My lawn is on crack?
June 23, 2010 6:23 AM Subscribe
My lawn, both front and back yard, is developing rather large cracks in the soil. How can I close these up and ensure no damage is being done to the foundation?
I water roughly twice a week, though I will admit that the past week or so I haven't watered. The house is in north Texas, where hot is the normal temperature and clay is the normal foundation. I have soaker hoses on either end of the house, and they work very well since the dirt around them is always damp, and sometimes soggy if I let them go for too long.
Pictures of the cracks in the yard can be seen here, here, and here. Does the lawn just need to be watered more often to close them up, or am I past the point of no return and need to do something more drastic, or should I care?
My first priority not screwing up the foundation, hence the soaker hoses. This is a rental house--I'm the tenant--and I really don't want to cause structural damage. Should I have soaker hoses all around the house--instead of on the ends--and not worry about the lawn (just keep watering it twice a week) if foundation integrity is my goal?
I water roughly twice a week, though I will admit that the past week or so I haven't watered. The house is in north Texas, where hot is the normal temperature and clay is the normal foundation. I have soaker hoses on either end of the house, and they work very well since the dirt around them is always damp, and sometimes soggy if I let them go for too long.
Pictures of the cracks in the yard can be seen here, here, and here. Does the lawn just need to be watered more often to close them up, or am I past the point of no return and need to do something more drastic, or should I care?
My first priority not screwing up the foundation, hence the soaker hoses. This is a rental house--I'm the tenant--and I really don't want to cause structural damage. Should I have soaker hoses all around the house--instead of on the ends--and not worry about the lawn (just keep watering it twice a week) if foundation integrity is my goal?
Yes, watering is the answer. Texas clay is notorious for ruining foundations, just ask around.
posted by Daddy-O at 6:46 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Daddy-O at 6:46 AM on June 23, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: odinsdream: I'm worried about the foundation because watching foundations crumble and blow away is practically a spectator sport in north Texas, and perhaps the cracks in the lawn (which weren't there during the damp winter and spring) are indicative of a bigger problem. Whoever first decided to build slab foundations around here must have been clinically insane, because the clay soil seems to enjoy splitting concrete.
Carol Anne: The owner is, shall we say, not apt to return her calls. :) However, I have called her, and she hasn't called back. I'll see her on July 1st, but thought I'd check with the wise hivemind as well.
posted by fireoyster at 6:48 AM on June 23, 2010
Carol Anne: The owner is, shall we say, not apt to return her calls. :) However, I have called her, and she hasn't called back. I'll see her on July 1st, but thought I'd check with the wise hivemind as well.
posted by fireoyster at 6:48 AM on June 23, 2010
I think the cracks do indicate that the ground is moving due to low moisture content.
I wouldn't worry about it in the lawn, that's just the price a lawn pays in North Texas. If you're worried about aesthetics, you could fill the cracks with compost or dirt. This is not necessary.
I would worry about the foundation. It should be watered on all sides.
However, I would talk to the landlord about this being your responsibility.
Odinsdream, not watering foundations in many parts of Texas leads to serious foundation issues. Roads in North Texas don't get watered (except for rain, of course) and as a result, many surface roads with shallow bedding look like miles-long series of really cool bike jumps only a few years after construction.
(Agreed on slab builders=insane)
posted by Seamus at 8:20 AM on June 23, 2010
I wouldn't worry about it in the lawn, that's just the price a lawn pays in North Texas. If you're worried about aesthetics, you could fill the cracks with compost or dirt. This is not necessary.
I would worry about the foundation. It should be watered on all sides.
However, I would talk to the landlord about this being your responsibility.
Odinsdream, not watering foundations in many parts of Texas leads to serious foundation issues. Roads in North Texas don't get watered (except for rain, of course) and as a result, many surface roads with shallow bedding look like miles-long series of really cool bike jumps only a few years after construction.
(Agreed on slab builders=insane)
posted by Seamus at 8:20 AM on June 23, 2010
This is a rental house--I'm the tenant--and I really don't want to cause structural damage.
The owner is, shall we say, not apt to return her calls. :)
Would it ease your mind here to send a letter and keep a copy? That's the typical recourse for "I'm trying to do the right thing on your behalf, but I don't know what you would want me to do, and you haven't been responding to my phone calls."
It doesn't have to be full of legalese, maybe something friendly like "Hi Sally, Thanks again for fixing the gutter last spring! I'm writing to make sure you received the questions I left on your voice mail last month and then again last week. I've been noticing some cracks in the yard (photos enclosed), and I want to be sure I am doing everything I can to prevent damage to the foundation. If you could please advise me on exactly what steps you'd like me to be taking, I'd be happy to carry them out. Right now, I am ___, but these cracks do seem to be growing slightly. If I should be doing anything more, please let me know."
posted by salvia at 8:57 AM on June 23, 2010
The owner is, shall we say, not apt to return her calls. :)
Would it ease your mind here to send a letter and keep a copy? That's the typical recourse for "I'm trying to do the right thing on your behalf, but I don't know what you would want me to do, and you haven't been responding to my phone calls."
It doesn't have to be full of legalese, maybe something friendly like "Hi Sally, Thanks again for fixing the gutter last spring! I'm writing to make sure you received the questions I left on your voice mail last month and then again last week. I've been noticing some cracks in the yard (photos enclosed), and I want to be sure I am doing everything I can to prevent damage to the foundation. If you could please advise me on exactly what steps you'd like me to be taking, I'd be happy to carry them out. Right now, I am ___, but these cracks do seem to be growing slightly. If I should be doing anything more, please let me know."
posted by salvia at 8:57 AM on June 23, 2010
my area suffers from expansive soils, and most newer homes here are built on post-tensioned slabs. These are structurally much more solid than simple reinforced slabs on grade. You can tell if you have a PT slab by a stamp in the concrete (probably in the garage) indicating that it's a PT slab and not to do any cutting or drilling. Anyway, if you DO have a PT slab, you probably don't need to worry about structural damage to the home. However, if you want to prevent further soil movement, you have to equalize the moisture content all around the house and (ideally) keep it there.
posted by Chris4d at 9:08 AM on June 23, 2010
posted by Chris4d at 9:08 AM on June 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Carol Anne at 6:42 AM on June 23, 2010