Rant: My old adobe wall started crumbling after that big rain last month

I live in the North Valley and we got that crazy downpour in late August. About three days later, I noticed the exterior adobe wall on my garage was soft and flaking off in chunks. I panicked and called a guy who works on historic homes, and he told me the problem was the new downspout I put in two years ago. It was dumping water right at the base. He fixed the drainage for $350 and showed me how to patch the wall with a mud mix. Has anyone else had adobe issues pop up after a storm? What did you use for the repair?

2 comments

2 Comments

seth_martinez2118d agoMost Upvoted

My 1920s adobe patio wall did the exact same thing last spring.

terry118d ago

Heard a local contractor say that old adobe walls like yours, @seth_martinez21, often crack when the ground gets too wet and then dries fast. He explained the clay soil underneath swells and shrinks, stressing the base. Said it's common after a real rainy season followed by quick heat.