The distinct seasons we experience in the Mid-South and the types of soil we have in most locations mean 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.
At American Standard Foundation Repair, we are committed to helping your business not only to remediate current foundational damage but also to address long-term strategies to maximize the useful life of your facilities. Our expert engineers and inspectors focus on a problem-solving approach to water drainage problems that could lead to future foundation stress and instability.
Contact us today and let our team help your business achieve long-term water management success.
