Skip to main content

Commercial Water Management

Protect your foundation from unwanted moisture, pest infestation, mold growth, and improve energy efficiency

Water seen here is collecting under a foundation due to poor water maagement.

Most foundation damage and failures are caused, at least in part, by the moisture content of the soil on the building lot.

The seasons we experience in the Mid-South and the types of soil we have means the moisture content in the earth around commercial buildings is highly variable throughout the year. Most of the foundation damage and failures we see are caused, at least in part, by the moisture content of the soil on the building lot. At American Standard Foundation Repair, we recommend and help develop appropriate water management plans for the properties we inspect and work on to avoid future foundation instability and damage.

Excess moisture places undue stress on foundations, support walls, and basements, as wet soil is much heavier than properly drained subsurfaces. In addition to excess weight loads, water causes cracking and premature decay as it is pulled by gravity and pressure to penetrate construction materials in microscopic fissures.

Wet soil also damages wood structures by softening and warping them with moisture that does not drain away or evaporate.

In addition to causing direct structural damage, moisture promotes mold, mildew, and other environmental air quality hazards. Soft, moist wood also attracts insects, worms, and other pests that, in turn, create even more structural and landscaping damage.

Even new buildings can suffer damage in relatively short periods because of some construction practices that damage natural water drainage and soil composition. Natural topsoil is often removed during site preparation and backfilled with other soil types that do not adequately remove stormwater runoff and naturally occurring groundwater.

Upon inspecting your facility’s foundations and the topography and soil conditions of your lot and surrounding areas, we can recommend water management and drainage systems and methods to help keep excess moisture away from your building’s foundation and surrounding areas. Tennessee and Arkansas water management systems typically consist of surface and subsurface elements. Your property’s contours and soil conditions largely determine which systems you need and in what combination.

Surface water management usually involves building shallow ditches along natural slopes and contours. Gently sloping ditches use gravity flow to move surface water toward storm sewer drains or other appropriate collection areas before it soaks into the ground more than needed.

Subsurface water management systems are typically designed to remove water efficiently and quickly around a building’s foundation using underground trenches. French drains are usually placed above trenching dug around a foundation. Once excavated, the trenches often use a distributive system of PVC piping that uses gravity flow to quickly move stormwater from the surface and gutter downspouts along to storm sewer intakes. The trenches are backfilled with gravel and quality soil that keep the drainage system in place for years to come.

Contact American Standard Foundation Repair today and let our team help your business achieve long-term water management success.

American Standard Foundation Repair is the leading foundation repair and remediation firm serving the Mid-South from our Memphis, Knoxville, and Rogers, AR offices. We provide unmatched customer service that emphasizes effective communication and an unending effort to provide total satisfaction. Our owner, Jae Wells, serves as president of the National Foundation Repair Association and leads the way in providing cost-effective and long-lasting solutions.

Request A Quote