There has been a lot in the new lately about the ongoing drought and the impact it is having on the crops and livestock. Did you know it also has an affect on your home?? Lisa Kaplan Gordon is a HouseLogic contributor and builder of luxury homes in McLean, Va. She?s been a Homes editor for Gannett News Service and has reviewed home improvement products for AOL. Here is some great information from her about the impact the drought may be having on your home.
Prolonged drought pits house foundations against deep-rooted trees in a war for water.
You?re probably thinking, ?Hey, I?m supposed to keep water away from my foundation, so what gives? Why shouldn?t my trees soak up what water there is??
Yes, you want to keep water from pooling around your foundation ? that?s where your gutters, your downspouts, and properly graded soil comes in ? but moist soil actually helps keep homes from settling unevenly, which can lead to cracks in foundations, facades, and walls.
During dry spells, when mature trees and shrubs grab scant moisture, soils shrink and foundations may settle. This can be particularly problematic in areas like the Ohio Valley westward, where homes rest on on ?fat clay? ? soil that greatly expands and contracts depending on moisture.
If a foundation settles evenly, damage is nil or minimal. But typically moisture levels, sunlight, and landscaping differ on each side of a house, causing soil to dry out and the house to settle unevenly, called ?differential settlement.?
?That?s when you start to see cracks,? says Tom Scott, a structural engineer in Texas.
Signs your foundation is settling unevenly
- Cracks in brick, drywall, tile, and stucco.
Floors slope gradually and are sometimes hard to notice. Use the marble test: Drop a few marbles on the floor and see where and how quickly they roll to the wall: The faster they roll, the greater the slope.
Settlement prevention
The best way to prevent your home from sinking during drought is to keep the soil around your home well hydrated.
- Dig down about 6 inches; if the soil is bone dry, it needs water.
- Run a soaker hose around the house about a foot away from the foundation, and let it water the soil until it?s moist ? not drenched. That should give nearby drought-stricken trees a drink and keep the soil from contracting.
If you can, a preventative strategy is to plant or transplant trees away from your foundation so roots won?t compete with your house for water during dry spells. Roots extend to edge of the tree?s leaf canopy; so if the branches touch the house, the tree?s too close.
Professional help
If you notice cracks, sloping floors, and sticky interior doors, you should call a professional.
- A structural engineer will inspect your foundation and give you a report for $300-$800.
- A single crack repair in a poured foundation will cost $400-800, depending on the damage.
- Stabilizing and supporting a foundation with concrete or steel piers will cost $1,000-$3,000 each.
Read more: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/foundations/your-house-sinking-drought-could-be-cause/#ixzz246FQEN5X
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I have over 25 years of electrical engineering and business management experience. I previously owned and managed a multi million dollar engineering firm. My work took me all over the globe, managing the construction of manufacturing plants where I built a reputation of providing superior service, getting projects done on time and within or under budget. My dedication to the fine details and logical approach to accomplishing tasks provide a huge benefit to my Real Estate clients. After selling my business and retiring to this area, I found a new passion in the Real Estate business and I bring to this business the same level of professional skill and conduct that has made mr successful in the past. My global exposure and extensive travel are also an asset when dealing with a customer base that is located worldwide. An avid boater, I have a thourough understanding of the waterways of East Tennessee and the intricacies involved in dealing with the TVA and the Army Corps of Engineers.beyonce and jay z baby droid 4 ann coulter tom brady sister dad shoots daughters laptop brandon jennings channing tatum
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