The National Weather Service has predicted the two-year long drought will persist in North Texas. That means homeowners in Dallas, Fort Worth and other communities around the metroplex will have to take extra care of their foundation in the coming months.
But even with sufficient rain, the Dallas area homes are still extremely susceptible to slab problems. Foundation damage is common in North Texas because of a “very active zone of clay soil running through North Texas up into Oklahoma”, according to structural engineer Ian Ray of Dallas, Texas (“Fend off foundation troubles, home repairs by watering right”, Dallas Morning News, February 24, 2012). This zone of clay acts like a sponge—swelling when wet, shrinking when dry. Can you imagine the stress that puts on your home’s foundation? It’s not good.
The drought is such a problem in the Dallas area that city officials in all the cities around North Texas have approved foundation watering to continue even though there are watering restrictions in place for all residents. Watering the foundation helps keep the moisture levels more consistent. But since a homeowner is not able to measure soil contact under the slab, it’s still somewhat of a guessing game. Nonetheless, homeowners in Dallas, we encourage you to water your foundation, even during the winter months.
As you water, make sure there is no “ponding” of water near the foundation. The water should drain away from the slab. If you are using drip irrigation or soaker hoses, the best method is to place them 3 to 4 feet away from your foundation and not directly next to the concrete.
But frankly, the drought conditions will persist. Your valuable home will be stressed at its very base.
Most methods of foundation repair fail to provide long-term, permanent support for concrete slab foundations. They simply do not have the load capacity, depth, and/or strength to resist these powerful natural forces of soil movement.
When you are in need of foundation repair, Dawson Foundation Repair installs the only proven, reliable, and permanent method to correct the problem. Bell Bottom piers are engineered to provide the stability and strength to withstand the changing soil conditions under your home. This method is so trustworthy that it is used for large buildings, overpasses and bridges. Since 1984 Dawson has used bell bottom piers to restore the security of foundations in homes all throughout Dallas and North Texas.
Dawson Foundation Repair installs only Bell Bottom Piers for homeowners and commercial property owners. Bell Bottom Piers have far more advantages over any other method of foundation repair and we feel the homeowner should receive the best option available. Dawson Foundation Repair services homes and commercial businesses all over Texas including Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and other smaller cities. Call us for a free inspection and assessment of your home’s foundation security.