Your home is likely the most expensive investment you will ever make. That is why it is essential to safeguard it. If you suspect that something is wrong with your foundation, it’s a good idea to learn how to recognize the most common signs of foundation problems in houses. Concrete slabs and pier and beam foundations can develop serious issues requiring residential foundation repair. Basements can also survive significant damage.
Since worsening can be prompted by various factors such as soil, climate, plumbing leaks, poor soil compaction, and insufficient foundation drainage, it’s always a great way to keep an eye out for warning signs. Our experts have compiled a list of the things that may indicate that you need a residential foundation repair service to help you identify potential causes of foundation problems.
Residential Foundation Repair Solutions by HydroHelp911:
MASONRY PATCHES AND SEALANTS
Residential foundation cracks can occasionally be repaired by patching the crack and covering it with a waterproof masonry sealer. Because your foundation supports your entire house, detecting and repairing residential foundation cracks early on is critical.
Our foundation repair experts commonly use sealers for minor cracks such as hydraulic cement, vinyl concrete, epoxies, silicone, or polyurethane. The combination used will be determined by the severity of the crack.
It is preferable to identify and repair the problem as soon as possible to avoid water penetration and further damage.
SLAB JACKING
Slab jacking is a procedure for lifting sinking or uneven concrete. This method is also referred to as mudjacking, concrete lifting, and slab leveling. This method is best suited for small jobs like elevating patios, steps, decks, walkways, garage floors, and walkways.
When the soil beneath moves or collapses, leaving empty spaces below, slab foundations sink or tilt.
Experts use the slab jacking method to raise the concrete foundation, which consists of drilling 2″ holes into the submerged spaces below. Then, a natural element solution is pumped through the hole, filling the gaps.
The fallen slab is raised back into place as the solution expands.
Polyurethane injection is a substitute for slab jacking. Polyurethane is infused through holes in the concrete to fill empty spaces below, equivalent to the slab jacking process. A dense and lightweight substance is used rather than natural elements to fill the space.
Such two slab lifting methods perform the same function and are effective on smaller projects; however, both are temporary fixes that may need to be reiterated every few years. Because injected materials are heavy, new soil compression occurs beneath the slab. Even though polyurethane injection is lighter, it lasts longer, which is not readily available.
PILING
Types of piling used for residential foundation repairs include concrete piers, pressed pilings, steel piers, and bell-bottom piers. These methods are long-term foundation solutions that restore your home’s foundation to its original level stronger than slab jacking.
PILINGS MADE OF PRESSED CONCRETE
Pressed concrete pilings are long-lasting foundation piers that can be used for interior and exterior repairs. They are suitable for both pier and beam houses and concrete slab foundations. To ensure durability, properly installed pressed concrete piers must be pushed deep into the earth, generally 12 ft. deep.
POURED CONCRETE PIERS
Poured concrete piers in residential foundation repair are driven about 10 feet deep and take around 7-10 days to heal. Poured concrete piers take longer to install than pressed concrete pilings because the latter uses precast concrete segments which are already recovered at the time of installation.
BELLED CONCRETE PIERS
Bell bottom concrete piers are built in the same way as poured/drilled concrete piers. The base of the pier has a bell-shaped “foot” designed to provide the pier with a wide area of support. Bell bottom piers, like poured concrete piers, are constructed by casting the concrete into an unearthed hole and embedding steel in the wet cement.
STEEL PIERS
Steel piers are strong and can be pushed as deep as 100 feet, providing unbelievable stability to the foundation of your home. Because of the depth that steel piers can reach, the piers would not shift in expansive clay soil because the piers should be pushed down to bedrock.
HELICAL STEEL PIERS
Helical piers are, also known as anchors, are prevalently used to repair lightweight concrete slab foundations and pier and beam foundations.
Helical piers are also used to safeguard and protect new residential foundations in addition to foundation repair.
Helical piers are used when other methods cannot be used due to weather conditions. The piers are threaded into the ground to a pre-set load capacity, and the structure’s weight is transmitted to the piers and the load-bearing soil.
