Last week, KARE 11 reported an update from the U.S. Drought Monitor showing that 79% of Minnesota is now in a severe drought. But drought is not just devastating to the land – it can create big problems for your home as well.
The biggest impact drought has on your property – aside from a brown lawn and a wilted garden – is its impact on your foundation. During periods of prolonged dryness, the soil surrounding your home shrinks away, causing foundation issues that, if not addressed, can grow into even bigger problems over time. Here are the most common problems caused by drought, and what we can do to fix them.
Foundation Problems
Settling
Settling foundations are often caused by soil shrinking away during dry spells. A lot of the time, there isn’t any clear evidence of a settling foundation – unless you’re looking closely. Cracks will first form in basement walls, which may be overlooked by many homeowners. But eventually, the damage will spread to upper levels of the home. Cracks in upstairs drywall may start to appear, as well as hard-to-open doors and windows. When this occurs, the best thing to do is have your home inspected by a foundation repair expert immediately.
Flooding
It may seem strange that foundation problems caused by drought can lead to flooding, but it actually makes a lot of sense. When your foundation settles and cracks form, your home becomes vulnerable to anything that can enter through those cracks – including water. If you have any storage in your basement, it could be damaged by water when rain finally does come. Then, you’ll be looking at not only a foundation problem, but hundreds – even thousands – of dollars of property damage as well.
Our Solutions
Piering
Innovative Basement Authority uses push piering, slab piering, and helical piering systems to solve settling foundation problems across Minnesota and North Dakota. When you call us for your free estimate, we’ll send out a foundation repair expert who will advise you on the best piering system to use for your foundation.
Our solution will be tailor-made to your home, and it’ll save you the trouble of ever having to worry about the structural integrity of your home – or whether your property is vulnerable to water – again.
Waterproofing
If your home has already been damaged by water, either due to cracks in a settling foundation or something else entirely, we’ve got your back. Innovative Basement Authority has waterproofing solutions for any problem, whether your sump pump has suddenly stopped working or you’re due for a brand-new basement drainage system. We offer efficient, effective solutions installed by basement experts who have been specially trained to cover the bases in solving your basement moisture problem.
Wet or dry weather, we’ve got you covered. Innovative Basement Authority has been repairing foundation and drying out basements across Minnesota and North Dakota for over a decade – and we’re on standby for your next basement project as well. Whether you need a foundation solution, the best waterproofing system available, or both, our experts are here to help you every step of the way. Call us to get started today!
