Cleaning gutters during the summer time.

Will Gutters Protect My Foundation?

Yes, gutters are crucial factors when it comes to protecting your home’s foundation. That’s because gutters direct rainwater away from your home instead of letting it collect around the exterior, where it can lead to serious damage and instability.

Will Gutters Around Your House Protect Your Foundation?

Here in North Texas, most residential foundations are made of either wood framing or poured cement. Both materials are vulnerable to water damage, especially when rain stays in contact with them for prolonged periods of time.

The problem can start as a small leak that invades your crawlspace. But over time it will grow worse, leading to serious issues like these:

  • Mold spores – that spread through your HVAC system into the very air that you and your loved ones breathe.
  • Mosquitoes and other insects – stagnant water underneath your home is the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of disease-carrying pests.
  • House settling – rainwater can seep beneath the walls of your foundation, eroding the soil that supports them and making them sink into the ground.
  • Floors that are no longer level – a sinking foundation can affect your home’s entire structure, causing floors to slope and windows and doors to stick in their frames.
If you’re seeing any of these issue arise with your home, contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

At Align Foundation Repair, we understand the connection between gutters and your foundation and can help you to take proactive steps to protect the underlying structure and stability of your home.

When It’s Time to Call a Foundation Repair Company

Unfortunately, foundation problems are not always obvious. It can take months or even years for a homeowner to notice that something is wrong. In the meantime, the situation with your house foundation will continue to worsen.

For this reason, we urge you to keep your gutters clean and in good shape. Give them a close visual inspection after every storm, and keep an eye out for water around your foundation.

If you suspect that damage has already occurred, then it’s important to get in touch with foundation experts serving North Texas today.

At Align Foundation Repair, our technicians have the equipment and the expertise to diagnose and fix all types of home foundation problems, from minor to severe.

Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Foundation Protection in Dallas-Fort Worth

Align Foundation Repair has been serving the people of Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Our rates are fair, our work is guaranteed, and we’re happy to provide references from past customers.

The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner you can put our foundation repair services to work for you. Reach out to our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation experts today or use our online contact form to request a free inspection and estimate.

Why Does the Dallas-Fort Worth Area Have So Many Foundation Problems?

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, differs from other parts of the country with its combination of clay soils and seasonal variations. Changes to the soil’s moisture content cause expansion and contraction, which can lead to road damage and foundation issues.

North Texas has some of the highest soil plasticity in the world. Within any given season, it’s not unusual to experience long stretches of drought followed by torrential rains and flooding.

Align Foundation Repair offers free inspections and estimates for property owners and real estate agents concerned about foundation issues. We are skilled at a full range of DFW foundation repair services, including drainage solutions, concrete lifting, and more.

Contact Align Foundation Repair after extreme weather for a foundation inspection.

Common Signs of DFW Foundation Problems

Signs of structural damage to a house can build over time or occur overnight. Warning signs to look for include:

  • Bowing walls
  • Cabinets that swing open by themselves
  • Divides widening between the floor and door
  • Drywall cracks
  • Exterior brick cracks and crumbles
  • Nails protruding from the walls
  • Plumbing leaks
  • Sidewalk and patio concrete cracks
  • Sticky doors and windows

Root Causes of Foundation Issues in Dallas Fort Worth 

The three primary underlying causes of foundation issues in Dallas/Fort Worth include:

Poor soil preparation

Disturbed, graded soil becomes loose and porous. Without compacting the soil before pouring the concrete, the foundation will slip and slide — or even sink — as the ground fluctuates between wet and dry.

Many newer areas that have been heavily filled could take seven years for the ground to fully settle, so it is not uncommon for a new neighborhood to have foundation trouble.

Pouring concrete over soggy wet trenches is yet another way a foundation can be poorly prepared.

Was the soil for your home poorly prepared for concrete? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate on repairs.

Soil type and climate

To some degree, foundation problems are unavoidable in most of Texas. The entire DFW area is built upon deep clay. When subjected to swings of temperature and rainwater volume, clay soil expands and contracts. Our region is characterized by a wide annual temperature range, and precipitation can vary from less than 20 inches to more than 50 inches.

Poor drainage

Many parts of DFW also happen to sit in a flood plain region. Excessive moisture causes a negative effect on all DFW home foundation types, whether you have pier and beam or slab style construction.

Sometimes a “flood” can be caused by a plumbing leak if the ground has shifted enough to cause a broken pipe somewhere along the line. Large tree roots, bushes too close to the house, and garden runoff can cause moisture to accumulate too close to the foundation.

