
The clay bowl effect is caused by loose soil left around your home after construction is complete. Once it rains, water seeps into this porous soil and affects your basement and foundation. Let’s explore the causes and symptoms of the clay bowl effect and possible solutions.
What is the Clay Bowl Effect?
The clay bowl effect is the natural consequence of excavating the soil during the construction of your home’s foundation. Once the construction is completed, the soil is backfilled. The backfilled soil is always looser and less dense than the surrounding soil. The phrase “clay bowl” refers to this area of looser soil surrounding your basement. Depending on where your home is located, this soil may have a high clay content, which means that it absorbs water easily and expands. This expansion can put pressure on your foundation walls, causing leaking, cracking, or bowing walls.
Signs of the Clay Bowl Effect
As a homeowner, you should thoroughly inspect your foundation at regular intervals for signs of damage caused by the clay bowl effect. Here are some of the signs of the clay bowl effect.
Foundation Wall or Floor Cracks
Cracks in foundation walls or floors are one of the most obvious signs of this effect. The hydrostatic pressure built up in the surrounding soil pushes against the foundation walls, causing them to crack. The water trapped in the soil also exerts upward pressure on the foundation floor, causing fissures to appear.
Basement or Crawlspace Leaks
Crawlspace or basement leaks are another sign of damage resulting from a waterlogged clay bowl. Once again, the culprit is the hydrostatic pressure caused by a high water table or flooding. Water finds its way through cracks into your basement or crawlspace. If the water does not find a way out due to a poor interior drainage system, the likelihood of flooding increases. Therefore, if you notice any leaks in your crawlspace, you should seek professional crawl space waterproofing service in New Jersey right away.
Bowing or Leaning Foundation Walls
With enough external pressure, the foundation walls may start bowing, leaning inwards, and tipping. The bottom block of your basement wall might also start to move in, a phenomenon called shearing. If not fixed in a timely manner, leaning walls can escalate into a total collapse of the walls. If your basement walls are bowing, you should contact an expert to repair a bowed walls in New Jersey as soon as possible.
Uneven Floors
Another common problem presented by the clay bowl effect is an uneven basement floor. A foundation`s primary purpose is to maintain your home`s structural integrity. If the soil under your foundation is washed away by moisture, it will sink or settle unevenly, causing the floors in your home to slope or appear uneven.
House Framing and Foundation Gaps
Foundation shifting due to the expansion and contraction of soil results in foundation gaps. These foundation gaps can allow water to get inside and damage your home. Additionally, the framing of your house, such as wooden beams, joints, and studs, becomes vulnerable to warping and cracking.
Misaligned Doors and Windows
A settling or shifting foundation often causes doors and window frames to become misaligned. Therefore, if your windows or doors are sticking or do not open or close properly, it might be a sign of foundation settlement.
Clay Bowl Effect: Solutions
The clay bowl effect is not something to ignore. It results from water trapped in the soil around your home and can lead to all sorts of foundation damage. If your home’s basement is damaged, the structural integrity of your entire home is at risk. Here are some effective solutions to damage caused by the clay bowl effect.
Interior Drainage Systems
A proper drainage system consistently evacuates any water that seeps into your basement. An interior drainage system is installed around the perimeter of your basement. It prevents water from pooling in your basement by directing it toward the sump pump.
Wall Anchors
The clay bowl effect can lead to bowing walls. To cope with this issue, homeowners should consider installing wall anchors. There are two major benefits of installing wall anchors.
Anchors are installed in the soil near your foundation and connected to steel plates on your interior walls using galvanized steel rods. These rods can be tightened gradually to straighten your walls and counteract lateral pressure.
Is the Clay Bowl Effect Serious?
Yes, the clay bowl effect can severely damage your home if left neglected and unaddressed. Cracked walls and uneven floors resulting from water damage demand costly repairs. Persistent basement flooding increases the risks of property damage due to leaks and mold growth. Mold spores, mildew, and other fungi thriving in damp basements can raise serious health concerns. All of these issues can cause costly repairs or negatively affect the value of your home.
Protect Your Foundation
The clay bowl effect occurs for two main reasons: the area around your home that is excavated during construction and the water trapped in the loose clay layer surrounding your home. Cracks in basement walls and floors, water seeping into the crawlspace, bowing or leaning foundation walls, settling floors, mold and mildew growth, musty odors, misaligned doors, and gaps in the framing are the major signs of this effect. Since this effect can wash away the soil around or underneath your foundation, it should be addressed promptly.
Contact foundation repair experts to install wall anchors and straighten bowing walls in your basement. You may also need waterproofing solutions, such as interior drainage systems, to remove any water that seeps into your basement. Collaborate with professional New Jersey Basement Waterproofing and foundation repair experts like us to protect your home.