Coming as a big surprise following 2011, what many call the driest year for the Houston area was the influx of rain, storms and flooding. The Houston area and surrounding towns were victims of a horrible storm that came through Houston. The rain was falling so quickly that it jumped almost 1.6 inches in about 10 minutes at one point. Almost seven inches of rain was setting on the streets of Houston when the storms began to subside.
The drought that Texas has been experiencing over the last year has caused the soil to be unleveled underneath the foundation of homes. Your home may not be prepared to deal with the potential flooding that has occurred recently, which could lead to foundation complications in the future.
In order to flood-proof your home you need to assess the areas of the home that would be most likely to be affected by a flood. There are two different types of flood proofing methods: dry flood-proofing and wet-flood proofing. Dry flood-proofing is when you build below the already predesigned flood elevation to keep an area dry. This can cause major damage to a home causing walls to collapse and even more damage than if the flood had directly impacted the home. Many commercial waterproofing options only protect from rain but will not help if flooding occurs.
Wet flood-proofing means letting water in and the removing everything that could be damaged by the incoming rain. This can often become more expensive because you generally will rebuild the potentially affected area to withstand the water by changing the walls, raising water heaters or other expensive items, as well as resealing ones foundation. This option is best suited for homes over one story.
As always, having a certified professional inspect your home is the best bet to help protect your family.
Everyday our earth is changing; especially now with the weather becoming more inconsistent. Everyone has their own personal issues and stress to deal with that the last thing anyone wants right now is to take on a house repair. People want to come home, relax and enjoy their home, not stress out that something is broke or might break soon.
With the current drought that we are having, the soil underneath a home’s foundation can become dry and lose which can make it difficult for a house to be level.
Did you know that pier and beam foundations are typically poured on ground that contains a great deal of clay in the soil? They will often incorporate room for a crawl space for the home that will later allow easier access to heating and plumbing utilities. These types of foundations are used in many homes in the state of Texas.
Currently, Southern Texas has an extreme and exceptional drought status, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. 2011 was the driest year on record in Texas, according to the National Weather Service. This drought isn’t just affecting the agriculture of Texas, but increasing the amount of structural foundation problems as well.
In Texas, among other states, the common cause for foundation problems is called expansive soil. Soil moisture changes affect foundations due to periods of unusual rain, changes in humidity or drought. Because foundation soils are expansive, they will “heave” which can move the structure up when there is a high amount of moisture, causing it to “float”. On the other hand, when there are long periods of drought, the expansive soil will “break down”, causing settlement. Either way, damage can be widespread. Expansive soil should always be considered when there are suggestions of foundation movement.
Common signs that there is foundation movement are cracks down interior or exterior walls, cracks in ceilings, or cracks on the concrete floor. Solutions can be simple or extensive such as demolishing and then reconstructing damaged sections of foundations. Either way, the damage that results will require the expertise of a foundation repair specialist.
Dear friends, family & followers of Allied Foundation,
Normally, our blog posts are not this personal, but this month I’ve decided to match the season and talk a little bit about what I’m thankful for.
I am so thankful for my loving and supportive family. They are responsible for much of my drive, and they help make running Allied Foundation a little bit easier. I’m very thankful for the Allied Foundation staff. They keep me busy and focused, not to mention that they are great at making quality foundation repair. I’m also thankful for my company, which has been running since 1982. My company is responsible for getting me out of my bed each morning and allowing my family and I to live happy & healthy lives here in Houston.
Last but not least, I’m extremely thankful for every single customer, and every future customer. You have booked us solid for these past few months and the next couple to follow. I am so grateful and honored that you selected Allied Foundation to handle all of your foundation repair needs. It is the people of Houston and its surrounding areas that keep us going day after day, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday. Celebrate around a table with family and friends.
When you think of the drought currently going on in Texas, you think you have seen the worst, right? Well, that may not be entirely true. Texas may be looking at another dry winter ahead. Clearly, this is bad news for the already drought-stressed state.
