What Homeowners Should Know About Foundation Watering During a Drought

When drought restrictions take effect, homeowners usually focus on one thing: the lawn.

They turn off the sprinklers, let the grass go dormant, and assume they have done everything required to conserve water.

But in areas with expansive clay soil, there is another part of the property to consider: the soil surrounding the home’s foundation.

Builders can help homeowners understand the difference between watering a lawn and maintaining consistent soil moisture around a foundation. A little education can give homeowners clearer expectations, encourage responsible home maintenance, and help them know when professional guidance is needed.

What Drought Does to Expansive Clay

Large areas of Texas contain clay soils that shrink and swell as their moisture levels change. When the soil is wet, it expands. As it dries, it contracts.

The soil beneath the center of a slab is more protected from sun and evaporation. The soil around the outer edges of the foundation is more exposed to heat, wind, landscaping, and nearby trees.

During extended dry conditions, that exposed soil can lose moisture and shrink. When rain eventually returns, it may expand again. Larger changes between wet and dry conditions can contribute to movement around the home.

The American Society of Civil Engineers Texas Section notes that Texas has large areas of clay soil that shrink and swell as moisture levels change. Its residential foundation guidance also states that maintaining near-uniform soil moisture around all sides of a foundation may be beneficial, while cautioning against excessive watering.

The goal is not to soak the ground. It is to avoid large and uneven changes in soil moisture.

Consistency Matters More Than Volume

Homeowners may assume that more water is always better. That is not the case.

Too much water can create ponding, runoff, erosion, and drainage concerns. Watering only one side of the home can also create uneven soil conditions.

General guidance builders can share with homeowners includes:

• Water consistently around all sides of the home.
• Use a soaker hose or drip system where local rules permit.
• Use a timer to create a more consistent routine.
• Keep the soil damp rather than saturated.
• Stop watering if water begins pooling or running off the property.
• Keep downspouts directed away from the foundation and into well-drained areas.
• Pay attention to large trees or shrubs near the home because they can affect surrounding soil moisture.

The right approach can vary by property, soil conditions, drainage, landscaping, and foundation design. Homeowners should follow any maintenance instructions provided by their builder and consult a licensed professional when property-specific guidance is needed.

Lawn Watering and Foundation Watering May Be Treated Differently

Drought restrictions do not always treat lawn irrigation and targeted foundation watering the same way.

For example, the City of Fort Worth’s drought contingency plan includes certain exceptions for handheld hoses, drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and tree bubblers. The plan explains that these exceptions are intended to help protect structural foundations, trees, and other high-value landscaping.

However, watering rules vary by city, water provider, and drought stage. Restrictions can also change as local conditions change.

Homeowners should always check their water utility’s current restrictions before beginning a foundation watering routine. If an HOA has issued separate guidance, homeowners should confirm that their plans also comply with applicable local rules.

Builders should avoid giving homeowners one watering schedule and presenting it as the correct answer for every property or location.

What Builders Can Share With Homeowners

Homeowner maintenance information is most helpful when it is simple, timely, and easy to follow.

Builders can provide foundation watering guidance at closing, include it in a homeowner maintenance manual, or share a reminder when drought conditions begin.

A helpful homeowner message should explain:

1. Why soil moisture changes matter around the home.
2. Why watering should be consistent around all sides.
3. How to avoid overwatering, ponding, and runoff.
4. Why local drought restrictions must be checked first.
5. When the homeowner should contact a qualified professional.

This information should be presented as general maintenance guidance, not a guarantee against future movement or a substitute for an engineering evaluation.

When Homeowners Should Seek Professional Guidance

A maintenance guide cannot evaluate a specific home.

If a homeowner notices ongoing movement, significant changes, or concerns about the foundation, they should contact a licensed professional engineer. A qualified professional can evaluate the property, consider its soil and drainage conditions, and provide recommendations based on the specific home.

Builders should also encourage homeowners to document concerns and follow the warranty or service request process provided at closing.

Clear Guidance Creates a Better Homeowner Experience

Homeowners are more likely to feel confident when they understand how to care for their homes and where to go with questions.

Proactive maintenance education can help builders:

• Set clearer expectations after closing.
• Give homeowners practical information they can act on.
• Reduce confusion between maintenance questions and warranty requests.
• Create a more consistent homeowner experience.
• Direct property-specific concerns to the appropriate professional.

Foundation watering does not need to be presented as a complicated or alarming topic.

The message can be simple: allow the lawn to go dormant when needed, follow local water restrictions, and understand how changing soil moisture may affect the area around the home.

Give Homeowners a Simple Resource

Maverick created a homeowner-friendly foundation watering guide that builders can share during drought conditions.

It explains what happens to expansive clay as it dries, how homeowners can maintain more consistent moisture around the home, and why they should always follow current local restrictions.

Talk to your Maverick team about making this resource available to your homeowners.

This article provides general homeowner education and is not engineering advice for a specific property. Homeowners with concerns about foundation movement should consult a licensed professional engineer. Watering rules vary by location and drought stage. Always follow current requirements from the applicable water utility.