Drought in Virginia and Maryland

Severe drought can be the downfall of your Virginia or Maryland foundation, causing differential settlement and prepping the stage for water problems down the line. JES is here to help.

In the moderately rainy and humid eastern seaboard, many consecutively sunny days can be cause for celebration. But after weeks and months of no precipitation, crops begin to suffer, water supplies diminish, and your foundation can begin to crack. 

Drought is an insidious culprit for many different foundation problems—let’s walk through what problems can occur, why, and how homeowners can fix them for good. 

What Happens To Soil During A Drought?

The Virginia state soil is called Pamunkey, which consists of a sandy top layer and nutrient-rich clay sublayers. Though Pamunkey soil is found primarily in the coastal tidewater region, all of Virginia is rife with nutrient-rich clay subsoil. Virginia’s neighbor to the north, Maryland, also sports clay subsoil with their state soil, Sassafrass. 

While these soils are ideal for agriculture, they can be destructive to your home as moisture levels ebb and flow. Clay is categorized as an expansive soil. When expansive soils encounter rainwater and increase in moisture content, they expand.  The reverse also occurs in weather that’s excessively dry or lacking in moisture—expansive soils will shrink during dry conditions. 

How Does Dry Soil Affect Your Foundation? 

It goes without saying that the soil beneath your home is meant to give your foundation the support it needs to stand strong. When that soil dries up, shrinks, and even cracks, your foundation will be at risk. 

Air pockets 

When soil shrinks, it leaves open pockets of air between the surface of the dried soil and your home’s foundation. This will weaken your home’s structure, as it relies on stable soil to rest and settle on. There can be an added risk if the construction contractors who built your home didn’t properly tamp or press down on the soil before the foundation was built. This predisposes the soil to air pockets which can be exasperated during drought conditions. Not only can they form beneath your home, but they can also form beneath the concrete in your driveway, sidewalk, patio, and concrete garage floor. Look out for: 

Hydrostatic Pressure

When the first drought-ending downpour happens, your home may not be in the clear just yet. The expansive soil around your home will soak up the water like a sponge, and due to its expansive quality, will enlarge. Expansive soils are known to experience up to a 10% increase in volume without proper drainage. 

When the soil expands due to moisture, it can exert hydrostatic pressure. The pressure from the expanding soil applies force to the walls of your basement or upward pressure on your concrete slab or crawl space. This can cause cracks and fissures in your foundation, allowing for moisture to sneak into your home. Watch out for these problems signs of hydrostatic pressure after the end of a drought:

Differential Settlement

Differential settlement is when part of your foundation settles into the earth at a faster rate than the rest. The phenomenon is the result of the soil beneath your home changing volume and moving due to shrinkage. Differential settlement will appear to you as cracks in your exterior walls or bricks and even your drywall—sort of like a piece of your home is breaking off and sinking into the ground. This happens gradually, so it’s not something that you can physically feel happening all at once, but it is cause for concern. If you notice any of these common problems signs, contact your local foundation experts as soon as possible: 

How Can You Strengthen Your Home after Drought Damage? 

To ensure your home is prepared for any change in weather conditions or soil moisture, JES Foundation Repair has custom solutions that address your individual home’s structural damage. With JES, you can have faith that your home will stand strong rain or shine. 

Foundation Piers 

Foundation piers are hollow steel beams installed below ground to support your home when the soil beneath it cannot. This repair method restores your home to its upright and level position and will continue to support your home for years to come.   

PolyRenewal™  Injection 

PolyrenewalTM injections are the cleanest, quickest, and most effective form of concrete lifting. When your driveway and sidewalk have cracked and sunk due to air pockets in the soil, JES can inject polyurethane into the concrete. You can see the effects of this solution take place as it will level your concrete in 15 minutes, and you will be able to walk or park your car on the driveway within the same day. 

BasementGutter™ Interior Drain System 

During dry weather, water drainage and grading in your yard may be altered due to a lack of regular landscaping and watering. When the first rain appears, water may begin to collect around your home and foundation, further enabling hydrostatic pressure and leaks. 

BasementGutterTM is an interior drainage system that collects excess water from the soil around your home and safely transfers it to a safe drainage location. The system works on its own and around the clock to ensure an appropriate level of moisture in the wake of a drought. 

Before or After A Drought, Call JES For A Free Inspection 

Droughts can be stressful for many reasons, and foundation issues may only make it worse. That’s why we offer free inspections of your whole home so our team can get to the root of the problem, and solve it for good. 

JES is a repair company that understands and doesn’t settle for one-size-fits-all foundation solutions. We provide long-term repairs that fit your unique home, so you can rest easy knowing your home is safe when a drought occurs. Contact us for your home inspection and no-obligation quote, today.