How Soil Shifting Affects Your Foundation
When the earth beneath your property shifts, you may need pering to fix the damage.
We all hear it time and time again -Your property has settled and there seems to be cracks everywhere you look. This did not happen overnight, though; so how exactly did your foundation shift and when? We may not be able to tell you exactly when your foundation began to move, but we can tell you that the soil shifting may be the main culprit. No, you cannot physically feel a property move due to foundation problems, but you may be able to hear it, if you listen closely.
Property Whispers
If you have ever noticed that almost eerie creaking sound as you sleep, you do not have to get yourself into hysterics about your house being haunted. In fact, hearing creaking in your house is generally a good sign that your foundation is trying to tell you something!
Although houses and buildings are built for protection, the grounds they sit upon are often forgotten about when it comes to what protects them. As any property ages, so does the ground beneath it. Whether you live somewhere with harsh winters or scorching summer’s, weather plays a huge role in the condition of the soil on which any building sits.
When soil has too much water, it expands due to the surplus of moisture. Where is there room for this movement, you may ask? The answer is up and out, opening your foundation and pushing concrete apart in turn. This damage will not happen overnight, but if left long enough you will begin to see the cracks and foundation problems associated with erosion.
On the flipside, if the soil beneath your foundation is too dry the reverse will occur. Drought can cause soil to become too dry, shrinking the grounds on which any foundation sits, leaving an unstable surface for concrete to lay upon. This soil condition will cause foundation failure too, and result in property damage that will need piering to fix.
Extreme weather and climate changes create a less stable ground and a chain reaction occurs due to the soil’s movement, leaving you with damage that calls for proper piering. Whether soil is too dry or too wet, both conditions can lead to the physical shift of a foundation. So tonight, sleep well knowing that your house isn’t creaking because of a ghost but, be aware that something more serious may be at hand. If shifting is a problem in your area, you can find all the tools you need right here. Get in touch with us today and order your piering products now.