94% of the pasture areas of Texas are rated at poor or very poor. Most of the water Texas receives has been brought in from outside states. Currently only about 8% of the corn crop is usable. Ranchers all over Texas have been relocating. Texas is looking at a statewide agricultural loss of over $8 billion by the end of 2011. Although recent rain has helped, but we have a long way to go before we can recover from this epidemic.
So, what can you do? There are a few simple steps you can take to help conserve water!
Turn the faucet off while brushing your teeth.
Fix your running toilets.
Water your lawn on the designated day, and at the right time of day.
Catching condensation from your AC unit. Depending on the unit, it can produce gallons of water a day.
These simple tips can save lots of water for you and your family. In a time of drought, every drop counts!
Allied Foundation cares deply for its fellow Texans and wanted to do our part, that is why we wrote this blog. Thank you for reading. http://crackedslab.com
Well, it looks like the Lone Star State isn’t about to cool down with any showers any time soon. We’ve been trying everything from rain dances to yelling at an open sky, but this dry weather is sticking to us like glue. We can only hope that soon enough there will be a break in the clouds and showers will pour out. Until then, there are a couple of things you should know to keep your home’s foundation safe in this dry heat.
Wetter is better. Dry weather usually means dry soil, and dry soil tends to pull away from a foundation. When a foundation doesn’t have soil surrounding it, then there’s nothing there to support it. Foundations can crack and become troublesome in situations like this drought. It’s always better to water your lawns, as well as the small space between the grass and your home, every day to keep the soil damp; as an added bonus, it keeps your grass nice and green, too. Don’t forget: Some areas have water restrictions in place, so know the facts before you water down your lawn.
A soaker hose is a great investment. Soaker hoses are great for keeping the soil and foundation hydrated. They are designed to keep evaporation from taking the water out of the ground – which is a great way to help save water in our drought. These hoses will save water, time, money and your foundation! They can range anywhere from $5-50 and vary in length, thickness and even color, but we suggest getting one under 100 feet to be the most effective and water conscious.
This is a definite sign of a cracked foundation.
Keep your eyes peeled. As a homeowner, we know you want to keep the value of your home solid. It’s your job to look out for warning signs of a cracked foundation around your home, so we can stop the problem in its tracks. On the outside walls of your home, look for small cracks toward the bottom of the wall – in brick or sheetrock, this is very easy to spot. Also check for separation around windows and doors, and even the garage door. These are sure-fire signs of a cracked foundation.
We hope you use these quick tips on keeping your foundation safe in this drought and dry weather. If you do suspect that your foundation is cracked, please call us at (281) 479-5247 for a free estimate. We will take a look, see the problem and fix it as quickly as possible. For more information about cracked foundations and repair, please visit our website at www.crackedslab.com.
With the summer heat and drought at an all time high, the weather could be damaging your home. Having your home inspected for damage is a decision you won’t regret. The damage done to your home by the hand of Mother Nature can be unsafe; followed by expensive repair bills. Having an inspector check your home annually for damage is a safe and inexpensive way to care for your home.
How do you know if your home is in need of foundation repair? The answer is as easy as picking up the phone and calling a licensed foundation repair specialist. Some common warning signs to look-out for include: the bricks on the outside of your home separating, doors in your house not closing properly, un-level floors, chimneys sinking or separating, and cracks in poured concrete ex: driveways and pool decks.
Repairing the cracks and leaks are quick and easy solutions that are a short term fix to a major problem. Before you know it, the molding will separate and the cracks will come back worse than before. The goal is to catch the signs of foundation damage before they ruin your home completely.
Just because there are no visible symptoms, doesn’t mean that you are off the hook. Termites can hallow-out the frame of your house and will go unnoticed until it is too late. Like the termites, faulty pipes and large trees in your yard can be silently breaking away at your foundation like the termites do to the frame of your home.
