Living on the Gulf Coast of Texas has its perks: beautiful views, fishing and boating access, and plenty of recreational activities on the water. However, living near the coast also means greater exposure to flooding, storm surge, and hurricanes. When these events strike, many homeowners primarily think about the water damage left behind. Unfortunately, floodwaters can also impact the soil beneath and around a home, potentially compromising the support a foundation relies on. In this article, we’ll discuss how flooding can affect the soils supporting your home’s foundation, the warning signs of foundation damage to look for, and what can be done if problems arise.
How Floods Impact Soil Conditions
Flooding events can have a significant impact on soil conditions surrounding and beneath a home. When soils become overly saturated, certain soil types can expand and place additional pressure on the structures they support. Moving floodwaters can also carry away soil particles, resulting in erosion and the formation of voids beneath or around a property. As floodwaters recede and saturated soils begin to dry, the soil may contract, shift, or settle unevenly.
How Soil Conditions Impact Foundations
The soil changes after a flood can leave portions of a home’s foundation without adequate support, potentially leading to foundation settlement and damage. Homeowners may notice the following changes to their properties:
- Uneven floors
- Cracks in the floor, foundation or walls
- Gaps between the floor and wall
- Windows and doors that won’t close correctly
- Visible soil loss around the foundation
- Trim or floor pulling away
Homeowners should also be mindful of plumbing leaks following a flood or major storm. Damaged or leaking plumbing can introduce additional water into the soils beneath a home, contributing to further saturation, erosion, or soil movement. When left unaddressed, these conditions can compound existing soil issues and increase the potential for foundation settlement.
Addressing Foundation Settlement After Flooding
When flooding results in soil loss, differential settlement, or structural shifts in your foundation, there are repair options available.
Polyurethane Injection
Polyurethane injection is an excellent option for filling voids and stabilizing soils on a property. The process is simple: a chemical grout is injected into the soil beneath the home, where it reacts and expands. During this expansion, it fills voids and locks soil in place. This can help restore support in areas where erosion or soil movement has compromised the soils beneath the foundation.
Foundation Piers
When foundation settlement requires additional structural support, foundation piers may be used. Piers are installed beneath the foundation and extend to deeper, more stable soils or load-bearing strata, allowing the weight of the structure to be transferred away from unstable surface soils. Precision Foundation Services offers several foundation pier solutions, including concrete piers, bell bottom piers, steel piers, and helical piers, allowing the repair approach to be selected based on the home’s foundation and underlying soil conditions.
Why Choose Precision Foundation Services?
When floodwaters recede, the changes in the soil supporting your home can continue to cause problems long after the storm has passed. If you notice new cracks, uneven floors, sticking doors and windows, visible soil loss, or other signs of foundation movement following a flood, having the problem evaluated can help determine what is happening beneath your home.
Precision Foundation Services provides foundation repair and soil stabilization solutions for homeowners throughout the Houston and Corpus Christi areas. Our team evaluates the underlying cause of foundation settlement and recommends a repair solution based on the conditions of your home and surrounding soils.
Don’t wait for signs of foundation movement to become more severe. If your home has experienced flooding or storm surge and you are concerned about the condition of your foundation, contact Precision Foundation Services today to schedule an evaluation.