Janie Harris, Texas Agricultural Extension Service housing specialist, notes that a constant level of moisture year around is the key to keeping foundations from cracking under clay soils which expand when wet and contract when dry. (Photo by Kathleen Phillips, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station)

Mike Chornyak of College Station points to a crack in his brick veneer that resulted from not watering his foundation during the drought of 2000. (Photo by Kathleen Phillips, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station)