How Different Weather Beats Up Your Foundation

One week it's 65°F and sunny, the next we're scraping ice off windshields in April… it’s just what we sign up for when we live in the Greater Boston area! But what most homeowners don't realize is that your foundation is taking the brunt of every one of those wild temperature swings.

TL;DR: New England’s ~50 yearly freeze-thaw cycles, heavy precipitation, and seasonal soil movement in the Boston area cause serious foundation damage over time. Catching problems early (and understanding why they happen) can save you thousands in repair costs.

Why Boston-Area Foundations Are Under Constant Attack

Let's start with the obvious: freeze–thaw cycles. If you’re a frequent reader of our articles, you know all about this. It’s when water gets into tiny cracks in your foundation, then winter hits and that water freezes. You know what happens next: ice expands about 9% in volume as it freezes, so the crack gets pushed a little wider. Rinse and repeat for 20, 50, 100 years (especially if you've got an old Colonials or Victorians that’s been through thousands of freeze-thaw events, and suddenly you're looking at foundation repair in Boston that could've been avoided.

But it's not just winter doing the damage.

Spring: Heavy Rains & Expanding Soil

People think summer and winter are the only problems. Wrong. Spring is when we get hammered with rain and all that water saturates the soil around your foundation.

Massachusetts sees about 3½–4 inches of rainfall per month in spring on average so the ground can stay pretty soggy. Clay soil (which we have plenty of in MA) expands when wet. In fact, clay can swell 10% or more in volume as it soaks up water. That expansion pushes against foundation walls. Hard. Over time, this constant pressure causes concrete or masonry to crack and shift.

Fall: Drying Out & Soil Shrinkage

Then fall rolls around, things finally dry out, and the saturated soil shrinks away from the foundation. Now you've got gaps between the earth and your concrete. Water finds those gaps during the next rain. Winter comes back, the ground and that water freeze again, and you see where this is going. It’s a vicious cycle, and your foundation is stuck in the middle of it. When soil contracts after thawing, it can leave voids that cause the foundation to settle unevenly. In other words, your foundation gets whipsawed by expanding soil one season and shrinking soil the next. No wonder even a solid foundation eventually starts cracking under the New England weather onslaught!

What Does Weather Damage Actually Look Like?

You might not notice problems right away; foundation issues are sneaky like that. But here’s what to watch for:

• Horizontal cracks in basement walls

• Stair-step cracking in brick or block foundations

• Doors and windows that suddenly stick or won’t close right (your foundation might have moved, causing frames to misalign)

• Water seeping in after heavy rain

• Floors that feel uneven or slope to one side (could mean part of the foundation is sinking or heaving)

One crack doesn’t mean your house is falling down. But ignoring it is when small problems become large (and expensive) ones. These little warning signs might not seem urgent, but if left unchecked they can turn into bigger, costlier headaches. General rule of thumb: Address things early.

Can You Actually Prevent Weather Damage?

Not entirely. Mother Nature does what she wants. But you can make your foundation more resilient to the onslaught:

• Grading matters. If water pools near your foundation after it rains, you've got a grading problem. Fix that first by ensuring the ground slopes away from your house (experts recommend about a 6-inch drop over the first 10 feet). This keeps water from soaking in right along your foundation where it can do the most harm.

• Gutters and downspouts. They should dump water at least 6 feet away from your house. Sounds simple, but most people’s downspouts barely extend a foot. Extensions are cheap; use them. (Building pros say 6–10 feet is ideal to prevent water pooling at the base.)

• Seal cracks early. That hairline crack you notice this year could turn into a structural issue in a few years if water gets in and freezes. Proactively sealing small cracks with the right materials helps prevent water intrusion and further expansion of the crack. In short: don’t wait. Work with foundation repair specialists who know New England construction (techniques that work in Arizona don’t always cut it here). A $500 epoxy injection now beats a $15,000 foundation rebuild later, hands down.

Is It Too Late to Fix My Foundation?

If you’re seeing multiple cracks, bowing basement walls, or persistent water intrusion, it’s time to call someone. Foundation issues don’t fix themselves. They get worse. Slowly at first, then all at once. In fact, once cracking and shifting start, the damage tends to accelerate if not addressed.

The good news? Most foundation problems are fixable. Some are even straightforward. But the longer you wait, the more invasive and expensive the repair gets. Letting a simple issue sit can turn a few-hundred-dollar fix into a five-figure structural repair.

Should I Worry About My Historic Home?

Historic homes in the Boston area have survived this weather for 100+ years, so they're often tougher than you think. That said, old stone and brick foundations weren’t built with modern drainage or waterproofing in mind. Homes built before current standards do experience more movement and moisture issues in extreme weather. If you’ve got an older home, get a foundation inspection every few years. Regular inspections can catch minor cracks or shifts before they turn into major structural issues.

About JMS Masonry

We’re JMS Masonry, and we’ve been handling foundation repair in the greater Boston area for over a decade. Our new office (as of late 2025) is located in Woburn, MA, but we service residential and commercial buildings in the entire Greater Boston area. We do full foundation assessments, true structural repairs, waterproofing, and masonry restoration (especially for historic homes that need someone who knows what they’re doing).

Need a foundation inspection or repair? Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. We’ll tell you straight whether it’s a quick fix or something more serious. No pressure, no runaround, just honest advice from people who’ve seen every kind of foundation problem this New England weather can throw at a house.