Downspout drainage pipe dripping of rain water
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3 Tips to Prevent Foundation Damage During Wet, Rainy Months

The spring season is typically known for rainy weather, which can pose a threat to the stability of your home’s foundation. Moisture from wet weather can infiltrate through cracks and crevices in the concrete, damaging the foundation and creating conditions for instability over time. Thankfully, there are a number of time-tested preventative measures to keep your home’s foundation protected against water damage, including drainage systems and gutter cleaning.

If you have noticed signs of foundation damage to your home, we invite you to contact Align Foundation Repair today for a free professional inspection. Our foundation repair services experts will comprehensively evaluate your foundation and give you a complete picture of the current state of your home’s underlying structure – all at no-cost to you. We offer free estimates in our Dallas-Fort Worth and Richardson foundation repair service area.

Here are three helpful tips to keep your home’s foundation safe from harm during the rainy season.

3 Ways to Prevent Heavy Rain Damage to Your Foundation

Installing a Good Drainage System

Installing a good drainage system is a key step toward protecting your foundation from rain damage.

  • Ensure that the soil around your home is graded away from the house’s foundation. This will help prevent moisture from collecting under the house.
  • Install a French drain system around the perimeter of your house. This will relieve runoff and allow water levels in your yard not to exceed capacity during heavy rains.

Call us today for foundation repair Richardson TX homeowners know will get done right the first time. Get your complimentary foundation inspection in the Richardson area. We offer top-tier repair or replacement work with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

Ensure the Gutters are Working Properly

Clean gutters are vital in making sure your foundation drains properly.

  • Clear the gutters of leaves and debris regularly.
  • Make sure to flush the downspouts.
  • Clear your gutters before winter to prevent ice dams.

Avoid Ponding Water

  • Manage puddles by redirecting water through a grate drain.
  • Buy extra-long downpipes if needed to release water at a greater distance from your home’s foundation.

Premium Richardson Foundation Repair Services

Searching for the best foundation repair contractors Richardson TX has to offer? Align Foundation Repair fits the bill, with a long track record of reliable work and total customer satisfaction, backed up by industry-leading guarantees. Get in touch today to ask about our affordable premium services and to schedule your free Richardson foundation inspection and repair estimate!

Cleaning gutters during the summer time.
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Spring Home Improvement Checks That Will Benefit Your Foundation

Spring is the perfect season for home improvement projects. The days are longer, the temperatures are warming up, and it’s a great time to get outdoors and tackle those much-needed chores around the house. This checklist will help keep your property in tip-top shape while also benefitting your foundation.

Spring Home Improvement Projects to Preserve Your Foundation

If you notice exterior cracks, foundation settling, or doors that won’t open or close properly during your Spring overhaul, call Align Foundation Repair for all of your Richardson foundation repair needs. Our professional contractors can determine what measures are necessary – if any – and recommend foundation repair services that will work within your budget.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters and downspouts play a vital role in keeping water damage and leaks at bay. For this reason, a thorough gutter examination and cleaning should be performed every spring. Remove fallen leaves, branches, and debris to ensure that water is draining away from your home’s foundation. Pooling water near the foundation can lead to extensive damage over time, causing the home to sink and settle.

Test the Irrigation System

Sprinklers have a definite lifespan, so it’s worth checking each unit to ensure it’s working properly when spring rolls around. Look for cracked or broken heads, and also directional sprays. Run each irrigation zone separately, and walk the garden to look for problems. Adjust sprinklers that are spraying the side of the house or patio, as this can create moisture problems in the foundation, and also waste water.

Check Exterior Walls

Number three on your spring home improvement checklist is inspecting exterior walls. Look for mildew, pest damage, and cracks. Cracks found in walls over windows and doorways could indicate that the house is settling more dramatically than normal. While it’s not cause for panic, it’s best to address problems promptly before they get any worse, and more expensive to fix.

