Foundation drainage in Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria gets roughly 61 inches of precipitation in a normal year, so where the water goes matters as much as any pier. Here's what helps.
Foundations on clay do best when the soil around them stays at a steady moisture level on all four sides. Trouble starts when one side gets all the roof water and another side never does. Over a few years of wet winters and hot summers, the soaked side and the dry side drift apart in height, and the house goes with them.
Signs your yard is sending water the wrong way
- Downspouts that end at the brick, or splash blocks pointing back toward the wall
- Mulch beds built up higher than the lawn beside the foundation
- Water that sits against the slab or in a low corner for a day after a storm
- A crawl space that turns muddy every rainy season
- Gaps wide enough to fit a finger opening in the dirt next to the slab in late summer
Which fixes make the biggest difference?
- Downspout extensions or buried lines that release roof water far from the foundation, such as at a pop-up emitter in the yard or at the curb
- Reshaping the soil so it falls away from the house on all sides
- French drains or swales to carry water out of low pockets in the lot
- Crawl space work on raised homes: drains, better venting and a ground vapor barrier
Can a tree move my foundation?
It can. A large tree close to the house pulls a lot of water out of the clay in summer and can draw one corner down. Contractors sometimes suggest a root barrier or removal. Get an arborist's opinion first, because the clay a big tree used to keep dry can swell for a while after the tree comes out.
Are there rules for drainage work in Alexandria?
For permitted work on an existing home inside city limits, Alexandria's review checklist asks for a stormwater pollution prevention plan for any amount of soil disturbance. Ask your contractor whether your project triggers that and who prepares it. Outside the city, check with your town hall or Rapides Parish before you reroute water toward a ditch or onto a neighbor's property.
Does someone need to call 811?
Yes. Trenching for a drain line counts as excavation, and Louisiana's Dig Law requires a call to Louisiana 811 at least 48 hours before work begins, not counting weekends and holidays. That's the contractor's job, but it's worth confirming they've done it.
Pricing comes from the contractor, after they've measured the house and worked out what's causing the movement. We don't quote prices. A pier count or leveling plan guessed over the phone isn't worth much until someone has walked the slab or crawled under the floor.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Will a foundation company do my gutters and grading too?
Some include drainage in their bids, and others bring in a separate crew. Ask which parts are included and which would be a separate price.
Can better drainage stop the cracks by itself?
It can when the movement is mainly seasonal swelling and shrinking. If a section of the house has truly settled, drainage keeps it from getting worse, but that section may still need support.
Related services
- Slab foundation repair
- Pier-and-beam and raised house leveling
- Foundation piering (concrete, steel, helical)
- Foundation evaluations and crack repair
More background: Alexandria, Louisiana foundation guide.
Brick cracking, a door that won't latch, or a floor that suddenly slopes?
Call and a foundation contractor who works in Rapides Parish will come measure the house and explain what's moving.