What to Look For When Buying a DFW Home

When you’re buying a home in the DFW region, look for:

  • The aforementioned signs of DFW foundation problems, particularly cracks and sticky doors/windows.
  • Crispy, fried landscaping and shrubs that have not been properly maintained.
  • Trees too close to the house and untamed shrubs like Red Tips grown up to the eaves of the house.
  • Homes in more established neighborhoods that have been around at least 7-10 years.
  • A property that comes with a lifetime transferable warranty on foundation repair.

You can also call a foundation contractor at Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate to get a professional opinion on the stability of your property. We can provide you with a better understanding of the soil underneath the property, how likely it is to sustain damage, and what the cost of repairs might be.

If you’re buying a new home, make sure the foundation is solid. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Preventative Maintenance Steps for Homes in Dallas-Fort Worth

Ideally, a structural engineer will be involved in a building construction project from the ground up. The architect should oversee and verify that all instructions were followed before the concrete was poured.

After purchasing a home, property owners can mitigate future foundation settling by installing:

  • A proper drainage system like a French or surface drain.
  • Gutter downspouts (and keeping them cleaned!)
  • Soaker hoses and sprinklers around the foundation to keep moisture levels stable in dry spells.

Maintaining vegetation – like trimming trees and keeping shrubbery away from the house – is also important.

If you are worried about a foundation in Dallas / Fort Worth, call the family-owned and operated Align Foundation Repair. Since 2010, our A+ rated, BBB-accredited, fully insured business has provided expertise to local residents.

Call for a free inspection if you live in one of our DFW foundation repair service areas. All work comes with a fully transferrable warranty that gives you peace of mind and increased property value.

Should I Water My Foundation?

Should you regularly water your foundation the way you water plants? Homeowners may wonder if this is an effective strategy for keeping your foundation stable or just a myth. In reality, watering your foundation on a regular basis can have a positive effect, and may contribute to saving you thousands of dollars in foundation repairs down the road.

Why Soil Needs Watering

Though we mention watering the foundation, you are actually watering the soil. Why is this necessary? Think of the soil as a giant sponge; it swells as it absorbs water and shrinks as it dries. The degree of swelling and shrinkage differs depending on the soil type. The North Texas region has a strong concentration of clay, which are highly porous, making the swelling and shrinking very pronounced.

Align Foundation Repair can counteract the damage caused by DFW soil. Contact us today for a free estimate.

The soil tends to expand at its peak during winter and spring when high humidity and rain is commonplace. The soil dries and shrinks down during the hot summers and subsequent fall. The soil is essentially in a never-ending cycle of expanding and contracting.

What does this mean for your foundation? Since the foundation rests on the soil and beneath it, it will move and shift as the soil undergoes its cycles of moisture absorption and drying out. Over time, this causes the foundation to split and crack; the same can also occur in the walls, floors, and ceilings.

Furthermore, the expansion and contraction may not occur evenly among the soil, causing the foundation to move in multiple directions or excessively slope to one side.

How Watering Prevents Foundation Damage

Watering the soil prevents it from becoming excessively dry, thus avoiding the extreme end of soil contraction. This keeps the contrast between the soil swelling and contracting minimal, thus reducing the chance of foundational shifts. As long as you water the soil evenly, it will help prevent uneven swelling and contracting.

Are erratic soil conditions damaging your foundation? Contact Align Foundation repair to correct the damage today.

How to Water the Foundation

There are several ways you can water the foundation. One way is to plant leafy shrubs or other plants with non-invasive roots along the home perimeter and keep them watered year-long. Avoid large trees and shrubs, as their roots can consume excessive quantities of water from the soil.

Another approach is to invest in a soaker hose. Turn it on once a day or set it on an automatic timer. If you don’t have a soaker hose or do not wish to plant additional shrubs or greens, then go for the simple manual approach of lightly hosing the soil daily. This is especially beneficial during the dry seasons. Water from the perimeter of the house to about three to four feet out. Be sure to water every part of the perimeter that comes into contact with the soil.

A sprinkler is also a great option for watering the foundation around your home. Ideally, you want to place the sprinkler such that the water lands on the soil that is 10-15 inches away from the foundation, rather than on the foundation itself. If you have a timer, set it to water the area for 15-20 minutes.

Align Foundation Repair can advise you on the best ways to water your foundation. Contact us today for help.

Don’t Forget to Schedule Routine Inspections

Doing foundation watering is one form of damage prevention but should not be your only one. Regular inspections from our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation repair service are highly recommended. Give us a call today and schedule your home foundation inspection.

Commercial Foundation Repair Digging

Foundation Repair Industries Served

Whether residential or commercial, all buildings require periodic inspection to determine the condition of the foundation. We serve multiple industries across the Dallas, TX, area regardless of foundation type.