Look for Foundation Cracks

While it’s perfectly normal for foundations to settle and develop tiny fissures in the early years following construction, larger gaps and cracks can be cause for concern. Foundation damage can be caused by poor drainage, as well as weather and soil conditions. If you suspect warning signs of structural damage, always get a professional opinion.

Expert Foundation Repair Richardson TX

These tips can help prepare your home for the coming season, and potentially ward off problems that could undermine the integrity of your foundation. If you’re looking for foundation repair contractors Richardson TX property owners rely on, you’ve come to the right place.

Schedule a free estimate today anywhere in our Richardson foundation repair service area. Align Foundation Repair is dedicated to providing our customers the highest quality service, and our work is backed by an industry-leading warranty.

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Heavy Spring Rain and How It Affects Your Foundation

Spring downpours can wreak havoc on your outdoor plans, but did you know that heavy rain can even cause damage to your foundation? While moderate showers pose little cause for concern, extended periods of intense rainfall can be problematic in terms of structural integrity.

Foundation problems are more likely if your home has improper drainage, or was built on expansive soil. For over two decades, Align Foundation Repair has helped home and business owners in Richardson, Texas, and the surrounding region resolve issues brought on by springtime precipitation.

When it comes to your home’s foundation, you can’t be too cautious or prepared. Understand the effects of heavy rainfall, and call us for all of your Richardson foundation repair needs.

Extended rainfall and poor drainage

Water should always have ways to channel away from your foundation. As part of your annual spring cleaning, make sure your downspouts and gutters are clear of debris and directing water away from your slab or pier and beam foundation. Areas of standing water near the foundation should be addressed promptly to avoid more expensive and labor-intensive repairs later on.

Expansive soil and heavy showers

As rainwater seeps into the ground, soil naturally expands. The area’s clay-laden soil drains very slowly, and that can also spell trouble for foundations. When the soil is completely saturated for days on end, this puts immense pressure on the foundation, which can crack or heave.

Watch out for small foundation cracks

Tiny, hairline cracks in poured concrete foundations are common. But if you notice cracks larger than an eighth of an inch after substantial rains, this could be indicative of a larger problem. Foundation cracks can signal that the soil is expanding and putting pressure underneath the foundation, and may eventually provide entry points for groundwater leakage.

Signs of a sinking foundation

Although rare in homes with good drainage, periods of heavy rain can cause drastic foundation settlement. Be alert for possible signs that your foundation is sinking:

  • Musty odors, dampness in basement walls
  • Bowed walls
  • Fissures in and around doors and windows
  • Cracks in concrete floor
  • Doors that stick
  • Leaning chimney
  • Major cracks in bricks and masonry

Whether you need to identify potential foundation problems in a single-family home or a commercial building this spring, Align Foundation Repair has the skillset and experience to get the job done right. Our team provides foundation repair services that are effective, reasonably priced, and backed by guarantee.

Foundation Repair Richardson TX homeowners trust

Being prepared is half the battle when bad weather sets in. If you’re noticing some signs of foundational damage, time is of the essence. Our professionals can address the underlying problems and help keep your property safe.

Choose foundation repair contractors Richardson TX homeowners know they can depend on. Give us a call to schedule an inspection anywhere in our Richardson foundation repair service area. Schedule your free inspection and estimate today!

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Can You Repair Your Foundation During the Wet Spring Season?

Yes, it is possible to perform many types of foundation repair during the wet spring season. While in some cases heavy downpours or serious storms might cause slight delays in foundation repair work as the contractors wait out the bad weather, for the most part, the experienced pros at Align Foundation Repair can use a variety of techniques – such as temporary enclosures and plastic sheeting to keep the site dry, as well as the use of special waterproof materials – to keep things on schedule and make sure your repairs are done in an effective and timely manner, no matter what Mother Nature throws at us.

In fact, having your foundation inspected in the spring can save you from costly repairs down the road. Identifying and fixing problems now can protect your home from further water damage caused by rain and unstable wet soil. This is especially true if the problems are located in your crawlspace or along your foundation’s interior walls.

