Water management and settlement

Often I get asked why a wall is failing and nine times out of ten it is because of poor drainage. Clay soil will only expand with water. If your wall is moving vertically or laterally, first thing you need to do is ask: where is the water coming from?

Walk around your home with a garden hose and water your walls. If the water pools within 5 ft of your foundation, you need to add some grade.

Sometimes all is needed is a simple intercept drain to divert the flow of runoff. Sometimes helical or resistance piles or piers are needed. Sometimes you need a stick of dynamite.

No matter what the outcome or solution is, water is a foundation’s enemy in Colorado soil.