Rain Patterns and Your Foundation

Between last night’s storms and the rain in the forecast, you might be a little anxious about your basement. Maybe you’ve noticed that the water problems get a little worse with each rainfall. You’re not imagining it - they do. Let’s talk about why.

Outside some outlier storms, Michigan has pretty predictable summer weather. A rainy May and June give way to a dry July and August, and then the rain comes back in September. 

During wet periods, the soil expands until it reaches its saturation point, where it can’t absorb any more water. Then, we go through long periods of dry weather and the soil dries out and shrinks back down. Repeat the next time the rain starts, and so on.

The danger to your foundation here is twofold. 

1. As the soil expands, it puts pressure on your foundation walls, which can cause cracks and lead to leaning or bowing walls. Since the soil settles in the new space it creates when it dries, each rain cycle means it’s expanding from a new position and pushes even further. Soil under your foundation can shrink away as it dries, leaving the slab unsupported. Over time, this shrinking and expanding can cause major structural issues.

2. When soil reaches its saturation point, the water will try to move to a lower pressure area. This is often your basement, and to be frank, the water doesn’t care how it gets there. It will move through microscopic cracks in the walls and floor, and in the process, widen those cracks. This allows more water to flow through, and continue widening the cracks. Again, you can see how this cycle is problematic.

So, every time we have strong storms or an extended dry period, your foundation is under siege - what can you do? You can call us, for starters. Whether you’re dealing with water, structural problems, or both, we can design a custom solution to address the problems in your home. 

Don’t spend another season wondering what the next weather pattern means for your basement. Call us to schedule your free inspection.