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we have more than 20 years of experience with Richardson foundation repair. We use the latest tools and techniques to diagnose the problem and apply the correct solution.

Our rates are fair, our work is guaranteed, and we work in all types of weather. Get in touch with us today to schedule a free inspection from one of our experts.

The Link Between Wet Weather and Foundation Problems

Your foundation is under year-round assault from all types of weather, like sweltering summer days and frigid winter nights. But heavy rains pose a special threat to its structural integrity. Here’s why:

  • Soil expands as it becomes saturated, applying enormous compressive force against your foundation – this is similar in principle to what will happen if you squeeze an egg between your fingers. It will crack and crumble.
  • Rainwater may find its way into your crawlspace, where it can weaken the cement that holds your foundation together – it can also lead to other issues, as we’ll discuss in a bit.
  • Rainwater can even wash away the soil upon which your foundation rests – this can create a wide range of problems, from unlevel floors to dangerous sinkholes.

Not All Foundation Problems Are Obvious From the Outside

It’s important to check the outside of your foundation for cracks and other problems. Sometimes it’s also necessary to crawl under the home and inspect the interior as well.

However, a contaminated crawlspace can be a dangerous, germ-filled environment. That’s why it’s best to let an expert in foundation repair tackle this job. Our technicians use the proper equipment and safeguards to protect their health and well-being – and yours.

Here’s what they may find during their inspection:

  • Interior cracks and stress lines that are invisible from the outside – spring is a great time to check for these problems, before the long summer months cause them to expand and get worse.
  • Mold and mildew – which can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.
  • Rats, insects, and other vermin – these pests can destroy insulation, chew away at electrical wires, and plant their feces in your HVAC system. Eventually they may find their way into the home itself, posing a direct threat to you and your loved ones.

The only way to correct these problems is with professional foundation repair services. Putting off this essential service will only cause more problems down the road.

Foundation Repair Contractors Richardson TX

For foundation repair Richardson TX locals can count on, choose Align Foundation Repair. We have been a respected part of the local business community for more than two decades. We’re members of the Better Business Bureau and hold an A+ rating with the agency. Plus, we’re always happy to provide references from past clients.

If you live within our broad Richardson foundation repair service area,

contact us today to schedule your free inspection and estimate. You’ll soon have all the facts you need about the state of your foundation to decide on next steps.

man with water hose watering the grass
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Should I Water My Foundation in Texas During Winter?

Yes, you should water the soil around your Texas home year-round to avoid foundational issues that can lead to cracked walls, doors that stick, uneven floors, and structural hazards. During the cooler, dryer months of winter, the soil around your Texas home can dry out and shrink, causing the foundation to settle or tip and leading to costly damages to your home.

Richardson foundation repair work can be avoided by keeping the soil moist throughout the entire year and scheduling regular inspections.

How winter weather can affect your foundation

Foundation problems during colder months aren’t caused by a poor-quality foundation but relate to the soil that the foundation sits on. Texas soil is predominantly made up of clay, including black gumbo and caliche, which typically react to changes in water. Changes in the amount of moisture in the air can lead to soil cracking. If your soil cracks, it can lead to uneven settling of your foundation.

How to protect your foundation this winter

Keeping the moisture level of your soil consistent around the year can help prevent shifting and settling. Here are two steps to keeping your soil moist in the winter:

  1. Use a soaker hose or an in-ground sprinkler system and set it up approximately 18 inches from the foundation of your home.
  2. Use less water than you would during summer. The summer heat can cause more evaporation, so even though winter droughts in Texas can cause more drying, the cooler weather allows the soil to soak up and keep more of the water it receives.

Top tips for watering the soil around your foundation

  • Avoid over-watering. Using too much water can make the ground too soft. If the ground starts to become squishy, stop watering.
  • Don’t place the soaker hose in direct contact with the foundation as it can lead to water pooling, turning your firm soil into mud. This can affect the soil’s ability to support your home’s foundation.
  • Avoid connecting more than one soaker hose, which can lead to uneven watering.
  • Ensure watering won’t drain towards your house by filling any low-lying places that may collect water near your home.
  • If the amount of water your neighbor is using affects the soil on your property, ask them to stop.

