In the crawl space of a home in Cottonwood Heights, we found moderate cracks along the foundation walls. They weren’t severe yet, but they raised enough concern to take a closer look outside. That’s where the real issue became clear.
Water was being directed straight to the foundation from multiple sources. Downspouts dumped water right at the base of the home, sprinklers were placed just inches from the cracked wall, and the front yard sloped toward the house instead of away from it.
When water saturates the soil beneath a foundation, that soil becomes soft and muddy—losing its ability to support the weight of the structure. As a result, one portion of the wall or foundation can begin to settle or slip downward. That movement causes cracks to form where the settling section separates from the area that remains stable.
In this case, the cracks had already formed—but they hadn’t yet led to structural failure. We explained to the homeowner that fixing the drainage was the key to preventing further damage. Our council was to extend downspouts away from the foundation and regrade the front yard to direct water away from the home. With proper drainage, the foundation can stay stable, and the cracks won’t get worse. It’s a simple fix that protects the entire structure.
