Why Labor Day Is an Important Holiday for Foundation Specialists

Now that we’re experiencing another hot summer, our Kansas City foundation repair team wants to remind homeowners about one of the biggest causes of home foundation problems: evaporation. 

When the weather is hot and we’re short on rain, all the moisture in our clay soil begins to evaporate. As evaporation occurs, Kansas City soil shrinks, which causes it to move from its current position. You begin to notice cracks in the topsoil, and those cracks can run deep, causing voids and gaps beneath the ground. 

You may not mind or notice these things in your yard and come to expect them as a normal part of Kansas City summers. However, our foundation waterproofing team wants you to stay informed about what that soil is doing around and underneath your foundation. When soil shrinks away from your basement walls or opens up voids beneath your concrete flooring, your foundation doesn’t have soil to rely on. 

Foundations are typically built with soil as an additional layer of support, so when they lose this due to evaporation, shrinking soil, they lose a key source of strength. This lack of support can start to cause sinking and sloping floors, and walls that crack and bulge outward. Your home itself may shift again, too, causing sticking doors and windows on any floor of the home, as well as cracks around your crown molding on the upper floors. 

As if this weren’t enough, more trouble is on the way once Labor Day comes around. Why Labor Day? Find out more from PierMagic below. 

Why Labor Day Is a Key Date for Foundation Specialists in Kansas City 

Labor Day is a turning point from summer to fall. During Labor Day picnics, we all start to notice a bit of a chill in the air, even if summer will last for a bit longer. Labor Day is also the start of a time of year that Kansas City foundation repair specialists also want homeowners to keep an eye on: the rainy season.

We’ve already described how soil shrinks away from your home’s foundation when water evaporates during Kansas City’s hot summer months. Now, imagine a big September or October rainstorm - or many of them. All that water simply isn’t capable of being absorbed by all that dry, brittle soil from summer droughts. This means that the water has to go somewhere, and it finds its home right up against your foundation walls - and inside your home, too.

This excess rainwater can erode your basement walls and flooring, and may slip through cracks into your basement. All of a sudden, you have humidity issues in your basement that cause mildew and mold, water everywhere, and damage to your belongings. If this continues, this rainwater can end up compromising the integrity of your foundation as a whole. 

Unfortunately, the problems don’t end there. Our foundation waterproofing specialists also want homeowners to know that when the soil eventually absorbs that rainwater, it begins to expand. Instead of shrinking away from your home, the soil is moving yet again, putting pressure on your foundation in a new way. Essentially, your foundation, concrete floor, and basement walls are being pushed back and forth throughout these months, and this soil movement - shrinking and expanding - can affect your foundation negatively each time it occurs. 

In short, drought season, followed by the rainy season, spells trouble for many homeowners’ foundations. However, PierMagic has the tools and techniques to protect your foundation, your family, and the investment you’ve made in your home.

Case Study: “Foundation Repair, Drainage Solutions, and Basement Waterproofing.”

What Our Foundation Specialists Suggest You Look For, Before or After Labor Day

Stay ahead of the Labor Day rainy season by preventing damage due to evaporation now. Our Kansas City foundation repair specialists deliver superior foundation waterproofing, drainage solutions, and more to strengthen your home. But first, you may need to know the signs that shrinking clay soil is causing problems that can be fixed to one of our signature solutions:

1. First, check out the interior of your home’s foundation, in the basement:
2. Cracks in the basement walls (stair step cracks or vertical cracks, in particular)
3. Cracks around egress windows or basement door frames
4. Air drafts in the basement 
5. Next, look at the exterior of your foundation, and ask yourself:
6. Are there cracks in the foundation’s exterior walls?
7. Is soil eroding away from the foundation?
8. Is there extremely dry soil around the home?
9. Is there soil with large cracks in it?
10. Are there cracks in the chimney? Is my chimney leaning?

If you’ve noticed any of these signs, it’s highly likely that evaporation has taken its toll. If the rainy season has already begun, you may also notice these signs:

• Water coming up through cracks in the floor
• Water dripping down through cracks in the walls
• A leaking chimney
• Standing water around your home or in your yard

Case Study: “Basement Waterproofing in Lenexa, KS”

How Our Foundation Specialists Keep Your Basement and Home Safe, Protected, and Dry

Our team of expert foundation waterproofing and foundation repair specialists offer lasting solutions for homeowners in Kansas City that protect their home from the hottest and wettest times of year - and everything in between. 

When PierMagic visits your home, we conduct a comprehensive inspection that is rare among our competitors in the area. Our Kansas City foundation repair team is trained in exactly what to look for, and we’re experts at understanding our region’s unique soil conditions. 

To protect your home, we may recommend one of the following excellent solutions:

• Crack sealing
• Polyjacking (concrete lifting and leveling) for your basement floor
• Bowed wall repair
• Chimney repair
• Piering to strengthen your foundation overall
• Superior French drain installation
• Backup sump pump installation
• Crawlspace encapsulation to seal your foundation off from soil and water 

Now’s the Time to Reach Out to Our Foundation Specialists 

Unlike nationally owned companies that try to hunt for local business, PierMagic understands Kansas City foundations, soil and climate conditions, and the values of homeowners in our area who are just looking to protect their families and investments. This is because we’re a homegrown company that wants the best for our friends and neighbors. 

We care about you and your home, and you’ll notice that in every part of the process when you choose to work with PierMagic. We even offer special financing opportunities to ensure everyone can access our Kansas City foundation repair and foundation waterproofing services.

Connect with our foundation repair specialists before Labor Day to safeguard your home before the rains come, so you can keep your home dry and safe from damage. Get in touch at 816-765-4800 or contact us online. We look forward to providing excellent service that fits your home’s needs today.