How often should you water your soil?

How often you need to water can depend on how dry it is during winter. If we don’t get much rain during January or February, it’s essential to water the soil of your foundation at least two to three times throughout the month, for approximately 20 minutes at a time. Keep an eye on your sprinkler or soaker hose, and ensure you don’t overwater the soil. You’re aiming to keep a consistent moisture level in the soil around your foundation, so if it’s a really dry winter, you may need to water more frequently.

How do I check if my foundation is damaged?

We recommend that you check the exterior of your home during winter to look for cracks or issues that may affect your foundation—however, foundation damage isn’t always as apparent. Scheduling an inspection with Richardson foundation repair experts could help you identify potential issues early, before they turn into larger problems, saving you time, money, and headaches in the future.

Foundation repair Richardson TX contractors

If you need foundation repair services in Richardson, TX, contact Align Foundation Repair. Our family-run business prides itself on customer service and offers free repair estimates to help you plan your home maintenance needs. In addition to our Richardson foundation repair service area, we also service the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area. Contact our foundation repair contractors in Richardson, TX today to schedule a free inspection for your home.

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Winterize Your Home Foundation Before Winter Arrives

Foundation protection is just as important in the winter as during other seasons. Your preparations for cold temperatures should include:

  • Checking your foundation for cracks, holes, and other weak spots.
  • Wrapping your pipes to prevent them from freezing.
  • Occasionally watering the soil around your home to within 10 inches of the foundation.
  • Maintaining a minimum level of heat in your home at all times.

Let’s take a closer look at these important steps.

Don’t Let Pests Destroy Your Winter Foundation

When the mercury starts to plummet, critters may seek a warm spot like your crawlspace to ride out the cold weather. Unfortunately, by doing so, they can inflict serious harm on your foundation.

To prevent this problem, you should inspect your home’s exterior during late fall or early winter. Keep on the lookout for cracks, gaps, and holes that could admit insects or other pests.

Most small defects can be repaired by the homeowner with a concrete patch solution, which you’ll find at your local home improvement center. Larger openings are best left to foundation experts serving North Texas. If you notice damage to your foundation, minor or severe, don’t take any chances – reach out to Align Foundation Repair for your FREE inspection and quote.

Wrap Your Pipes to Prevent Them from Freezing

Frozen pipes can inflict terrible damage on a home’s foundation. And this problem is more common here in Texas than we once thought, as the events of recent winters have shown.

For this reason, we recommend wrapping your pipes in foam insulation to keep them above 32°. You’ll find products designed for this purpose at hardware and home improvement stores.

Keep the Soil Around Your Foundation Moist Throughout the Winter

It may sound odd, but dry dirt can damage your home. That’s because soil contracts as it loses moisture, weakening the support your foundation receives from the surrounding earth.

That’s why experts recommend using your garden hose or sprinklers every now and then on mild, sunny winter days. Sprinkle, but do not saturate the ground to within 10 inches of the foundation.

Once you finish this task, remember to shut off the water supply to your hose or sprinklers until its next use. Otherwise, you risk freeze damage.

Maintain a Minimum Level of Heat in Your Home

Turning off your heating system when you’re away from your house can lead to frozen or damaged pipes. Instead, you should keep the heat on but lower the thermostat setting by 7-10 degrees.

DFW Foundation Repair

Sometimes you can take all the precautions in the world and still need the help of professional foundation repair services. We invite you to contact our office today if you find yourself in this situation.

Our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation experts have decades of combined experience. Our rates are fair and we’re glad to provide references from past customers.

Contact us today for foundation repair during winter. You’ll soon have the facts you need to make an informed decision about the next steps to take to protect the value and stability of your home.

