Rain can ruin your weekend plans, cause cabin fever for the kids, and even cause damage to your home. Usually the conversation of heavy rain and home damage revolves around a leaky roof, however, the opposite side of your home’s structure is also very susceptible to the effects of rain.
The way that your home’s foundation responds to periods of heavy rain, which are common in south Louisiana’s tropical climate, depends on a number of factors.
Type of Soil Your Home Built On
There are different types of soil throughout Louisiana. Depending on which type of soil is in your part of the step influences everything from how your home is built to how it can be repaired. The soil type can drastically change, even across a relatively short distance. For example, the soil in our area around Baton Rouge is an expansive, clay-laden soil. This type of soil extends east to the north shore areas around Covington and Slidell. However, only a few miles in New Orleans, the soil is very different. When it comes to foundation repair methods used in New Orleans are ineffective in Baton Rouge, and vice versa.
Type of Foundation Your Home Has
Most homes today are built upon a concrete slab. This slab is poured to resemble the footprint of your home that sits directly on our clay soil. However, there are many homes in our area that are built upon a pier and beam foundation. While a pier and beam foundation is suspended off of the ground it is still vulnerable to soil movement.
How Does Precipitation Impact Your Soil and Foundation?
For a pier and beam foundation, excessive rain and poor drainage can lead to mold and mildew on the infrastructure of the foundation. For both types of foundations built upon this expansive soil, rain will cause the soil to swell and expand, exerting for source against the slab and the piers. On the other hand, periods of excessive dryness will force the soil to contract, removing support the foundation. Both of these issues can be resolved with proper drainage.
Drainage Around Your Home
It’s crucial that there is away for water to move itself away from your foundation. This allows the soil to receive the amount of moisture it needs without getting too wet or too dry. If you notice areas or standing water, or spots near your foundation that accumulate puddles after it rains, these need to be addressed. The soil underneath these areas is rapidly expanding. It’s important that your gutters and downspouts are clean, clear, and channeling rain away from your foundation. If you do have problem areas, it’s a good idea to consult with a drainage expert to come up with a solution.
When it comes to your home’s foundation, you can’t be too careful. If you’ve noticed some problems when the rain comes down, or recognize any of the signs of foundation damage, the expert team at WCK Foundation Repair is here to help. WCK uses the only method recommended by engineers to repair foundation damage in our area’s unique soil.