Foundation Problems?

The one thing that nobody tells you about home ownership is the major problems that can happen. There are appliances that quit working, roofs that leak, and basement walls that crack or settle. Foundation settling or shifting can be caused by many things. Before any foundation repairs can be made, these items have to be identified. We need to find out what is causing the issue, why is it causing a problem, and then finding a solution to the problem.

Water is Usually the Culprit

Machinery repairing a foundation

The most common reason for foundation problems is water. Often it’s a lack of moisture and sometimes it is too much water. Issues with gutters, downspouts or drain tile are common. Drainage blocks are mostly due to leaves, debris, or failure. In a few cases, the blockage causes the sump pump to reuse water that erodes and saturates soils along the basement. Rainwater should be diverted away from the foundation to stop hydrostatic pressure on the foundation and floors. In times of drought, water might need to be applied near the foundation to maintain more consistent soil moisture content.

Foundation Walls and Water

Water can cause many issues for your foundation. It can cause soil to expand and contract, putting hydrostatic pressure on your foundation/basement walls. When your walls can not take the pressure anymore, they will begin to bow or crack. From there, water can leak into your basement and cause damage including mold and mildew, wood rot, and more. The best way to protect your home is by getting waterproofing or foundation repair services by a professional foundation repair contractor.

Foundation engineers can be the best insurance that you can get when it comes to your homes foundation. An engineer will have your best interest in mind when he evaluates your homes foundation and he will give you tips and suggestions on what needs to be done and what you can do to help solve your current problem. The engineer then can oversee any repairs that need to be done and make sure that the work is performed correctly. Give us a call today and we will help you find a contractor in your area.

Cracks Begin to Appear

Many times foundation problems manifest themselves in the form of serious cracking of slabs or basement floors. Basement floor slab cracking can happen for several reasons. They can be significantly thinner than the plan requested. Or the sub base of stone may be significantly thinner than originally called for. Heaving often ends in cracking as well.

Most drywall cracks appear in the corner of door frames or windows and result from differential movement between framing and the drywall. Some wood frame movement can be due to standard processes such as shrinkage or temperature expansion.

Homes with a crawl space sometimes show recurring damage patterns. Often a few vertical cracks in the crawl space open and close seasonally. Due to their shallow foundation nature, these cracks grow noticeably during intense times of drought or rain. Among several potential factors, these shallow footings may rest on expansive soil that experiences more acute cycles of shrink and swell, which is often aggravated by landscaping.

Foundation Damage Solutions

Illustration of basement foundation

The foundation fix starts with a total foundation inquiry by a competent foundation engineer. This engineer will visit the symptoms and measure the settlement of the structure while reading the appearances of damaged foundations. Upon completing his inquiry, the engineer will then give a written outline of the problems with suggestions for a cure.

Possible cures can be steel resistance piers, helical anchors, micropiles, tiebacks, plate anchors or waterproofing. So, if you are having foundation problems, don’t panic. There are solutions to help, there are qualified engineers to help you and there are competent foundation repair contractors available to enact these solutions.

Your home is your largest investment, and taking care of your home is money in your pocket in the long run!