Richard Rash Foundation and Drainage Consultant

 Proper Foundation Drainage is the solution to most foundation movement and damage in areas of expansive soils

Drainage is the solution for most upheaval. Piers are the answer for most settlement. They are not interchangeable!

• In North Texas and much of the rest of the country expansive clay soils are the primary cause of what is considered foundation damage. Contrary  to a lot of propaganda put out by the pier selling foundation companies, upheaval causes more damage than settlement in North Texas.

• Upheaval is where the expansive soils lift/bends parts of a house or other building, causing the rigid building to react and  become damaged. This article is about drainage.  Settlement and piers will be examined in other articles.

• Piers are not the solution or answer to Upheaval and drainage will not cure settlement

Certain signs that are popularly thought of as foundation damage are, in reality, cosmetic damage that is the result of misdirected moisture/water siting next to a structure.

Water sitting in dry clay soils, are wicked up and under the foundation. As the moisture is pulled into the dry soil, the soil expands and the expanding soils lift areas of the structure.

As the structure starts to move, weight is transferred and rigid areas of the building are distorted, bringing cosmetic damage such as:

Follow my reasoning as to how this happens:

• Foundations are normally poured, as reinforced concrete. 
• Concrete is normally not poured in wet soil.
• In North Texas and areas with similar weather patterns, occasionally foundations are poured  on expansive clay soils, during long dry spells or droughts which have caused the soil to shrink. 
• Much of North Texas is hilly, uneven terrain. We have a number of foundations poured on hilly terrain during hot periods when expansive soils are compacted from lack of moisture.
• After the house is built, through the years as the rains come, the soils, where water ponds near the building,  gradually expand back to the earlier volume, before construction, while the soils where the water runs away does not expand.This is where the soil expands, lifting the structure and damage, usually cosmetic, will often occur. 
• Most foundations in North Texas do not fail. So it is logical that the ones that do fail might be the ones poured on expansive soils and under these conditions. 

What would make them fail?

•  The rains coming down the hill on one side.
• Water sitting/ponding  next to the structure.
• Water being wicked down and under the home, expanding soils in that area of the home.
• Around other parts of the building the water runs off, does not pond and soil does not swell.
• At this point the foundation is flexing and the ridged building materials of the structure, such as sheet rock, hard floor coverings, door and window frames and brick facade will often show cosmetic reactions to the movement.

Examples of bad drainage control:

Please...Share, forward, comment and spread the word!

IF THE DIAGNOSIS IS WRONG THE FOUNDATION REPAIRS WILL FAIL! UNNEEDED DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT.  

Here is my warranty:

People pay me to help them successfully deal with foundation issues!

My fee is fair and reasonable.

If I help you get the job done right you have made money!

It's a smart move and cheap insurance. I will be your advocate, your, "check and balance"!