of the property title. Many also charge a fee to transfer the warranty.

Our foundation repair warranty stays with the property for the lifetime of the home. We do not require the new owner to contact us and we don’t charge a fee to transfer the warranty.

What Causes Foundation Warranties to be Voided?

Substantial structural alterations can also cause your warranty to be voided. Things like the addition of a room or swimming pool and major plumbing leaks can also affect your warranty.

Natural disasters like earthquakes, tornados, fires, and floods can also impact your warranty.

Improper maintenance can also cause your warranty to be voided. Uneven moisture in the soil is a major cause of foundation failures here in the Fort Worth area and any reputable foundation repair company will take the time to explain how to minimize the risks. Failure to take the necessary actions to properly maintain your foundation following a repair can cause your warranty to be declared null and void.

Failure to pay for your foundation repair in a timely manner can also void your warranty.

Our Lifetime Transferable Foundation Warranty

We offer what we feel is the best foundation repair warranty in the industry and we take the time to answer all your questions and make sure you understand all of the terms and conditions. Click here for more information about our Lifetime Transferrable Foundation Warranty. Please call us at 817-478-1181 if you have questions or need additional information.

Foundation Maintenance Tips for Fall

Fall Foundation Maintenance Tips

Most homeowners think of summer as the time to pay particular attention to their home’s foundation. Here in the Fort Worth area, our hot, dry summers can cause the soil around your foundation to crack and shift.

As we move into the cooler, wetter months it’s not the lack of water but poor drainage that can present problems for your home’s foundation. Here are some simple things you can do this fall to ensure your foundation is in good condition.

Foundation Maintenance Tip #1 – Look for Cracks

As you rake and bag leaves and other debris from your lawn and gardens this fall, do a quick inspection of your home’s foundation. Look for new cracks in exterior walls, walkways, and the foundation itself. Small cracks are typically not an indication of foundation problems but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on them just the same. The best way to do this is by taking note of their location and size over time.

To do this, simply hold a tape measure next to the crack and grab a photo with your Instamatic or cell phone camera. When you do your preseason cleanup next spring, compare what you observed last fall to the current condition of the crack. If you notice that the crack has widened, deepened, or increased in length, it’s a good idea to have it professionally inspected by a reputable foundation repair contractor.

Foundation Maintenance Tip #2 – Check for Proper Drainage

Keeping the soil around your foundation consistently moist is the best way to prevent problems. In the summer, that often means using a soaker hose to keep the soil from becoming too dry. In the fall, the problem is often too much water combined with improper drainage. As you make your inspection, look for standing water near the foundation and make modifications as necessary to fix the problem. In some cases, this can be as simple as adding more soil near the foundation to create a sufficient grade to allow water to flow away from the home. If the problem is more severe or persistent, you may need to consider having a French drain installed.

Foundation Maintenance Tip #3 – Check Your Rain Gutters

Leaky or obstructed rain gutters are a common cause of standing water near foundations. Be sure to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from your gutters this fall and that the ground beneath the downspouts provides enough of a grade to move the rainwater away from the foundation. If the grade is not sufficient to move the rainwater away from your foundation, you might consider installing a downspout extension. While you’re at it, you should install leaf guards to prevent future clogs.

Foundation Maintenance Tip #4 – Inspect Your Landscaping

Finally, you should check to make sure tree roots are not encroaching on your foundation. Mature trees can absorb as much as 150 gallons of water per day! That’s water that could otherwise serve to maintain the moisture of the soil around your home’s foundation. To prevent this problem, you should consider removing any trees that are near the foundation, or installing a root barrier to minimize the risk.

These simple foundation maintenance activities can help minimize the chances of damage to your home’s foundation. If you feel that your foundation may need repair, call Atlas Foundation Company at 817-478-1181 to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation estimate.