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How a Freeze Can Affect Your Texas Home Foundation

A Texas winter freeze can negatively impact your home’s foundation. That’s because cold weather can cause the earth around your house to expand or contract, creating stress fractures that lead to problems like these:

  • Doors or windows that no longer fit in their frames.
  • Fractures in the foundation itself.
  • Cracks along interior walls.
  • Floors that are no longer level and rooms that are no longer square.

If you believe that your home has been damaged by winter temperatures, then we urge you to contact us today to schedule a free inspection of your foundation. Our experts will provide a no-cost price quote and give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision about whether our foundation repair services are the right solution.

214-463-2974
If you’re afraid that a freeze has damaged your home’s foundation, contact Align Foundation Repair today.

How Winter Weather Can Wreak Havoc With Your Home’s Foundation

Here in Texas, most of the state has dense, clay-like soil that responds quickly to changing moisture conditions. Like a sponge, it expands when wet and contracts when dry.

This push-pull effect creates constant stress on your foundation. The problem can become acute when the ground freezes, as happened during the great blizzard of 2021.

To see what we mean, think of what happens to a can of soda when it freezes. It expands outward and may even split in two, spraying its contents all over your refrigerator.

The effects of these forces can take weeks or even months to become obvious. When they do, you may find yourself facing an expensive repair bill, not only for your foundation but for problems throughout your home.

214-463-2974
Contact Align Foundation Repair today and take care of the effects of a freeze before they become major problems.

Not every foundation is affected in this way, of course. But why take chances? After all, for most people, their home is their biggest investment. Protect your home’s value and structural stability by reaching out to us as soon as you suspect a problem.

Foundation Repair Services That You Can Trust

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we’ve spent more than 20 years providing Dallas-Fort Worth foundation repair to our fellow Texans. Here’s what you can expect when you get in touch with us:

  • A prompt response from one of our customer service specialists – we’ll listen to your concerns and schedule a free visit from one of our technicians.
  • A thorough inspection of your foundation – we’ll assess the problem and give you the results right away.
  • A no-cost, no-obligation estimate – we’ll give you an honest and transparent price quote and fill you in about our special financing options.

Align Foundation Repair is a respected member of the local business community. Our rates are fair and we’re happy to provide references from past customers. Get in touch with our North Texas foundation repair experts today to schedule your complimentary inspection.

Home foundation repair inspection contractor
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End of Summer Means Time for Foundation Repair

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, then the end of summer is the perfect time to think about foundation repair. Here are the reasons why:

  1. Hot weather can cause the soil around your home to dry out and settle – robbing your foundation of needed support.
  2. Plants and trees in your yard draw water out of the earth – contributing to the soil’s moisture depletion.

The best way to guard against these problems is to contact our foundation repair services company today to schedule a free inspection. Here, we look more closely at those three factors mentioned above.

How Dry Soil Can Hurt Your Foundation

Anyone who lives in the Lone Star State knows just how brutal our summers can be. Months of hot, dry weather can suck the moisture right out of the soil, causing it to contract and robbing your foundation of much-needed support. Common signs of this problem include:

  • Cracks along the perimeter of your home
  • Warped or buckling floor tiles
  • Loose or damaged bricks
  • Gaps along window frames
214-463-2974
Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Plants and Trees May Contribute to the Problem

The plants and trees around your home need moisture to survive. They draw this essential liquid in through their roots, speeding up the soil contraction process and taking a further toll on your foundation.

Dallas Foundation Repair Services You Can Trust

Autumn is the perfect time for an inspection performed by your local Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair professionals. That way, you can catch any problems before cold weather sets in. After all, who wants to spend the holiday season worrying about home repairs?

Align Foundation Repair is known and respected throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area for our expertise, affordability, and outstanding customer service. Our rates are fair and our work is guaranteed.

Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection. The sooner you reach out to our North Texas foundation repair experts, the sooner your foundation problems will be in the past.

Cleaning gutters during the summer time.
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4 Tips to Protect Your Foundation During Fall

With autumn on its way, now is the time to protect your home’s foundation from the upcoming changes in the weather. Here are four helpful tips for foundation protection:

  1. Clean and inspect your gutters.
  2. Make sure the property around your foundation is properly graded.
  3. Inspect exterior for signs of shifting.
  4. Call an experienced foundation repair contractor if you notice any warning signs of a damaged foundation.

