Can a foundation be harmed by standing water?
Water on its own won’t harm a foundation. Water that enters the incorrect kinds of soils may be quite destructive. I’m referring to expansive clay soils when I say “the incorrect sorts of soils.”
What Happens When Water Collects at Your Building’s Foundation?
Tsunamis, floods, and storms are all caused by water. The Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns were formed by water. Water, despite its serenity and placidity, employs tenacity to bring about significant changes in everything from mountain ranges to your home.
Hydraulic Pressure:
Standing water’s “persistency” is really referred to as hydrostatic pressure. This is the force (pressure) exerted by a stationary fluid (hydro) (static). The force is created by the force of gravity pushing the water towards an item. Consider dams, boats, and your home’s foundation.
Vast clay soils act like sponges, absorbing water. Similar to sponges, clays expand when they take in water. When wet clay that has swelled dries out, it contracts. How much a clay puffed up determines how much clay it will shrink. As they transition from an entirely dry condition to a saturated wet one, certain clays will expand by a factor of two. Water must remain in one place for an extended period of time in order to cause damage to your house. Water trickles that keep the soil moist can sometimes cause issues. For example, if your air conditioner condensate line is regularly dripping, it can provide enough water to raise the side of your house. (As an aside, connecting the AC condensate line to the sewer is the easiest approach to deal with it.)
Water will be absorbed by the soils close to and beneath your foundation if it stands near your house. If the soils are not allowed to dry out, they will swell and raise your home over time. Soils may not seem capable of pushing a house up, but they can. When expansive clay soils expand, they may push up with hundreds of pounds per square foot of the pressure, more than enough to elevate your home.
Water will be absorbed by the soils close to and beneath your foundation if it stands near your house. If the soils are not allowed to dry out, they will swell and raise your home over time. Soils may not seem capable of pushing a house up, but they can. When expansive clay soils expand, they may push up with hundreds of pounds per square foot of the pressure, more than enough to elevate your home.
To avoid issues, make sure the earth surrounding your house slopes away from the Foundation Repair Tarzana for at least five feet. The water should run to drains or sloping places where it may be carried away. If no water is standing around your house an hour after a downpour, your drainage is ok.
The best course of action is to get expert help before the damage worsens. Because of our knowledge, understanding, and timely service, RLM Retrofit Foundation has established itself as a top choice.
