The following information is posted with the permission of Dee Owens and Alice Simonton of Ebby Halliday Realtors.

With the extreme variance of rain in our area, it is very important to protect your most valuable investment -- your home! If a home's foundation is not maintained properly, it could result in costly repairs. Soil in the North Texas area contains a lot of clay which expands when it is wet and shrinks when it is dry. This wet/dry effect can cause a home's foundation to shift. Repeated variations in soil moisture results in movement and undue stress to the foundation which can cause broken and unleved floors, masonry cracking, and misalignment of doors and windows. In order to avoid this costly damage, you should keep the soil around your foundation consistently moist -- not too wet, and not too dry.

• When you water, make sure that the drainage flows away from the foundation. Similarly, make sure that the gutters and the down spouts flow rain water away from the foundation. This will help avoid water "pools". Too much water can be as damaging as a lack of water; make sure that the level of your soil does not extend above the bricks.
• Large trees or shrubs can consume tremendous amounts of water and should not be planted too closely to the foundation. Additionally, the roots should not extend underneath the foundation. If you have large trees, it may be necessary for you to create a barrier between your trees and your foundation. This is a minor project and can be completed by most landscape companies.
• When the soil cracks or pulls away from the foundation, it is a signal that the moisture levels are too low. Water should be applied in a slow, systematic manner using an automatic sprinkler system or a soaker hose. Water until you see some runoff. During the summer, this should be done four to five times per week -- it is essential to keep your soil moist in the winter too. Remember -- CONSISTENCY.