Lateral Soil and Moisture Movement

Lateral soil and moisture movement of the soil under your foundation can cause a lot of problems. Like other foundation issues, you will probably be wasting your time and money if your do not identify and correct the underlying cause before attempting to make repairs.

Lateral Moisture Movement

Foundation failure can be caused by the lateral movement of moisture through the soil. This is a common problem with homes built on hillsides. After precipitation the flow of water on the surface running downhill is clearly visible.

What is not so visible for days or even weeks later is the movement of excess moisture within the soil which also flows downhill. As the water flows it can also cause a condition known as Soil Creep. The moisture flow tends to pull the soil it flows through along the same path.

The flow of moisture can also cause a moisture differential in the soil beneath a foundation resulting in some areas being more moist than others. This flow can cause a condition known as Differential Movement.

Correcting Lateral Movement of Moisture

This lateral moisture problem can be solved by installing moisture barriers and drains of various types, the most effective of which is the French Drain. You can typically find a landscape of plumbing contractor to install one for you if that is the problem. Your foundation salesperson will probably not mention this problem, if he even knows that it exists because he/she does not want to wait for you to correct the underlying problem.

Lateral Soil Movement

Lateral movement can be caused by lateral moisture movement, described above, underground pressures or nearby erosion or excavation. You should be aware that excavation can be a serious problem if the it is performed too close to your foundation. The soil under your foundation is held in place by the soil that surrounds it. If too much soil is removed it allows the soil under your foundation to move in the direction of the void.

Other Causes

Other causes of lateral soil and moisture movement include:

• Improper drainage
• Faulty gutter systems
• Plumbing leaks under or near your foundation
• Air conditioning condenser drainage
• Natural under-ground moisture flow

All of these can in one way or another, contribute to lateral moisture or lateral soil movement. It is important to understand what is happening and take corrective measures and consider proper maintenance before going through costly foundation repairs that fail to solve the problem or possibly make it worse.