2014 Weather – Hottest Year in Recorded History
The world has been keeping temperature records for 135 years and it was announced recently that 2014 was the hottest year of all. Multiple organizations, including NASA, the official weather agency of Japan, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), have confirmed or agreed on this basic fact. Scientists have stated that the world is warmer now than anytime in the past 100 years and it is likely warmer than anytime in the last 5000 years.
This announcement follows similar “hottest year in history” announcements in 2010 and 2005. According to NOAA, additional records were set including the “hottest December” in recorded history and the “hottest six month period” in 2014. Scientists said that these new records were more than incremental increases. The word “shattered” was used by some and other scientists have stated that every continent on earth set some type of new high temperature record.
38 Years of Higher Temperatures
NASA’s Gavin Schmidt has stated that the increase continues in the buildup of greenhouse gases and it would be no surprise to him if 2015 is another record year. Data from NOAA has shown that 2014 was the latest in a 38 year continuous string of temperatures warmer than the 20th century average.
So Why are We so Focused on the Weather?
Because we know that hot, dry weather is the single greatest factor causing concrete slab foundation damage. Hot, dry weather will create evaporation and significant moisture loss in the clay soils that are common in Texas. When clay soils lose moisture they shrink in volume and “pull away” from the foundation. When that happens a portion of the concrete foundation has lost contact with the soil – it has lost its support. When this area of the soil becomes large enough the slab foundation will crack and fall until it reaches something to support it – which is the shrunken soil.
The 2014 weather and drought in Texas was more severe in the Dallas and Plano areas than in Houston. We saw significant numbers of homeowners in these areas call us after observing one of the warning signs of foundation damage.
The most common solution for these homeowner is to install support columns under the perimeter foundation beam. Usually the hot, dry weather will affect the perimeter of the home first. Unfortunately, foundation damage is not limited to the perimeter. It can also be present in the interior of the home.
The Highest Quality Foundation Repair method available in Texas is the Bell Bottom Pier method. It is far better than the cheaper stacked, concrete cylinders method. Bell Bottom Piers will support 5.8 times more weight and has a “footprint” 13 times greater than these cheaper concrete cylinder methods.
Call Dawson should you have any questions, or want a FREE foundation inspection and estimate.
Return to the Home page.