What is the Clay Bowl Effect?

When a house is being built, the soil is excavated, creating an empty “bowl” shape where the foundation is going. Once the foundation is built in the “bowl”, the loose soil that was dug out is brought back. This loose soil is more porous and more absorbent than the hard-packed undisturbed soil around it, creating the Clay Bowl Effect. So what does this mean for your yard and your home?

Whenever it rains or storms, the soil closer to your foundation will become more saturated. This problem is only made worse when gutters or downspouts are not installed or working properly, or when the water table is high.

Over time, the soil around the house will settle which will alter the slope of the home and affect its drainage. Because of this, homes with foundations that are built near underground water are at greater risk for water intrusion in their basement or crawl space.

Additionally, moisture in the soil that is close to the foundation can build up and find its way inside. Moisture can seep its way into the home through porous basement walls or cracks in the foundation. There are even instances where cracks are formed before the concrete has completely cured. It typically happens during construction from the backfill striking the walls.

Water should never be “accepted” in the crawl space environment. Constant exposure to standing water breeds bacteria, increases your relative humidity, and saturates your wood with water over time leading to mold growth. This in turn also weakens your wood structure and attracts termites, pests, and rodents due to the moist environment. Click here to read our blog post on the signs of a leaky basement or crawl space.

How Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement Can Help

Regardless of the conditions within the crawl space, we can help! Our systems are designed with the challenges of living here on the Jersey Shore in mind. Prior to any action being taken, we offer a comprehensive crawl space evaluation to monitor the moisture conditions within your crawl space, all the while ensuring that your home is not at risk for common issues such as poor drainage.

We perform this evaluation 3 times throughout the year to stay in front of seasonal issues, monitor the moisture conditions, and service your vents to ensure proper ventilation. With over 20 years of dedicated service for our fellow neighbors here on the shore, trust your crawl space with the Jersey Shore’s Crawlspace pros!

Complete the form below or give us a call and one of our representatives will be in contact with you shortly to schedule your evaluation.