This is my second series on home maintenance program for your home that all home owners should be doing to protect the largest investment of their life.
Being a Home Inspector In McKinney for many years I have seen that if home owners would just put a small effort in their maintenance around their home it could save them thousands of dollars in repair in the long run.
This is the second of a two part series on watering your foundation maintenance program.
Foundation Watering Maintenance Program
Tip # 2 - If you have any questions at all, please reply or as always, call me!
Once a foundation deflects or bends due to an uneven moisture in its supporting soil, it takes several months to years to return the supporting soil to a uniform moisture level. For most foundations, a minimum of six months up to a maximum of three to four years is required to return the supporting soil to a uniform moisture level. A good watering program will work only after the terrain shaping program has been completed.
Many people are finding that adding soaker hoses is the easiest way to restore soil beneath a foundation to a uniform moisture level. The soaker hoses should be placed between two and three feet away from the edge of a foundation, after the terrain is shaped to slope gently away from the foundation. Watering should start with daily watering which will get the entire five feet next to the foundation wet. I recommend testing the water content of soil next to a foundation by putting your finger down about three inches next the edge of the foundation. There should be enough moisture in the dirt to have a little dirt stick to the end of your finger. If dirt doesn't stick to your finger during such tests, more water must be added.
Anytime soil is pulled away from the edge of a foundation, it indicates the dirt beneath the foundation needs deep moisture. The voids next to the foundation should be filled with dirt, the terrain should be shaped to carry excess water away from the foundation, and an aggressive watering program should be started. Daily watering should continue until the dirt stops pulling away from the edge of the foundation.
Ricky Ellis 214.533.2536
Senior Inspector
Safety First Home Inspections TREC # 9032
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