Signs Your Yard Drainage Problem Could Affect Your Foundation
Drainage issues aren't just a lawn problem. Here's how to tell when water in your yard is a foundation risk.
Slab foundations in North Texas move when the soil around them expands and contracts. Water that sits next to the foundation — or dries out in a drought while the rest of the soil stays wet — puts uneven pressure on the slab.
Warning signs to watch for
- Water pooling within 3 feet of the foundation after rain
- Downspouts dumping onto sod right next to the slab
- Flower beds that stay wet or muddy for days
- Mulch or soil sloping toward the house instead of away
- Cracks in interior drywall, brick, or mortar that get worse after wet seasons
Why Collin County makes this worse
The clay soil under most Collin County homes swells when wet and shrinks when dry. When drainage is bad, the soil near the house cycles between soaked and cracked far more than the rest of the yard, and that's exactly the kind of movement foundations don't like.
What to do
You don't need to panic over a wet spot. But if water sits against the foundation after every storm, it's worth getting a drainage estimate before it becomes a foundation estimate.