Let’s look at each of these points in more detail.

Cleaning and Inspecting Your Gutters

Your gutters are your home’s first line of defense against rainwater erosion. But they need your help in order to do their job. Here’s how to keep them in good shape during the autumn months:

  • Clean them yourself or hire a professional to do the job for you: If you go the DIY route, then remember to follow basic safety precautions like using a sturdy ladder and eye protection.
  • Keep an eye out for cracks, corrosion, and other signs of damage and replace your gutters if necessary: this will cost you much less than repairing a damaged foundation.

Checking the Grade Around Your Foundation

A properly landscaped home will have soil that slopes away from the foundation and towards the street. This prevents rainwater from pooling around the perimeter of the home and entering your crawl space.

Checking the grade around your home is easy and requires no special tools. A landscaping company can correct any problems you find. You can also do the work yourself if you have the tools and the know-how.

Giving Your Foundation a Close Examination

Gutters and grading are essential for foundation protection. But all the precautions in the world may not be enough to prevent damage from occurring.

That’s why we recommend inspecting the perimeter and crawl space of your home 2-3 times a year. Here’s what to look for:

  • Cracks wider than about ¼ of an inch.
  • Standing water or excessive moisture in your crawl space.
  • Brick damage and Siding damage.

Call an Experienced Foundation Repair Company

If you notice any of the tell-tale signs of a troubled foundation, our foundation experts serving North Texas are ready to provide you with a free inspection and estimate. We provide a variety of professional foundation repair services, including pier and beam foundation repair, drainage system repair, crawl space encapsulation, and more. We’ve served the people of the Dallas-Fort Worth area for more than 20 years by providing excellent service at affordable prices. Our work is guaranteed, and we’re happy to provide references from past customers.

Remember, the earlier you catch the damage, the more money you can save in potentially costly repairs. We invite you to get in touch with our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation experts today for your free, no-obligation estimate.

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Why Soil Pulls Away From a Foundation During Summer

The foundation is built on top of the soil. If the soil shifts, the foundation is going to move around. The movement, while subtle and gradual, is enough to cause eventual fractures and splits in the concrete slab. During the summer months, soil pulling away from the foundation is commonplace, especially in the Dallas and Ft Worth region. Why does this happen, and what can homeowners do about it?

What Causes Soil to Pull Away?

Soil pulls away for different reasons. The Dallas region is known for its hot summers. The heat plays a major role. The heat rays cause moisture in the soil to quickly evaporate. When the soil is dry and warm, it contracts and shifts, often moving away from the foundation. This leaves significant gaps between the foundation’s slab and the dirt that borders the home. This leads the foundation to shift, sink, or slope at an uneven angle and eventually crack apart.

Soil pulling away is especially common in Plano and surrounding cities that have heavy clay-based soil that is prone to drying out. Plano home foundation service providers keep these points in mind during residential inspections where soil conditions must also be examined.

Is Soil Pulling Away in Your Home?

Make a habit of performing a visual inspection around the border of your home. Do you see physical gaps and spaces in the dirt? Does the soil appear cracked along these areas? These are signs of soil contracting and pulling away.

What Do You Do?

Since soil pulls away when it dries, prevent it from drying out by watering it. Run a soaker hose around the home for about 20-minutes. Position the hose about 12 to 18-inches from the perimeter of the house. Be sure not to oversaturate the soil; the soil should be moderately moist. If a puddle is beginning to form, then you overdid it.

Run the soaker hose during summer when the weather forecast suggests a hot and dry week ahead.

Call Align Foundation Repair for a Foundation Inspection

While you can see signs of soil pulling away, you may not be able to tell whether foundation damage has occurred as a result. Soil separating from the house over many summers can cause significant damage that warrants a professional inspection. Contact Align Foundation Repair for foundation repair service solutions. We will provide a free estimate and quote.