What Causes Foundation Wall Failure in St. Louis?

The soil around your home puts a lot of pressure on the foundation walls.  The amount of pressure varies depending on the type of soil, the amount of moisture in the soil, and how deep the foundation is in the ground.  When the pressure from the soil is greater than what the basement walls can handle, the walls begin to crack, bow, or push inward.  There are 3 common causes of wall failure—expansive clay soil, hydrostatic pressure, and frost.

Expansive Clay Soil

Clay soil expands and contracts depending on the amount of moisture in the ground.  It shrinks whenever it’s dry, and expands when it gets wet.  As the clay soil expands in size during rainy seasons, it puts a lot of pressure on your basement walls.  When the pressure becomes too much, the walls will begin to push inward.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid due to the force of gravity.  Simply put, if water is able to accumulate within the spaces and voids of the backfill soils, the water will exert a great amount of pressure against the basement walls.

Frost

In areas with extremely cold winter climates, frost can put pressure on basement walls and cause them to fail.  This is especially common if the basement is not heated.  The forces exerted by frost can be very powerful and can even lift shallow foundations up out of the ground, causing significant damage to the home.

Contact Woods Basement Systems to find the right solution to your foundation problems.