A house’s foundation is a highly significant piece of the construction process. In any case, the foundation on which your home is built is critical to its structural strength. That is why, when it is being made or restored, you should pay close attention to each step of the process.
A foundation’s strength or integrity is mainly determined by the person who constructs it and the method employed. However, the power of the soil beneath a foundation is also essential in evaluating the foundation’s stability.
Always keep an eye out for indicators of cracks or water leaks in your foundation. However, determining whether or not your foundation needs repair can be tricky.. It requires an expert specialist to evaluate your foundation and determine whether there are any problems. Contact HydroHelp911 today for a free estimate on Foundation Stabilization services.
Types of Foundations
Any foundation can be ripped apart by foundation heave and settlement (both of which are triggered by expanding soil). Slabs on grade, basement, and raised foundations are the three main types of foundations.
- Concrete Slab Foundations – a single pour slab with a thickness of 4-6 inches.
- Foundations with Post-tensioned Cables – an 8-inch thick slab with post-tensioned cables
- Basement foundations are typically 8 feet deep, with structural foundation walls attached to concrete footings around the perimeter.
- Any foundation with a crawl space built on 6-10 inch thick factual grounds known as stem walls is a raised foundation. See also What is the definition of a Cripple Wall? (Components, Problems, Solutions)
- Pier and Beam Foundations are a type of raised foundation similar to a simple post and pad foundation.
How can you tell whether your house needs to be leveled or stabilized?
The following are some common symptoms that your home is settling unevenly and needs to be leveled:
- Walls, ceilings, and floors with cracks- You’ll notice cracks larger than hairline cracks if your house requires leveling. Doors and windows that aren’t as easy to open and close as they once were. Different components of the foundation settle at different speeds due to differential settlement. When this occurs, doors and windows get out of plumb and become difficult to open and close.
- Uneven floors- The presence of slanted floors indicates that your home is no more extended level.
- Walls that are bowed or bulging- Distortion of walls can also be caused by differential settlement. Where the ceiling and the floor touch the walls, there are gaps. This is what happens when the floor, ceiling, or both begin to move away from the walls.
- Exterior brick or masonry stair-step fractures- The fractures could go all the way through the brick or masonry or only through the mortar that holds it all together.
House Foundation Repair Methods
- Sealants and masonry patches:
Repairing cracks and patches in a structure’s foundation can be done by filling the gap and sealing it with a waterproof masonry sealant. Because the foundation supports the entire house, it’s critical to note and repair cracks soon.
Hydraulic cement, silicone, vinyl concrete, epoxy, and polyurethane are standard sealants for tiny cracks. The crack’s severity will decide the sort of combination utilized. This is a basic form of house foundation repair.
Masonry patches or sealants can remedy minor or insignificant cracks, although regular maintenance is recommended.
With minor cracks, chipping the crack and applying masonry fixes with sealers is the best option. However, detecting and correcting the problem early is preferable to avoid water infiltration and subsequent foundation damage.
- Piering:
The name of the procedure, piering or piling, gives it away. The foundation is resettled using a steel or concrete pier. However, there is a distinction between piering and piling house foundation restoration. Piering is accomplished by excavating earth layers, whereas piling is accomplished by driving piles into the ground.
Piling used for house foundation repairs includes concrete piers, steel pressed piling and bell-bottom piers. These procedures are long-term Foundation Stabilization solutions that return your home’s foundation to its initial level more effectively than slab jacking.
- Mudjacking:
Mudjacking is a concrete rehabilitation technique that lifts sinking or uneven concrete. Slab jacking, concrete lifting, and slab leveling are all terms used to describe this procedure. Raising porches, steps, decks, walkways, garage floors, and driveways are all simple chores that may be done using this technology.
When the soil beneath a slab foundation changes or collapses, leaving empty spaces below, the slab sinks or tilts. Professionals have the tools and understanding of the local soil types needed to fix a sinking home foundation.
The slab jacking method entails drilling two holes through the concrete foundation and into the open spaces below to lift the concrete foundation. Next, a solution of natural components like soil, cement, etc., is injected through the hole. Finally, the fallen slab is hoisted back into place as the solution expands to fill the void.
Polyurethane injection is a perfect choice for slab jacking. Polyurethane is injected via perforations in the concrete to fill in gaps below, identical to slab jacking. Rather than using natural elements to fill the area, thick and lightweight materials are utilized.
These two slab lifting techniques perform the same task and are suitable for smaller jobs. Both, however, are temporary solutions that may need to be redone every few years. In addition, because of new soil compaction beneath the slab, injected materials are heavy. Because polyurethane injection is lighter, it has a longer lifespan, although it is not generally used.
- Soil modification in the foundation:
Soil modification, often known as soil stabilization, makes soil stiffer and more stable than before. Chemicals are used to fill cavities within the soil layers. Slab jacking is a procedure that is more likely to be utilized. However, many customers did not advocate this strategy because it necessitates a higher level of knowledge and a well-trained operator. Work and maintenance costs are also high.
During a Foundation Repair, What Happens?
During Foundation Stabilization, several things happen. In most cases, the initial step is to inspect and establish the root of the problem. Following that, your contractor will choose a foundation repair strategy.
Each method of mending has advantages and disadvantages. Because of the type of work needed, some repair methods are more expensive than others. It’s up to you and your contractor to figure out which method is best.
How Much Does it Cost for Foundation Stabilization Services?
The cost of house leveling is determined by several factors, including the size of the home, its general condition, the degree of the settlement problem, what’s causing these problems, what needs to be done to repair it, which method will be used, and your geographical location. As a result, we are unable to provide even a rough estimate.
The only way to be sure how much it will cost to level a house is to request a physical inspection and quotation from an expert foundation repair professional. Then, you can rely on HydroHelp911 to fix your foundation. Please feel free to contact us for a price, and we will dispatch a team to do whatever it takes to stop the damage and prevent your foundation from sinking any further.
Will my house be structurally damaged as a result of the foundation lift?
Certainly not. You can relax knowing that your valuable load-bearing walls, skeletal timber frame, and foundation slab are all protected. However, if you tried to address these eyesores before your home was recovered to its maximum practicable recovery, there’s a significant possibility you’ll have surfaced cosmetic damage. Things like those could cause plaster to reappear.
After the lift/stabilization is completed, the great majority of these faults may be readily addressed with a bit of plaster and paint – you’ll never have to retouch again.
Is the financial investment genuinely worthwhile?
It is definitely worth your money. However, if you have foundation problems, selling your property is nearly impossible. Instead, you’ll be compelled to sell to a cash buyer, which means you’ll lose at least 30% of the value of your home.
Furthermore, any renovation you conduct before your foundation is fully fixed will have to be redone. Your home is your most valuable asset. There is a certain type of peace of mind knowing your household has a strong foundation.
Is it possible for a house to collapse due to foundation problems?
Single-story houses are less likely to break down due to their lighter weight. Homes built on earthquake-resistant foundations are also less likely to collapse. However, the quake may have affected the structure’s structural integrity, even though it appears to be solid. If this happens, the earth’s movement that follows could cause it to tumble.
How long will it take to restore a house's foundation?
Several factors influence the length of time it takes to rebuild a foundation. The procedure’s time is crucial, as many homeowners like to be there while their foundation is fixed. It usually takes one to three days to resolve a foundation. The schedule, of course, may altar for several reasons.
