How Poor Foundation Drainage Causes Basement Damage

The biggest argument for foundation drainage repair and basement waterproofing is hydrostatic pressure. It’s something many homeowners may not be aware of because it has to do with the water content within the foundation’s soil. It’s something that homeowners aren’t able to detect until it’s already too late, and the only way to avoid it is by properly waterproofing your basement and making sure the drainage system is functioning properly. 

How It Works 

Soil, especially expansive soil, is capable of collecting and holding large amounts of water. You might not think it, but water can actually be extremely heavy. If your house does not have a proper foundation drainage system, a lot of water will begin to collect underneath the soil. 

However, it’s not just underground water that puts pressure against the walls of your basement. Any water that sits atop your yard will increase the hydrostatic pressure and make the situation worse. This is why it’s important to waterproof your basement as well as make all the necessary alterations to your outdoor drainage system. 

How it Affects Your Home 

Because of how heavy the water is, it will place a large amount of pressure on the walls of your basement. Despite how strong concrete seems, it’s no match against the force of water. It will begin to bow inward and will eventually crack. 

Cracked basement walls are a huge issue. The more cracks there are, the more frequently you’ll have to deal with leaks. If your basement walls are cracked because of hydrostatic pressure, you can bet that there is a lot of water pushing against your basement just waiting to get through.

How do you know your home is suffering from poor foundation drainage? It’s important to deal with the problem before the damages get too expensive or ruin the quality of life in your own house. Even if the drainage issues have caused some sort of damage around your property, repairs can still be done and prevention methods can be put into place before things get worse. Here’s everything you need to know to detect the problems: 

• In the Home 

You’ll notice when there’s a drainage issue in your yard from within your own home. Because poor foundation issues affect the basement, you’ll be able to tell based on the mold growth, leaking, flooding, and humidity within the basement. If the drainage issues are really bad, your entire house will be inundated with the uncomfortable smell of humidity, and mold might even begin to grow in other areas of the house. 

Poor foundation drainage affects your soil, and when soils shrink or erode due to exposure to excess moisture, settling occurs soon after. Because of foundation settling, you might notice that your window and door frames are warped, cracked, or tilted. 

• Outside the Home  

After some rain, it’s normal for the soil to be moist. However, there shouldn’t be large, deep puddles in your yard. With a proper drainage system in place and a positive yard grade, whatever puddle that forms should be gone in a few hours if there is sufficient sun. Significant paint peeling near the bottom half of your home is another sign to take note of. 

Settling concrete is another sign of poor foundation drainage. When the soil underneath your concrete steps, patio, or driveway is expanding and swelling, it will no longer be capable of supporting your concrete. All concrete settles over time, but if the concrete around your home shows significant signs of settling despite being covered, it could have to do with foundation drainage problems. 

One of the biggest threats to your home’s foundation drainage is expansive soil. As a matter of fact, it’s a threat to the entire structure of your house if you don’t take the necessary measures to prevent the damage. So, if expansive soil is that bad, why is it still used in construction, especially in a state like North Carolina, where the soil gets wet often? Turns out, expansive soils such as Cecil soil have their uses and are preferred by some site masters because of their properties. On some occasions, they might even make for a better foundation than other types of soils. 

• Expansive Soil Properties  

While it is true that expansive soils tend to swell and shrink a lot, they compact better than any other soil. Soil that is to be used as a foundation must be compacted well so that it can be tough and dense. When properly compacted, expansive soils are firm, stable foundations. 

Because of these specific properties, many site managers prefer to use expansive soils. Other types of soils would have to be compacted multiple times before they are ready to be used as foundations. Because expansive soils compact so well, they are very easy to manipulate, which saves time during a construction job. 

• Other Soils  

Other soils like gravel and sand have less clay in them, so they are less absorbent and don’t swell as much. As a result, they don’t shrink as much either. This might make them seem like the more attractive option as foundation soils, however, they have their downsides as well. 

Soils that don’t compact very well have a lot of air between each particle. Because of this, they are very loose and have a tendency to fall apart and give way when exposed to water or when there’s an earthquake. North Carolina may not get major earthquakes, but the earth is shaking with mini tremors all the time. Even though we don’t feel it, it does affect the ground significantly.