Drought Damages Buildings' Foundations

VIRGINIA BEACH, FL, July 22, 2012

Scorching hot weather and drought can create serious problems for a building's foundation.

And the problems begin with the soil. The amount of moisture in the soil plays a role in the foundation's health and stability. Soil shrinkage is a contributor to foundation problems, and is caused by a drought, heat wave or an extended dry period.

As the moisture is removed from the soil it shrinks, pulling away from the foundation. This leaves room for movement and settlement which can cause cracks in the home's brick, concrete or block foundation.

To determine if a building has suffered from structural damage due to settlement or shrinkage, look for the following problem signs:
Cracked foundation blocks
Stair-step, horizontal or vertical brick cracks
Leaning or cracking chimney
Cracked basement floor
Bowed or cracked basement wall
Cracking concrete in the garage or surround the building
Sticking windows or doors
Drywall cracks or nail pops

If any of these problem signs are found then a foundation repair contractor should be contacted to provide an evaluation of the damage.

JES is a structural engineering solutions firm specializing in residential and commercial foundation repair, basement waterproofing systems, and crawl space moisture control systems. For more information contact us at 877-JES-WORK or at http://www.jeswork.com.