Drainage and Landscaping

Drainage and landscaping are not given enough consideration in foundation health throughout the state of Texas. Foundation repair is in constant demand in Texas, as  there is highly expansive clay underneath and surrounding most home foundations.

Shrinking and swelling occurs as clay absorbs and loses moisture in changing seasons. Due to long periods of droughts throughout Texas, the extreme shrinking in the soils during these seasons can cause foundations to “fail.”

Although this may be the norm, other times of the year can bring the exact opposite issue. Due to improper landscaping, irrigation, and drainage certain areas of soil get overly saturated with water. This causes the clays to expand and “heave” or lift the foundation. When the foundation has heaved, no type of pier will fix the problem. This is when you need a company, like Perma-Pier, which is experienced in installing drainage solutions.

Drainage and Landscaping Solutions

While many different types of companies are able to install drainage systems, a homeowner is best served working with a qualified foundation repair company to correct drainage issues affecting their foundation. It is important the impact of the drain on the foundation and soil be considered when determining what size and type of drain to use. Depending on the affected home’s situation, we might recommend one of a number of different foundation drainage systems.

No matter what drainage system is installed, they all have the same 3 main purposes: 

1. Collect water
2. Move water through pipes and
3. Discharge the water where it will not cause more problems.

Sometimes the landscaping in combination with run-off water will erode the soil around the home. This can be a dangerous issue if left unchecked. Without the proper support, a foundation can shift and move. This is considered critical enough certain loan programs will not lend on a home in which the soil has eroded away from the foundation.

Without a permanent fix these issues will continue to arise no matter how much fill dirt is used. Often, a retaining wall will fix this issue permanently. Perma-Pier Foundation Repair of Texas exclusively installs interlocked stone walls in order to provide the best, most permanent solution for our customers. We also recommend using Black Tie Plumbing for plumbing-related foundation solution needs.

What Impacts a Property’s Foundation?

While plants and trees can improve the appearance of your home, the average person probably doesn’t realize the effects that natural elements and landscaping can have on the integrity of a property’s foundation. Here are just a few significant ways that your land may negatively impact your foundation:

1. Elevation and Slope

The key to ensuring your property’s foundation is safe is to keep excess water from pooling at the base of your foundation. When drainage gets stuck around a home or property, it can cause a lot of damage long-term. Poor elevation and the slope of your land are at the heart of this potential issue. In order to promote proper drainage, sloping your landscaping away from the house is a good idea. This way water won’t collect around the foundation and erode the soil, potentially causing devastating damage. 

2. Proximity of Plants to Home

When you’re planting anything around your home or property, it’s important to keep in mind the proximity of certain plants to your foundation. Foundations don’t like tree roots—for good reason. If a tree is planted too close to your property, its roots can cause major foundation problems. Tree roots also go through cycles of shrinking and expanding, like soil, and if planted too close to your home, it can wreak havoc on the foundation—especially if you also have drainage problems.

3. Foundation Drainage

One of the most important aspects of landscaping to preserve your foundation is ensuring your property has the proper drainage solutions. While all of the above attributes certainly play a role, there are several other ways to secure the drainage surrounding your foundation. Gutter spouts are one of them. They are vital for proper drainage, redirecting water from the roof, through a gutter system, and into downspouts. Ensuring your gutters are properly maintained is critical.

What to Do Next?

Unfortunately, over time the soil around your property can erode, making it a dangerous issue if left unchecked. It’s essential to ensure you have the proper landscaping and drainage solution to preserve the integrity of your property’s foundation. 

At Perma-Pier Foundation Repair of Texas, we offer high-quality foundation repair, drainage, landscaping, and sump pump repair solutions. Our goal is to protect your foundation’s health with science-backed solutions.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’re in need of landscaping and drainage solutions, we provide no-charge evaluations in the Dallas–Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, Houston markets and throughout the state of Texas.