Clogged Gutters and Foundation Problems in Houston
Bayou City Gutter Cleaning cleans gutters, and in Houston that is about more than tidy trim. Houston sits on expansive clay soil, and where your roof water lands has a lot to do with how evenly that soil around your foundation stays wet or dry.
- Downspouts flushed and tested
- Careful with tile, slate and copper
- Price confirmed before work starts
The clay under Houston
Much of Houston is built on expansive clay. This soil swells as it absorbs water and shrinks as it dries out, and it can move a great deal doing it. Foundation movement is common in Houston homes, and uneven soil moisture around the slab is one of the main drivers.
A typical roof sheds a lot of water in a hard rain. A 2,000 square foot roof sheds around 1,200 gallons for every inch of rain (a rule of thumb: about 0.62 gallons per square foot per inch). In a two-inch storm that is around 2,400 gallons that has to go somewhere. Clear gutters and downspouts with long extensions carry it away from the house. Clogged ones can dump it at a single point along the slab.
How gutters affect drainage around your slab
- Overflow at one spot. A clogged corner or valley sends a heavy stream over the gutter edge in the same place every storm.
- Short or missing extensions. A downspout that ends at the slab soaks the soil right at the foundation.
- Wet and dry cycles. Concentrated water followed by dry weeks is the swelling and shrinking cycle expansive clay does not tolerate well.
- Backed-up buried lines. If the downspout ties into an underground line that is blocked, the water surfaces at the joint near the house.
Simple steps that help
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear. See our cleaning schedule.
- Extend the downspouts. Aim for at least four to six feet from the foundation and longer on flat lots.
- Check the grade. Soil should fall away from the house. A commonly cited guideline is about six inches of drop over the first ten feet.
- Flush buried lines. See downspout cleaning.
- Watch after heavy rain. Water pooling by the slab or streaks below a gutter mean a problem is developing.
Frequently asked questions
Can clogged gutters cause foundation problems?
They can contribute. Concentrated water at one spot along the slab makes soil moisture uneven, and Houston’s expansive clay reacts to that. It is rarely the only cause, but it is one of the easiest to control.
How far should downspouts discharge from the house?
At least four to six feet is a common recommendation, and more on flat lots. The goal is for water to run away from the slab rather than soak back in.
Should I fix gutters before or after foundation repair?
Before, or at the same time. If roof water is still landing at the foundation, it can undo the repair. Ask your foundation contractor about drainage.
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