Foundation Maintenance During the Rainy Season in DFW

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.