Why do my cracks change with the seasons?
Expansive clay shrinks when it dries and swells when it gets wet, and the slab moves with it.
Pflugerville sits on the dark, expansive clay east of the Balcones Escarpment, so seasonal soil movement is the main foundation story here.
Pflugerville, northeast of Austin, grew quickly from farmland into large slab-on-grade subdivisions. The land is on Blackland Prairie clay, which can swell a lot when wet and shrink and crack when dry. Lots are often fairly flat, so drainage away from the house depends on good grading and gutters.
Long Central Texas droughts followed by heavy storms make the clay work hard.
On clay this expansive, keeping soil moisture more even around the house can make a real difference. Grading, gutters, and steady watering during drought are often part of the plan. See drainage and moisture control.
Slab Foundation Repair · Pier & Beam Repair · House Leveling · Foundation Inspection · Drainage & Moisture Control · Repair cost factors
Also serving Hutto, Manor, Wells Branch, and Coupland. See all Greater Austin service areas, including Round Rock and Austin.
Expansive clay shrinks when it dries and swells when it gets wet, and the slab moves with it.
Often. Moving water away from the slab and keeping moisture more even can reduce movement. The inspection shows whether structural repair is also needed.
Some early cracking is normal. Cracks that widen or come with sticking doors are worth measuring.
Use the inspection request form or call (346) 679-7687.
Request an inspection from Foundation First TX and get clear next steps.