What Causes Foundation Problems in Allen, TX?
Our experienced team understands the unique soil conditions in Allen and how moisture changes, poor drainage, and shifting ground can affect your foundation. Here are some of the problems leading to damage.
Dry Weather: Can Cause Foundation Issues
Unusually dry and also wet conditions can contribute to soil changes which can lead to foundation issues. In dry conditions, contracting soil can cause cracks to develop as the soil types in Allen have a high concentration of clay. The pressure that is exerted on your concrete slab from settling can lead to cracks.
House settling is considered normal, and small cracks, especially along expansion joints, are not always a reason to become concerned. However, if you begin to notice changes in door jams, windows, or cracks in your drywall, there is a good chance that your property is experiencing a foundation problem that may require expert repair.
Wet Weather: Affects The Area Around Your Foundation
Wet weather creates a different dynamic, which can also adversely affect your soil. When abnormal amounts of water pool around your foundation, the ground saturation may cause water to find a channel pathway below the interior portion of your concrete slab. This calls for drainage correction.
As soils compact, the elevation and grading of your home or office is changed and this loss of support can cause your slab to lose its original level elevation. Even slight changes in the wrong places can negatively impact your property, and should be dealt with promptly if you suspect an issue.
Prevention is also something that should be taken seriously as well. If you notice wet areas near your foundation, it could be the sign of a drainage problem. Consider installing a proper drainage system that includes either an area drain or French drains. This will channel water out to the street, and away from your foundation.
A simple fix like this can be a great “insurance policy” against otherwise serious issues that could develop down the road.
Maturing Trees: Water Depletion and Root Systems
Another factor that can lead to foundation problems in Allen is maturing trees. If your home or commercial property has a large tree nearby, it’s possible that the root system can cause foundation issues in two ways.
First, growing trees require lots of water. Because the root system is responsible for this intake, water can be depleted from the soil surrounding your foundation. (Depending upon where the trees are located, and which direction the root system is growing.) If the depleted moisture changes the composition of the soil, the resulting settlement can cause the foundation to sink, even just inches in some cases.
Another way trees can impact your slab is when roots take a wrong turn when searching for water. Even though concrete is extremely hard, roots can exert upward pressure, which leads to cracking, separation, and eventually problems.
While this can be bad news if it’s too late, the good news is that root barrier systems can be installed to prevent this from happening in the first place. So now that you understand some of the causes of foundation problems in Allen, let’s discuss some of the solutions.