How one would protect their home’s foundation from hot and dry summer in Texas
We live in Texas, and like many people in the southern states, we deal with heat and drought. Especially during the summer. While sometimes it might seem like you can do nothing to protect your home’s foundation from this problem, there are some things that one can do to try and cool down the surrounding earth.
Ways one would protect their home’s foundation from hot and dry summer in Texas.
Add a waterproofing material to the soil around your home.
Waterproofing materials are excellent at protecting your foundation from water damage and keeping it cool in the summer. Adding waterproofing materials to the soil around your foundation will keep it more relaxed in the summer and keep your home cooler during Texas’s hot and dry months.
Add mulch around your home.
By layering mulch around your home (it can be made of many different materials, from leaves to straw), you’ll help keep the water at the surface and not allow it to penetrate the soil. This will also keep your home cooler during the hot summer months. The best part about this is that there are many different materials that you can add to your mulch, allowing for a lot of options for beautifying your property as well.
Add a layer of concrete between the ground and your home.
Adding a layer of concrete (also known as footing) to the area around your foundation will protect the ground from water damage, create a barrier to keep moisture from penetrating the ground, and serve as a shield for your foundation. The best type of footing that one can install is a low permeability concrete layer that will help keep the surrounding earth cool in the hot summer months.
Add a vapor barrier to your foundation.
Adding a layer of vapor barrier around your foundation will help keep the moisture from getting through the wall and will also help keep the air in the basement cool during hot months. If one chooses to install a vapor barrier, it is better to set it behind a wall (or tub). This will ensure that the barrier does not get wet and that it can do its job of keeping moisture from getting through to the foundation.
Add a grounding or lightning protection system.
Grounding or lightning protection systems are a great way to protect your home’s foundation from water damage caused by storms and keep it cool during the hot summer months. These systems have grounding rods/wires/plates installed in the soil around your foundation. The rods/wires/plates will allow electricity to flow through the foundation while grounding it. This is a great way to keep water from getting into your home.
Install downspouts around your home.
Downspouts are great for catching and preventing runoff from happening after a storm. This runoff can cause water damage and rot in your foundation, as well as cause mold growth inside your home. Downspouts are also great for preventing rainwater from getting into the basement of your house, keeping an area dry that could otherwise be wet with water in the summer months.
Install a garden hose system.
Adding a soaker hose to your home can make it more water-resistant and keep the rainwater from causing damage to the surrounding soil. This will also help keep your foundation cooler during Texas’s hot, dry months. Another option is to use a landscape sprinkler. These are also great at keeping water away from your home and cooling your foundation in hot summers.
Install a drainpipe.
Drainpipes are also a great way to keep water out of your foundation and cool the soil around it in the summer. Installing a drainpipe will allow water to flow out of the soil, keeping it from getting into your home.
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The last thing that one can do to help keep the surrounding soil cool around your foundation is to install an air conditioner. This will not only help keep your home cooler but will also help keep the soil around it cool as well. An air conditioner is a great way to ensure you stay calm, even during hot and dry parts of Texas.
One can do many inexpensive things to help keep their home cool and protect their foundation from Texas heat and long, hot summers. The best thing about these tips is that they are not very expensive. They provide excellent home protection from elements such as rainwater, storms, and other weather without spending much money.
