It tends to get toasty in Colorado during the summertime. The summers here can be brutal, with temps going over 90 degrees most of the time, and it often stays pretty warm until mid-September. Luckily, due to the high elevation, Colorado does not have to deal with oppressive humidity. But how does the hot weather affect the foundation of Colorado residents’ homes?
As the heat in Colorado can become overbearing, it can cause damage to the soil on your property and problems if you have a concrete slab foundation. Slab foundations are standard in Colorado and susceptible to damage when hot conditions arise. This soil damage or shrinkage often occurs when temps reach 90 degrees or higher; with a lack of rain, the soil can move away from the slab foundation because it’s so dry. It can also cause the concrete of your foundation to crack.
Also, you should not be concerned about just the summer. During the spring and winter months, when it’s colder and there tends to be more snow, you should check that there isn’t too much moisture surrounding your homes, such as standing water or puddles. It’s best to ensure water drains away from your house year-round, as too much water buildup can cause foundation problems.
Sinking Foundations and Dehydration
The soil around your house usually tends to be moist, so when dehydration occurs during a heatwave, the soil shrinks, cracks, shifts, and eventually fails to support your foundation. This is also known as settling.
Once settling starts, it will continue to do so until the foundation finds some form of support. So, if the soil has moved from your home due to the heat, the house will shift until it finds firm soil to re-establish itself. One to two months of such heat can be disastrous, and the after-effects will be damage not only to your foundation, such as slight sinking, but also to your home with the evolution of cracks in the floors, walls, and elsewhere.
If you suspect possible foundation damage, you should do routine checks inside and outside your home for the following:
- Possible cracks in the slab foundation
- Uneven floors
- Cracks in walls
- Cracks in door and window frames
- Stuck doors and windows
How To Avoid Foundation Issues
What’s quite fascinating is that this issue can be helped with a straightforward ingredient: water. Adding water around your home’s foundation has been proven to help prevent shifting and settling.
One method to keep the soil moist is to use soaker hoses. These are primarily used for gardening and don’t operate like a traditional hose. They’re also known as ‘weeping hoses’ because the water slowly seeps through the fabric and helps saturate the ground. These hoses should be turned on roughly thrice weekly to keep the ground moist but not oversaturated. If you go this route, keep the hoses 6-22 inches from the foundation. The water will eventually seep into the ground and help keep the soil moist.
You can also run sprinklers if you have them. If you don’t have a built-in set of sprinklers, you can set up a regular garden hose to a portable sprinkler for about 15 minutes so that the water sprays the ground around your house and keeps it wet. It’s best to do this during sunset or once it gets dark because the water will evaporate if it’s done during the daytime when it’s hot. Remember that you may have a slightly higher water bill, but it may be worth it than replacing your foundation at an exorbitant cost.
Colorado Foundation Inspection
Our foundation experts will notice indicators and difficulties that indicate foundation degradation and the need for repair, some of which you may have overlooked or paid little or no attention to. Measurements will be gathered throughout the inspection, and damage and failing spots on the outside and inside of the home will be examined. After that, a strategy for repairing your home’s foundation will be devised. The most crucial thing you may also want to hear is the projected cost of the repairs, which will also be addressed.
Schedule Your Foundation Inspection in Colorado Springs
When searching for the right home inspector, it’s important to find someone you can trust — and that’s why we are here for you. The inspectors at PineBreeze Inspections are licensed by the State of Colorado, certified, and insured. When you need your home’s foundation inspected, you need it done right. Schedule your inspection with PineBreeze Inspections today and rest easy knowing the pros are on the job.