Handling a foundation issue in your home is a problem that requires urgent action. Waiting to repair an issue can worsen, potentially resulting in much more serious structural damage and increased costs. How a degrading or damaged foundation can be addressed is entirely different and depends on several key factors including the types of foundation. If you also suspect your house might have foundation issues, this article is for you! So read on and find out all about foundation repair.
Key Factors Influencing Types of Foundation Repair
Signs Displayed by Your Home
The kind of problems you notice have a critical impact on how they should be repaired. Signs showing problems such as cracks in walls and uneven floors and doors or windows that stick or are hard to close properly indicate foundation issues.
Soil Characteristics
It is important that you know the type of foundation soil beneath your house, how compact it is, and its moisture level. Various soils can support your home to different degrees, and changes in moisture will make soil either expand or contract, all of which have an effect on the foundation.
Depth of Stable Soil Layers
The distance to stable, load-bearing soil layers is another vital consideration. In some cases, the foundation may need to be extended deeper to reach these stable layers.
Types of Foundations Requiring Support
The specific types of foundation your home has (e.g., slab, basement, crawl space, or pier and beam) dictate the repair techniques and tools required.
Professional Involvement: Why It’s Essential
To fix a foundation is not a job for the do-it-yourself novice. Only those with the proper training and experience should attempt this task. To have the job done well and safely, hire a professional. On the other hand, if you are a homeowner and you know the fundamentals of foundation problems and repair procedures, you may choose a contractor or expert with confidence.
Identifying Foundation Problems: Early Detection and Action
Early signs of foundation problems are often subtle yet significant. Minor indications such as small cracks in basement walls, water intrusion following heavy rain, or slight shifts in doors and windows should not be ignored. While they may sometimes be harmless, these signs can also foretell more severe issues.
Symptoms to Watch For
- Cracks and Water Intrusion: Small cracks in the basement walls or on the foundation, especially when accompanied by water seepage, serve as early warnings.
- Door and Window Issues: Foundation shifting may be the cause of difficulty in opening or closing doors and windows, especially if there are noticeable gaps in the framing.
- Visible Cracks and Gaps: Signs of foundation moving include noticeable cracks in the drywall, gaps in trim work, or even uneven flooring.
Consult a qualified foundation repair contractor in such circumstances. The severity of the issue and remedies are determined by their results. If you fix these problems early, you may save thousands on repairs. There are several ways to reinforce a home’s foundation. The soil type and the nature of the foundation problem will determine the method mostly used.
Types of Foundation Repair
Steel Piers
Frequently, the installation of steel piers is seen as the most effective long-term strategy to strengthen a foundation, though it is often the most expensive. This method involves the use of galvanized steel columns, which are inserted deep into the earth beneath the foundation. These piers are driven down to a depth where they can either reach bedrock or a sufficiently dense soil layer to provide stable support.
Steel piers are known for their ability to support substantial weights and are effective in various types of surface soil conditions. They are widely regarded as a permanent solution for foundation repairs.
Helical Piers
Helical piers, also made from galvanized steel, offer another permanent solution for foundation repair. These piers look like giant screws, with a spiraling tip that helps them burrow into the ground when rotated by heavy machinery.
This method is particularly effective in providing support for the considerable weight of a building and its foundation without the need to reach bedrock. Helical piers are twisted into the ground until they encounter dense soil that can bear the load, after which they are permanently fixed to the structure.
Concrete Piles
Concrete piles are essentially large blocks or cylinders made from pre-hardened concrete. Their size can vary significantly, from several inches to multiple feet in thickness and length. These piles are either driven into or placed beneath the foundation in dense soil. They can be made of a single piece or multiple pieces stacked together.
Concrete piles represent a more budget-friendly alternative to steel piers. However, whether they are a suitable solution depends on the soil conditions beneath the house.
Poured Concrete Pier Method
Installed concrete piers offer affordable solutions to foundation repairs if your home’s conditions are appropriate. This method entails digging a large hole under the foundation, pouring liquid cement into it, and letting it set. Once set, the pier is connected to the home’s structure.
These concrete piers adapt well to various soil types. They can be shaped as simple cylinders or designed with a bell-shaped bottom for enhanced stability.
Minor Adjustments for Foundation Issues
In some cases, homes may encounter foundation problems that are not overly critical but still require attention to prevent more significant issues in the future.
Slab Jacking
This method includes drilling holes into the slab above and pumping a concrete mixture or dense polyurethane foam underneath that affected region.
This technique is employed in constructing houses. And is used to correct sunken sidewalks, driveways, and garage floors. However, this is not a major repair technique. It may need to be repeated if soil erosion or settlement gets worse.
Shimming for New Homes
The problem often appears in newly built houses. Ususally, when the ground is not compacted before laying the foundation. As the ground moves or is washed away, spaces can occur between the foundation and the structure of the home. These gaps might not always indicate a severe problem but still require attention.
Upon evaluating the situation, a foundation expert or structural engineer might recommend the use of steel shims to fill these gaps, thereby restoring proper support. Shims can be a lasting solution, provided the ground ceases to settle. However, if gaps reoccur, a more extensive repair might be necessary.
Sealing
Professionals usually do more complex repair work after sealing cracks in the foundation. The use of materials such as hydraulic cement, polyurethane foam, or any sealants prevents groundwater and rainwater from getting into basements or crawl spaces.
This sealing process is especially important before basement refinishing projects to ensure the new walls remain dry. In some cases, using hydraulic cement or a specific type of polyurethane foam might offer sufficient reinforcement for different types of foundation that don’t need major repairs. However, these methods are generally considered supportive. Often used with other foundational support techniques.
Why Should You Choose Us for Different Types of Foundation Repair?
FoundationMD assures you that your foundation is as strong and stable as it ever was. Our approach has efficiency and quality:
Fast and Efficient Repairs
Our experienced contractors can manage a majority of foundation repair projects within one week and sometimes even less than a day. We use high-quality materials and methods for all our services, such as foundation piers, underpinnings, and leveling. We aim to address your foundation issues completely and quickly so you can sleep well, knowing that your home is in good hands.
Expert and Skilled Team
We comprise a team of professionals with high skills and knowledge. Each has its own specialty in every project. This combination of talents and specialized competence is what makes us unique in delivering the best services.
Decades of Trusted Service
We became leading experts in the field of foundation repair with more than 36 years of experience. Our wide range of experience enables us to deal with different foundation issues confidently and accurately.
Commitment to Long-Term Satisfaction
We believe in the longevity of our work, and that is why we offer a True Lifetime Warranty for foundation repair services. In this warranty, we show our confidence in the quality of work that we do and also assure you have long-term satisfaction.
So, what are you waiting for? Visit our home page and let us know how we can assist you in making your house’s foundation healthy and durable.