Industries we service:

Single Family Rental and Rehab 

  • We work with investors who own anywhere from one house to 1000
  • Special pricing available
  • We understand how investment properties work and have ongoing relationships with well over 200 investors in the DFW area

Multifamily Investing 

  • We have experience working with owners of one complex, as well as owners that have large portfolios
  • We provide a very in-depth inspection, so the ownership can feel comfortable they are covering their concerns properly
  • Concrete raising at apartments – save thousands as opposed to concrete grinding and replacement
We repair apartment foundations. Contact Align Foundation Repair today for a free estimate.

Realtors 

  • We have built strong, long-lasting relationships with many realtors in DFW
  • Fast inspections times
  • Members of North Texas Association of Realtors (have Supra Access)

Homeowners 

  • Very in-depth inspection
  • Professional on time inspectors
  • Clean crews in company trucks

Homeowners

Our primary clients make up of residential homeowners in the Dallas and greater area. This includes owners of single to multi-floor homes, condos, town houses, properties part of a homeowner’s association, etc. We conduct a comprehensive inspection and report our findings to the homeowner without using complex industry jargon. Inspections are noninvasive with minimal disruption to the homeowner and adjacent neighbors. Proactive home repair ensures dwellings are on par with local ordinance.

Homes are the Align Foundation Repair specialty. Get in touch with us today.

Government-Owned Property

This includes state-level buildings, such as schools, hospitals, city halls, etc. Foundation inspections are vital to ensure these facilities are safe to occupy for the public and employees. We regularly inspect facilities owned and operated by state government. As they are the entity that establishes building code protocol, they have to ensure their own facilities are up to standards.

Realtors

We regularly work with real estate agents. Some are regular clients of ours, and they have come to trust us for our timely and trustworthy inspections. Several of the agents we serve include members of the North Texas Association of Realtors. Inspections ensure homes are in sellable condition and that homeowners sell their property at the maximum possible value. We perform DFW foundation repairs at the behest of realtors, brokers, and valuators to ensure the property is ready for the market.

Contact Align Foundation Repair and sell your home for the best value.

Investors

We serve numerous investors, house flippers, etc. We cover multiple foundation repair service areas. We have established relationships with Dallas-based investors that invest in upwards of 1,000+ homes. This category also includes landlords who operate multiple apartment complexes and multi-housing communities. We perform concrete raising on apartments and provide a safe living environment for the hundreds of tenants that reside in renting accommodations. At present, we have established working relationships with over 200 property investors and their staff.

Our Client Profile Is Diverse

As you can see, the DFW foundation repair industries we serve are far-reaching and go well beyond homeowners and business owners. Regardless of which industry or category you fall under, call Align Foundation Repair if you require a foundation inspection. Periodic surveying ensures the foundation is up to building code.

Foundation Repair Tips

Do Your Homework: Know a Home’s Foundation Before Buying

The Big D is home to beautiful multi-million dollar mansions, quaint little bungalows, and everything in between. Just as styles of homes in Dallas vary widely, so can their foundations. It’s critical to distinguish between different types of home foundations so you can make an informed decision when purchasing your next house.

If you’re looking to buy a new home in Dallas, or you’ve ever just been super interested in home construction in the area, here’s a quick guide to understanding the various home foundation types found throughout Texas.

Contact Align Foundation Repair to understand the foundation of the home you’re buying.

Poured Concrete Slab Foundations

Simple and cost-effective, this is a top choice of many builders because it’s quick. This method became popular as a result of the housing boom in America post-World War II and builders sought an efficient means to accommodate the demand.  Poured concrete slab foundations are still commonly used today because of their overall versatility.

The process goes like this: before pouring the cement, topsoil is removed, and if well-drained conditions are not present, a layer of gravel is added to the lot. Also, to create a durable, lasting foundation, builders will reinforce the area with steel bars (also called “rebar’) and a welded wire mesh. Despite their best efforts, over time, slabs can buckle, shift, and crack, due to the ground conditions, extreme weather, or geological events.

Repair your cracking foundation today. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Finally, before pouring the cement, electrical and plumbing systems are installed and encased in the concrete. If you’re planning on doing any renovations, this can create a problem, so when buying a home make sure the foundation type matches your future plans.

Pier and Beam Foundations

Before the 1960s, most homes possessed another type of foundation, pier and beam foundations (also called “post and beam foundations”). In this case, a home’s treated floor is raised about a foot-and-a-half off the ground, resting on a several concrete “piers” or blocks connected with pressure-treated wooden beams and wooden joists, creating a subfloor for the dwelling.

Similar to a poured concrete foundation, plumbing and electrical systems are underneath the home. However, due to the crawl space that results from this type of construction, if one of these systems should require attention, they are much more accessible to plumbers and electricians.

