A good portion of California’s soil has clay. Naturally, clay soils expand and contract with the presence of water (or lack thereof). Most states are not immune to this issue, and the San Jose area is not the exception. But then, what does this have to do with cracked foundations?
At ADG Construction, Inc., we care for the safety of your home. As such, we’ll see why the soil your home sits on is essential for its stability. When in doubt, call us at (408) 314-7733!
Has the soil caused my home to have cracked foundations?
We’ll not bore you with the technical details, but the fact is that this expansion is stronger than your foundation and the concrete itself. At the end of the day, the amount of moisture doesn’t really matter. In fact, it’s the foundation settlement which is actually dangerous.
However, an unchanging level of moisture means no expansion or contraction. Keep that in mind for a while.
Locating and preventing cracked foundations
When preventing foundation issues, let’s start by the fact that you can’t control all moisture. However, there are other things you can do.
Diverting the downspout
When the rainy season comes, lots of inches of water can go down from your roof through the gutters and downspouts. Now, can you see where it goes?
Basically, people usually don’t care about where the water goes. As such, water ends up accumulating at the base of the downspout, right next to the foundation. As a result, all the water emptied into the ground will expand it, and thus damage the foundations.
Now, in order to solve this issue, you must divert the downspouts away from the home. You can simply add an underground extension that leads water to the street.
Plumbing leaks
Leaky pipes or valves can take their toll on your foundation. In fact, you can spot some signs besides seeing cracked foundations.
When doing a quick inspection, check for efflorescence. Technically, this is a white, powdery substance that indicates the presence of water. Plus, seeing rust residues is also a sign of excessive moisture.
As a matter of fact, the latter also means that the inner rebar is weakening. Therefore, make sure that your plumbing system is working without any issues!
The slope of your property
When you build your home on the hillside, water will naturally find its way downward. Now, if you let that go, you’ll eventually face the urgency of fixing your cracked foundations.
So, the best way to combat this issue is to grade the soil near your home. Morever, you can also install a drain ditch or French drain. In this way, you will catch and divert the water as it approaches your foundations.
Don’t hesitate and get in touch with ADG Construction, Inc. if you spot cracked foundations in your home. Get in touch with our team today!