Protect your Foundation

By theadmin

Between ongoing drought conditions and the increased frequency of small earthquakes in certain parts of the state, Texas foundations are experiencing greater-than-average risk this summer season.

While no one expects “the big one” to level any of our cities anytime soon, two major fault lines — the Balcones and the Ouachita Tectonic — do run through Central and Northeast Texas including Austin, San Antonio, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In addition, the Barnett Shale — the largest natural gas reservoir in the country — spans a dozen counties centered around Fort Worth.

A new study by Cliff Frohlich, Ph.D. of the Institute for Geophysics at the University of Texas, reveals that the number of small earthquakes near gas drilling sites has surged significantly. So while 2009 saw a total of 17 minor earthquakes in the metroplex, there were six in June 2012 alone, including one quake responsible for $100,000 damage to the Boy Scout Museum in Irving.

According to Dr. Frohlich, even an earthquake measuring less than 1.5 on the Richter scale — a level most people won’t even feel — has the potential to harm homes by placing extra stress on foundations.

Scout the Symptoms

The Texas-based Foundation Repair Association offers the following warning signs for foundation problems, regardless of their origin. Signs homeowners should look for include:

  • Doors that stick or refuse to close properly
  • Cracks in the wall, particularly at corners of doors and windows
  • Gaps between the garage door and the pavement on either side of the garage door
  • Stubborn windows that resist opening
  • Fractures or fissures in a home’s brick siding

Inside the home, the telltale signs of foundation problems are:

  • Uneven floors
  • Cabinet doors that won’t remain shut
  • Diagonal cracks in the wall at corners of doors and windows
  • Air leaks around the fireplace

Solutions for Safeguarding Your Slab

So what’s a homeowner to do? According to the Better Business Bureau of Central, Coastal, Southwest Texas, and the Permian Basin, “Even if your foundation appears fine, help prevent future issues by keeping the soil around the house moist and keeping any landscaping alive.”

Your best bet, particularly during the sweltering summer, is to water regularly with a soaker hose positioned about 2 feet away from your slab. Run it approximately as often as you water your lawn. You should also consider:

  • Drainage. Make sure water always drains away from the foundation by doing a bit of scouting following the first summer rainstorm. Walk around your property to check for any pooling or ponding of the rainwater. You may have to re-grade the area if there is.
  • Sealing cracks. Hairline cracks in your slab are as common as fire ants in these parts, but that doesn’t mean you should simply accept or ignore them. Fill cracks with epoxy or face a potential insect invasion.
  • Photographic evidence. At the start of summer, snap a picture on your smartphone of any suspicious cracks inside or out, then go back in September and repeat. If you note a worrisome change, you might want to consult a foundation repair pro.