How Can a Foundation Become Damaged?

Foundation damage is a lot more common than you might think. The fact that Sioux Falls deals with high humidity levels, snow, and rainstorms in the spring can lead to the soil potentially washing out. Without this crucial support to keep it level, the foundation might shift out of its original placement, settle into the remaining soil or even crack altogether. Loose silt loam soils also are much easier for storms to wash out than other, more compact types of soil. This washout is largely a consequence of the clay bowl effect, which in itself is a direct result of how contractors build new homes. 

Whenever a new home is built, a contractor will dig a large hole in the soil where they plan to lay down a foundation and either a basement or crawl space. Once these components are set, there will be some space left around them that the contractor will then backfill with the soil they initially dug up. This creates a loose soil bowl around the foundation that is even more susceptible to washing out than before. This soil does not have to be made up of clay to really take effect, either. Without this support, your foundation will likely settle deeper into the soil around it. 

The soil is also prone to absorbing more water than it is actually capable of holding. This can start to put an immense amount of pressure against your foundation, which may cause it to shift or crack apart. This is commonly referred to as hydrostatic pressure. This pressure can also take on another form as well. This water may also seep into the foundation’s pores and become trapped. When winter comes, this water will likely freeze over and crack the foundation from within.