Hydrostatic pressure is a common problem in Columbia homes because of the red clay soils that span the region. Given South Carolina’s unforgiving rainy climate, the soil on your property gets wet frequently and expands. Ultisols, the soils of the area, retain water incredibly well, so when the soil around your foundation gets wet, the water does not drain away. Instead, it stays there as more and more water accumulates around the foundation. Eventually, enough water gathers around to exert an incredible amount of pressure on the foundation walls, causing them to bow inwards.
Hydrostatic pressure occurs due to forces outside of our control: the soil on the property and the weather. That said, there is a way to avoid hydrostatic pressure, even if your basement has already been affected. The best prevention method would be to invest in a powerful, reliable drainage system that is able to drain water that gets into the basement as well as the groundwater that surrounds it. This way, even if there is already a lot of water accumulated around the foundation, it can be drained away. The bowing wall then can be reinforced with a wall anchor system.
Another way to prevent hydrostatic pressure would be to limit the amount of water that your soil is exposed to. Certain changes to your yard would have to be made, such as hiring a landscaping company to re-grade your yard so that water naturally flows away from the foundation. You should also look into getting your downspouts extended and covering the sides of your house with some foliage to block rainwater from reaching the soil. It’s impossible to keep the soil around your home completely dry, so keeping a close eye on your basement walls will alert you to any problems. Once you detect an issue, you can contact us so we can begin implementing prevention methods.