Winter Weather and Your Home’s Foundation

01/22/2018

Winter has officially arrived in McKinney and the Dallas Metroplex! With warnings of inclement weather and flurries potentially icing up the roads, it is now time to start thinking about cold weather safety and how it has an impact on your daily life.

Although most people are bound to be concerned with road conditions during this time of the year, there are also things that you need to be concerned about regarding the base of your home. When the freezing weather begins to set in as the temperature drops, here are some of the things that you need to look out for, as well as ways to prevent foundation damage when the air begins to freeze.

Winter Problems Aren’t Due to Poor Construction

Although most home slab problems can be traced back to poor construction, winter foundation problems are often unique problems that can be blamed on the soil that a home rests on. The ground in Texas has amounts of clay in its composure.

Clay is a component that has the ability to crack and contract during extreme weather conditions. In the heat, clay cracks and in the freezing cold it contracts. If you begin to notice some strange settling in your foundation or have some stuck windows and doors, then you may be experiencing some foundation contraction due to freezing weather messing with the soil’s composure.

This issue is called frost heave and causes an upheaval in the foundation resting below a home. Some signs of frost heave that homeowners need to look out for include:

  1. Cracks in the walls
  2. Cracks in the floor
  3. Cracks in the ceiling

Preventative Measures

While this may be impossible to prevent during the winter weather, there are preventative measures that you can take throughout the rest of the year to ensure that your soil is well prepared to face freezing conditions.

     1.   Water the Area

During this preventative step, you want to water the area around your concrete slab foundation, not directly on it. This will help keep your soil well moisturized when the weather begins to cool down.

    2. Water Less in the Winter

During the summer you will most likely have watered your foundation very thoroughly. The winter months should bring you to around 75% less watering.

Dalrock Foundation Repair Keeps Your Foundation Happy Year-Round

If you are a McKinney homeowner that is experiencing problems as described during freezing conditions, Dalrock Foundation Repair is here to help. Our professionals have dedicated their lives to solving concrete slab problems and more, and we don’t let the cold weather get in our way. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our foundation repair and replacement services.

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