Rain can ruin your weekend plans, cause cabin fever for the kids, and even damage 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 susceptible to the effects of rain. At WCK Foundation Repair, we know the damage that rain and moisture can cause to the stability of your foundation. Let’s explore how heavy rains can impact your foundation so you can know when it’s time to call in the repair experts for pier and beam repair.
What Factors Should You Keep in Mind?
How your home’s foundation responds to periods of heavy rain, which are common in South Louisiana’s tropical climate, depends on several factors. Here are two of the main ones.
The Type of Soil Your Home Is Built On
There are many different types of soil throughout Louisiana. As such, the type of soil in your part of the state 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 Northshore areas around Covington and Slidell. However, only a few miles south in New Orleans, the soil is very different. When it comes to slab foundation or pier and beam repair methods, those used in New Orleans are ineffective in Baton Rouge and vice versa.
The Type of Foundation Your Home Has
Most homes today are built on a concrete slab. This slab is poured to resemble the footprint of your home, and it sits directly on the clay soil. However, there are many homes in the Baton Rouge area that are built on a pier and beam foundation. While a pier and beam foundation is raised off 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, the rain will cause the soil beneath to swell and expand, exerting force against the slab and the piers. On the other hand, periods of excessive dryness will force the soil to contract, removing support for the foundation. Both of these issues can be resolved with proper drainage.
Drainage Around Your Home
Proper drainage is essential to move water 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 of 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.
Prevent Foundation Damage With Expert Pier and Beam Repair
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 signs of foundation damage like cracked walls or sinking floors, the expert team at WCK Foundation Repair is here to help.
We use the Drilled Pier Method, the only method recommended by engineers to repair foundation damage in our area’s unique soil. Request a free estimate online or call us today at 225-664-5956. Protect your home’s foundation and get the expert solutions you need with WCK Foundation Repair.