You likely know the heat of a Texas summer can be hard on people, pets, and plants. Did you know summer is also hard on your home's foundation? Understand summertime foundation stresses, and learn how to properly care for your foundation in summer weather.

Summertime Foundation Concerns

Your foundation relies on the surrounding soil for support. That soil shifts and moves due to expansion and contraction from varying moisture levels. Your foundation can suffer damage from this movement.

Several aspects of summer weather are tough on your foundation, especially in Texas. The climate combination of excessive temperature, drought, and heavy rain each play a role in foundation damage.

Excessive Heat

Texas summer days can average well over 90 degrees. With temperatures at this extreme, soil shrinks and contracts away from your footings. This can cause footings to buckle and walls and slabs to crack.

High temperatures do not affect your foundation evenly. Sun and wind are more pronounced on southern-facing walls and heat and dry this area more. Southeast and southwest corners often have the most damage, as corners of homes are heaviest and most likely to settle first. This uneven heating and settling can cause twisting and buckling.

Prolonged Drought

In combination with heat, drought can further damage your foundation. Moisture in the soil causes the ground to swell. When the soil dries out, it shrinks. The clay soils common in Texas are especially prone to this shrinkage.

The trees near your foundation can further dry out your soil, as they take large quantities of water from the surrounding soil daily.

Heavy Rain

As much as heat and drought cause contraction issues with your soil, you do not want too much water, either. Heavy rainfall from summer storms and hurricanes can saturate your soil. This saturated soil puts too much pressure on basement walls and foundations.

Just like heat and drought shrinkage, the expansion of soil damages your foundation. Flooding causes shifts in the soil that can unsettle the foundation, causing cracks by shifting the ground under and around your footings.

Summertime Foundation Care

Counteract the summertime combination of heat, drought, and heavy rain with proper foundation care. Protect yourself from summer foundation damage by following these important action steps.

Control Water Around Your Foundation

One tip to help ease the contraction of soil during summer heat and drought is to water the soil around your foundation. Lay a soaker hose along the south wall, wrapping to the east and west walls. Run this for several minutes at night to help keep consistent soil moisture.

You can landscape next to your foundation with groundcover, flowers, and small shrubs. Be careful not to have trees or large plants with too much root structure that could damage your foundation and use too much of the water.

To prevent excess water around your foundation, make sure to install gutters and drains and keep them clean and functional. Do not allow water to pool around your foundation, either.

Inspect Your Home for Damage

Often, controlling the water can help prevent damage. Sometimes, it is impractical or impossible to water your soil enough to protect against contraction or to ward off extreme flooding. Always inspect your home each summer for signs of foundation issues.

Usually, you will notice signs of this underground movement in your walls, doorways, and windows. Walls can develop cracks, especially in the drywall seams. Windows can stick and not open smoothly. Your doors might not close properly. Sometimes, grout might crumble and tile buckle and pop off.

Repair Damaged Foundations Right Away

If you have inspected your foundation and noticed any damage, don't put off professional inspection and help. Small cracks today can quickly expand under further summer stress. These cracks can allow water into your home, creating further damage.

You can repair small cracks with relative ease, but any sign of major foundation shifting may take more extensive repair. Hire a professional right away to protect your home.

Inspect your home this summer for any cracking, shifting, or other problem signs. For help with any foundation issues, contact us at Bonilla Foundation Repair.