Deterioration is one of the most prevalent problems with pier and beam construction. Wood decomposition occurs over time, even with pressure-treated lumber. Replacements can be costly. The threat of vermin infestation is ever-present: termites, insects, rodents, and small animals frequently make their nests in crawl spaces. While rare in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, freezing temperatures can affect exposed pipes, causing them to burst, leading to flooding.

Contact Align Foundation Repair today to keep vermin out of your foundations.

Frame Foundations

This very old technique is very rarely used today. The foundation consists of framed lumber that is supported by many different types of piers at varying intervals. Most frame homes were built during times when building codes did not exist. Hence, homes right next to each other could be built in very different ways, with different underlying structures. You will find these homes mostly in historic areas and areas built before 1940.

Dallas Foundation Repair Experts

Whichever type of foundation supports your new home, problems can arise and must be addressed immediately to protect your investment. For a comprehensive, no-cost foundation evaluation, contact Align Foundation Repair and ensure your peace of mind. We specialize in pier and beam foundation repair, as well as all other foundation repair services in Dallas-Fort Worth.

 

Foundation Crack repair

How Different Soil Types Might Affect Your Dallas Home’s Foundation

No matter how solidly your home’s foundation is built, the soil variations in the Dallas area may have a lasting impact on the health of your home’s foundation. When the soil is filled with too much sand or clay, foundation issues have a habit of cropping up. Compromised soil affects the foundation, in turn affecting the home. If you suspect soil foundation trouble in your home, contact our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation repair experts for a free evaluation and estimate. See below to learn about Texas soil types and how they may affect the future stability of your home.

Learn more about what your soil means for your foundation and contact Align Foundation Repair today.

Dallas: The Blackland Prairie

The Dallas region is part of Texas’s Blackland Prairie. Most of this region has relatively deep soil, which means the bedrock is far below the soil. In the western part of the Blackland Prairie, a chalk bedrock helps to support foundations. Throughout the rest of the region, that deep soil doesn’t provide any extra sturdiness to the foundations of Dallas homes. The soil in many areas of Dallas County slopes, which affects how the water runs through it and whether water will collect near your foundation.

Clay

In the Blackland Prairie, you’ll find different kinds of clay that mostly compose the soil. Clay has the ability to hold much water, which is why its consistency changes so drastically when it’s wet versus when it’s dry. Unfortunately, clay expands when it’s wet and shrinks when it’s dry, which makes it an unstable soil for home foundations.

Suspect your home is anchored in clay? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

When clay starts to crack on the surface, that means it’s extremely dry and is no longer supporting your foundation. In the worst case situation, your foundation will start to shift as it seeks out the support it lacks from the clay. Because Dallas summers are dry and hot, summer is the season during which you have to worry about the clay soil damaging your foundation the most.

Loam

Some parts of Dallas County have soil with more loam in it, which is great news for your foundation. Loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt, and these three combine to create a stable soil that doesn’t experience much expansion or shrinkage due to water levels. As long as you don’t end up with a layer of clay on top of your loam soil, it will support your foundation beautifully. Keep in mind, though, that in the Dallas area, most loam soil mixes with clay, which reduces some of its sturdiest properties.

Sand

In a few Dallas County areas, you’ll find sandy soil, though even in these areas it’s still mixed with some clay. When sand is packed tightly, it creates a sturdy foundation that drains water away from your house quite well. Unfortunately, too much water can disturb even tightly packed sand, washing away key foundation support from beneath your home and causing foundation issues.

Protect your foundation from soil loss. Contact Align Foundation Repair today for a free estimate.

Be on the Lookout for Cracks

Due to the soil conditions of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we advise homeowners to periodically inspect their home interior and exterior for any signs of cracking. A crack does not necessarily indicate the origin of the problem, as the weakest point in the soil may not be directly underneath the crack. This is why it’s essential to bring in a foundation repair expert to pinpoint the specific problem areas.

Aside from direct repair, potential remedies may include a customized drainage solution to prevent future runoff water from collecting near the foundation.

Schedule a Free Estimate in Dallas-Fort Worth

Some foundation issues show up through visible cracks in your foundations. Other times, the changes are subtler. Pay attention to whether your interior doors are sticking or refusing to latch. Look for cracks in the walls, and pay attention to how well your windows are opening.

With so much clay in your soil, you have to keep an eye out for foundation issues in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, so you can call a professional before the problem gets out of hand.

Even the sturdiest foundation is heavily dependent on the soil it rests on. Our foundation repair services are diverse in order to address specific needs. Contact us today to learn more about how soil and foundations affect each other, or for a free inspection and estimate.