How Weather in Texas Affects Your Foundation
Protect Your Home from Texas Weather’s Impact on Foundation Stability
Living in Texas means dealing with extreme weather that can seriously affect your home’s foundation. At Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair, we’ve helped thousands of Texas homeowners understand and fix foundation problems caused by our state’s unique weather patterns. Our team has seen firsthand how Texas heat, drought, heavy rains, and flooding can damage foundations, and we want you to know what to expect and how to protect your home. We believe in keeping things simple and honest, which is why we take time to explain exactly what’s happening to your foundation and what you can do about it. Whether you’re dealing with cracks that just appeared after a dry summer or settling that happened after recent storms, we’re here to help. Our experience across Texas has taught us that many foundation problems can be prevented or fixed affordably when homeowners understand the basics.
Why Texas Weather Is So Hard on Foundations
Texas has some of the most challenging weather conditions in the country for home foundations. Our state experiences extreme heat, long droughts, sudden heavy rains, and sometimes flooding—all in the same year. This constant change in weather creates a cycle that puts tremendous stress on your foundation.
The main problem is our clay soil. Much of Texas sits on expansive clay soil that acts like a sponge. When it rains, the clay soaks up water and swells up. When it’s dry, the clay shrinks and pulls away from your foundation. This constant expanding and shrinking creates uneven pressure that can crack your foundation or cause it to shift.
What Makes Texas Different: • Extreme temperature swings from season to season • Clay soil that expands and contracts dramatically • Long dry periods followed by heavy rains • Drought conditions that can last for months
Summer Heat and Drought Problems
Texas summers are brutal, and they can cause serious foundation damage. During hot, dry periods, the clay soil around your foundation shrinks and pulls away from your house. This removes support from your foundation and can cause settling.
What Happens During Drought: • Soil shrinks and creates gaps around your foundation • Foundation loses support and may start to settle • Cracks can appear in your foundation walls • Your house may develop new cracks in walls or ceilings
Simple Prevention Tips: • Water the soil around your foundation during dry spells • Use a soaker hose to keep moisture levels consistent • Set a timer to water for 30 minutes, 3 times per week • Don’t let the soil get bone dry and pull away from your house
Heavy Rain and Flooding Issues
When Texas gets hit with heavy rains or flooding, all that water causes the clay soil to expand rapidly. This puts enormous pressure on your foundation walls and can cause them to bow, crack, or shift.
Problems from Too Much Water: • Soil swells and pushes against foundation walls • Poor drainage can make water pool around your home • Flooding can wash away soil that supports your foundation
What You Can Do: • Make sure water drains away from your house • Clean gutters and extend downspouts away from foundation • Grade your yard so water flows away from your home • Install drainage systems if water regularly pools near your house
The Seasonal Damage Cycle
The biggest challenge for Texas foundations isn’t just hot weather or wet weather—it’s the constant change between the two. Spring rains cause soil to expand, summer heat causes it to shrink, fall storms bring more expansion, and winter can bring both wet and dry conditions.
The Cycle That Damages Foundations: • Spring: Heavy rains cause soil expansion and foundation pressure • Summer: Extreme heat causes soil shrinkage and foundation settling • Fall: More rain causes soil to expand again • Winter: Freezing and thawing can cause additional movement
This constant cycle of expansion and contraction puts stress on your foundation year after year. Over time, this stress adds up and can cause serious structural problems.
Simple Steps to Protect Your Foundation
You don’t need to be an expert to help protect your foundation from Texas weather. Here are easy things you can do:
During Dry Periods: • Keep soil around your foundation slightly moist • Use a soaker hose for even watering • Check for gaps between soil and foundation • Water in early morning or evening when it’s cooler
During Wet Periods: • Make sure water drains away from your house quickly • Clean gutters and check downspouts • Look for standing water around your foundation • Remove water that pools near your house
Year-Round Maintenance: • Inspect your foundation twice a year for new cracks • Keep plants and trees from growing too close to your foundation • Fix plumbing leaks quickly to prevent soil problems • Watch for signs that your house is settling or shifting
When to Call for Professional Help
Some foundation problems need professional attention right away. Don’t wait if you notice:
• Cracks wider than a quarter inch • Horizontal cracks in foundation walls • Doors and windows that won’t open or close • Floors that feel uneven or bouncy • Water coming into your basement or crawl space
The good news is that most foundation problems can be fixed when caught early. Waiting usually makes problems worse and more expensive to repair.
Why Choose Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair
We understand Texas weather and Texas foundations. Our team has seen every type of weather-related foundation problem and knows how to fix them affordably and permanently. We’ll inspect your foundation for free, explain exactly what we find, and give you honest options for repair.
Don’t let Texas weather destroy your foundation. Contact Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair today for a free inspection and find out how we can protect your home from whatever weather Texas throws at it!