07/15/2026
It’s Texas Summer!
Which means it’s time for an important reminder on how to properly manage moisture around your foundation during these hot, dry months.
We all know Texas is famous for its expansive clay soil—it swells up when wet and shrinks down when dry. You’ve probably had neighbors tell you, "Make sure you're watering your foundation!" But what they often forget to mention is that water is actually the primary driver of foundation movement. That’s okay in the yard, but not under the home!
The goal isn't to create a swamp around your home; it's to keep the soil moisture consistent year-round. When soil moisture stays stable, your foundation stays put. Our job as homeowners is simply to control how and where water pools so it doesn’t creep under the edge of the house and cause the home to shift.
Here are a few simple, highly effective steps to keep your foundation happy this season:
📐 1. Check Your Grading (Adding Soil)
Water should always flow down and away from your home. If you notice low spots next to your foundation where water pools, add some clay-heavy soil to create a gentle slope away from the structure.
🌧️ 2. Manage Your Gutters
Your roof collects a massive amount of water. Ensure your gutter downspouts discharge water at least 4 feet away from the foundation so it doesn't saturate the soil right next to your walls. Keep them clean too.
💦 3. Smart Sprinkler Habits
More is not always better! Aim for about 20 minutes of watering per week, broken up over multiple days (for example: 10 minutes twice a week, or 7 minutes three times a week). Be especially careful in the zones right next to the house—less water is usually better than more.
🔍 4. Watch for "Hidden" Water
Keep an eye out for silent foundation troublemakers: A/C overflow lines, leaky outdoor spigots, broken sprinkler heads, or plumbing leaks. A steady drip saturates and creeps under, causing that wall to shift.
Remember, cracking is a sign of movement. The damages can be expensive. Piers won’t help fix the problem if the soil is lifting the structure. We install piers when the water erodes the underpinning soils. Water is not your friend under the home, but it is essential for your yard.
