Signs Your Foundation Has a Drainage Problem
Water problems near a slab often show up as small clues long before major damage. Walk your house with this checklist after the next rain.
- French drains, regrading & downspout drainage
- Protect your foundation from East Texas clay
- Free, no-obligation quotes
Outside the house
- Puddles within 10 feet of the foundation more than a day after rain
- Downspouts dumping right at the slab
- Soil or mulch washing out of beds, or erosion channels
- Flower beds built up higher than the slab edge
- Gaps between the soil and slab in dry weather (clay shrinking)
Inside the house
- New cracks in drywall, especially at door and window corners
- Doors that stick or won't latch
- Cracks in brick veneer, often in a stair-step pattern
- Gaps around window frames or baseboards
What to do
Start with the easy fixes: clean gutters, extend downspouts well away from the house, and pull soil and mulch back so the ground slopes away. If water still collects, a drainage contractor can add underground downspout lines, regrade, or install a French drain.
If you are seeing several of the inside signs, also have a foundation repair company or structural engineer evaluate the home. Drainage helps prevent future movement but won't reverse existing damage.
Tired of standing water and soggy yards?
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