Preventing Summer Weather From Damaging Foundations

Now that the temperatures are starting to warm up and summer is just around the corner, there is a risk of foundation damage for many home and business owners, especially those that are in hot and dry climates. The best way to prevent foundation damage from the summer conditions is watering. Watering foundations, like concrete slab foundations is essential. By not keeping the soil around a foundation moist, the foundation walls are at risk of cracking or other damages. When foundation cracks become too large, they may end up causing problems and will require professional repair.

Let’s take a further look at how summer weather conditions can damage the foundation of a structure, as well as helpful tips and tricks to preventing foundation damage from occurring when the temperatures rise.

How Summer Weather Can Damage Concrete

While flooding is one of the leading causes of foundation damage, the scorching conditions of the summertime is a threat that many home and business owners tend to overlook. Although structures in cooler or mild climates may not have to worry about this as much, those in hot and dry climates do. In certain climates, the conditions become so hot and dry that it causes the soil to contract. This is how many foundation issues start and the damage most commonly occurs in slab, pier, and beam foundations. Because of these conditions, watering is extremely important because the heat can eventually lead to costly foundation repairs if the proper actions are not taken quickly. When it is hot, especially when temperatures are in the 90s or 100s, the soil around the foundations will contract and move. The movement of the soil can cause the foundation to sit unevenly and potentially create cracks in the walls. In order to prevent this from occurring, implementing a watering system will help the soil retain its moisture and prevent any damages from occurring. There are many ways to water a foundation, whether its a soaker hose, sprinkler system, or an underground watering system. Constant watering of the soil during the hot and dry months will help prevent issues that would require foundation repair. The water will be absorbed into the soil near the foundation, preventing it from cracking.

How Often Should A Foundation Be Watered?

This is a question that many people in regions with dry climate conditions often ask. With all the damages that can occur due to these conditions, it’s essential to know how often a foundation needs to be watered. In order to avoid slab, beam, and pier foundation issues one must ensure that the soil around their foundation does not get too dry.

In regions where the summer temperatures reach the mid-90s to the 100s, the foundation of a structure should be watered everyday during the hot and dry months. While it is best to keep the soil surrounding the foundation moist, it is important not to get it too wet. Too much moisture can cause as much foundation damage as not enough water. If the soil around the foundation is squishy or sinking, there is too much moisture being applied. If a sprinkler system is being used as a foundation watering method, it should run for 15 to 20 minutes each day. Experts recommend watering after the sun has gone down to avoid evaporation of the water. The water should not be too close to the foundation, about 10 to 15 inches away from the base will do. The goal of watering is to maintain consistent moisture levels in the soil around the foundation in order to prevent it from becoming too dry or too wet.

If a sprinkler system is not on your list of purchases, many home and business owners use a soaker hose to water the areas around their foundation. If this is the case, it is important to ensure that watering is done frequently because this watering method releases water at a much slower rate. In order to protect the foundation from shifting or cracking it is recommended to leave the water running for 45 minutes to one hour. Since all of the sides of a foundation are usually exposed to the heat during these months, multiple hoses may be needed. Soaker hoses can be found at just about any home improvement store and an inexpensive way to maintain the health of a foundation.

As you can see, the summer weather conditions are a potential risk for foundations in certain regions. However, by ensuring the foundation is watered regularly, home and business owners can ensure that their foundation will be protected from costly damages.

When damages do occur, foundation repair may be required. Whenever a foundation is being repaired, high-quality materials should be used to ensure future problems will be prevented. At Magnum Piering, we are an industry leader in manufacturing high capacity, high quality steel piling products for foundation repair applications. Our piering products are installed by hundreds of foundation contractors. To learn more about foundation repairs, damages, and our steel piling products, visit our site!