It's Time to Monitor Concrete Slab Foundations

They tell me that Summer doesn't start officially until June 21, 2009. That's also Father's Day and the Summer Solstice, so that gives us three reasons to get out and dance by the light of the moon.

Problem is, here in South Texas, we didn't get the memo about summer starting so late. It's already sliding into the 90s on a daily basis so it's a good thing that we've got a couple of other things to occupy our minds on the 21.

I ran a 5K race on Saturday and it was already hot at 7:30. I was slooow. Since the run was put on by my running club, I wasn't too embarrassed. I guess I'll just have to to train harder and prepare mentally.

As hot as it is, and as dry as it's been, the dirt around our concrete slab foundations has been getting mighty dry. That can spell trouble as far as cracking goes.

If we don't keep an eye on conditions, we stand to be in for some expensive foundation repairs. Around here, that usually means piers or pilings, sometimes something proprietary like Olshan's Cable Lock technology.

Whichever it is, it's messy and expensive.

So, what to do? The best thing is to monitor it on a daily basis and water it as needed. The best method is to run soaker hoses around the slab's perimeter and water it enough to keep the repair demons at bay.