What Causes Residential Foundation Problems?
Water is the leading cause of the large majority of foundation damage. Differences in moisture cause soil elements to expand or shrink, resulting in movement underneath the foundation.
- If your home were built on expansive clay, it would be more prone to foundation damage.
- It was built on fill soils that had been inadequately compacted.
- The drainage around the foundation is poor.
- You live in a region with extreme seasonal variations.
- You discovered a plumbing leak beneath your house.
- Tree roots are intruding on your property.
- The structure was weakened by an earthquake, flood, or drought.
Soils with the maximum clay content are usually more vulnerable, while those with the minor clay content are least affected.
In certain regions, the movement is negligible. The signal is transmitted to the foundation when built on rocky soils. Because soil movement is rarely even, the foundation experiences differential or upheaval. The issue lies in both slab and pier and beam foundations.
There is usually no problem if the soil beneath a foundation swells uniformly. However, problems arise when only a portion of the house settles. The differential movement then results in cracks or other damage.
Problems caused by foundation settlement:
- Damaged structure
- Real estate value depreciation
- Hazardous conditions
- Unsightly cracks
- Misconfigured equipment
Knowing that your home is a significant investment, it is best to take precautions to preserve it and, if necessary, have it repaired. So, take a few moments to conduct a thorough inspection of your structure. If you have any issues about your foundation or notice any signs of frequent problems, you should have it analyzed by a qualified contractor as soon as possible.
Contact HydroHelp911 for a Free Inspection
If you suspect your home is experiencing foundation issues, don’t wait until it gets worse. Contact the team of experts at HydroHelp911 for foundation repairs.
A member of our team will thoroughly inspect your home, walk you through their findings and determine the best solution to solve your foundation issues. Give us a call at 704-741-9737 to schedule your appointment.
WHAT CONCRETE FOUNDATION REPAIR METHODS ARE AVAILABLE?
Concrete repair techniques have varied in the past. Wood, concrete, cement, and steel have been poured or otherwise forced into the ground in an attempt to save these foundations and slabs, while in the beginning, anybody out there became “experts” in this type of foundation repair. Frequently, the repairs proved ineffective.
Other, more productive remediation methods include vast disruption of the family or business that uses the building. In most cases, it is preferable to correct settlement of building slabs and monolithic foundations in residential areas without relocating all furniture, equipment, and probably the entire family, or to interrupt business in commercial spaces.
WHAT ARE HYDRAULIC JACKS, AND WHEN ARE THEY USED?
Hydraulic piers are generally used to lift and stabilize foundations in more significant problems, particularly those found in the house and commercial building foundation shifting.
Piering entails strategically placing mechanical jacks to raise the settled beam to grade. To avert further or unnecessary damage, the beam must be carefully introduced. After being presented, the beam is held in place by a specially designed spread footing and pier.
The footing is set deep enough to be unchanged by variations in soil moisture. It is also intended to distribute the load adequately while avoiding the creation of unneeded bulk or mass. The pier is steel-tied to the footing and supports the foundation beam.
WILL I BE ABLE TO SELL MY PROPERTY ONCE THE FOUNDATION REPAIR IS COMPLETED?
You certainly can. Whenever the time comes to sell your property, you must inform your purchasers (disclose) that the foundation repair has been completed. We will provide you with documents, which you must present to the buyers. In addition, we will provide you with an engineering report and our warranty certificate. The buyer’s mortgage company will want a copy of this report, but your real estate provider can assist you with this.
WHAT METHODS ARE USED TO REPAIR SHIFTING RETAINING WALLS?
Some soil behind such a wall may be removed to allow the wall to be pulled back into place. Some drain lines can also prevent water from accumulating behind the walls. Hydraulic jacks and helical anchors pull the wall back into place.
Anchors are screwed into the ground and pushed deeper with helical plates welded to pier shafts. When they reach stable soil, a bracket will be attached to a pier. Then, the wall will be jacked into place, and the frame will be permanently attached.