Having a safe and secure home is a priority and shouldn’t have to be an option. Call a licensed foundation repair specialist today! Everyone can benefit from having their home inspected in order to know if you are in need of foundation repair.
For more information, visit our website at: Crackedslab.com
With school coming to an end and summer plans lurking just around the corner, it’s important to make sure everything is in tip-top shape around your home before moving. Are the bricks on the outside of your house separating? Is the tile in your bathroom cracking? Check your foundation! Having a good foundation is what keeps your home intact.
With kids out of school, a lot of families take the opportunity to move into a new house during the summer. The first thing expectant buyers and realtors will look for when buying a home, is a healthy foundation and structure. Would you buy a house that was falling apart? Not only will a cracked foundation lower the value of your home, but it will cause the house to be unsafe for people to live in. Having a safe home is an investment to you and your family’s future.
Hot summer conditions can cause soil to contract. This forces the soil to shift; in doing so, air pockets can occur causing sink holes and uneven ground. It’s important to keep the ground underneath your home moist, in order to prevent the shifting which will cause a cracked foundation.
Although large trees in your yard are a great source of shade and add value to your homes curb appeal, they could be secretly cracking your foundation. During the dry summer months, their roots are on the hunt for more water and will try to find it under your home. Roots growing and pushing on your foundation is another factor that needs to be addressed in foundation deterioration.
It’s important to check your house for any symptoms of a cracking foundation before making any major moves or vacations. Most repairs only take a day to complete; making this a priority before you leave won’t be a hassle. Allowing a cracking foundation to damage a house can be a very expensive mistake to make. Making an investment in your foundation is a key element to making an investment in the future of your home. Future buyers will look for a home that is safe and stable for the safety of their family.
Before moving this summer, keep an eye out for foundation deterioration warning signs such as: doors not closing properly, cracking tile, separating bricks, cracked walls, and leaning chimneys. Checking your foundation before moving could save you from having to deal with major damage in the future.
For Foundation repairs and information in the Houston area, visit our website at: http://www.crackedslab.com
Texas is currently experiencing one of the worst droughts in history. Due to a lack of rainfall and the hot summer heat, the ground is dryer than ever. This is a major issue not only for our agriculture, but for the foundation beneath our homes.
The USDA released a warning on Thursday, June 9, notifying Texas residents of the extreme drought, “Texas and Oklahoma are dry, prompting the expansion of each drought category in those two states. The hot temperatures (maximum above 100 degrees Fahrenheit many days, meaning anomalies of more than 10 degrees above normal) and windy conditions continue to extract moisture from the soil.”
With agriculture and cattle being significantly affected by the drought, protecting the safety of your home should also be a concern. The foundation beneath your home is at risk of damage due to the unforgiving drought. When the moisture gets pulled from the soil beneath your home, the foundation is at risk of cracking and severely damaging your home.
With the drought, comes watering restrictions and the soil beneath the foundation is at risk of drying out. The problem with soil is that it will shrink if it dries while under the weight of a house, causing settlement. This is a concern for the safety of homes built before 1970, on a spread footing foundation as opposed to the more modern caissons. Caissons are sturdy beams anchored deep into the bedrock which allow for better support. Being anchored deeply, the beams won’t take a blow from the drought as badly in the shallow soil.
Lack of rainfall has become a major issue this season, “Just 4.7 inches of rain on average, the least for the period since 1967,” said State Climatologist John Nielsen- Gammon. As the soil dries and becomes unstable, homes are settling and are being damaged.
Be proactive and have the foundation beneath your home inspected. The drought affecting the agriculture doesn’t have to affect your home’s foundation.
For more information on how to protect your home, visit our website at: www.crackedslab.com
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Coming as a big surprise following 2011, what many call the driest year for the Houston area was the influx of rain, storms and flooding. The Houston area and surrounding towns were victims of a horrible storm that came through Houston. The rain was falling so quickly that it jumped almost 1.6 inches in about 10 minutes at one point. Almost seven inches of rain was setting on the streets of Houston when the storms began to subside.
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