Typically, your crawl space is supported by concrete columns or metal beams. However, if your crawl space begins to sink or settle, crawl space piers may be necessary. Permanent crawl space support posts are intended to support the weight of your crawl space and aid in its return to its original position.
Permanent crawl space support posts are installed directly beneath the load-bearing surface and provide years of support without over-lifting. They are simple to install and will cause little disruption in your home.
It is critical to inspect the concrete columns in your crawl space regularly. Inspect them for cracks or shifting, and look for cracks outside the home’s foundation. If you see any signs of damage, contact the crawl space repair specialists at HydroHelp911. We will come out to your crawl space and inspect it for signs of sinking or settling, then recommend the best solution to keep your crawl space stable.
Crawl Space Support Posts: A Permanent Solution to Sagging Floors and Weak Structures
Permanent structural support spaces are frequently required in crawl spaces with uneven, sloping, or sagging floors. They are specially designed to lift and stabilize the floor joists, resolving the issue. We can install these crawl space supports rapidly, and we will make sure to clean up after ourselves so you don’t have to worry about dealing with a huge mess.
Because it is built directly beneath your home, your crawl space plays a vital role in the structural integrity of your home. Crawl spaces carry this weight via the foundation walls and support columns.
However, many crawl spaces are designed with a support system that is either insufficient, rotting, or has soils beneath the support posts that cannot support the weight of your home.
In many cases, HydroHelp911 can repair a failing crawl space structure by installing permanent crawl space support posts. This is a quick job that can provide long-term, warrantied results; most installations can be completed in less than two days.
What Causes Crawl Space Supports to Fail?
ROTTING FLOOR JOISTS
Crawl spaces become ideal for mold and rot when they become damp, humid, or flood. Termites, carpenter ants, wood-eating beetles, and other harmful insects may nourish on organic materials in the crawl space as well.
As the wood deteriorates, it will be unable to support your home, resulting in significant structural damage.
STRUCTURAL DESIGN IS INADEQUATE
The support beams that support your floor and interior structure may be improperly spaced out by the contractor who built your home.
When this occurs, the floor may plunge in the spans between each support, causing structural damage to your home.
SUPPORTS FOR SINKING CRAWL SPACES
Crawl space support pillars sometimes are built on soils that aren’t strong enough to support the weight of your house.
These crawl space supports will eventually sink into the soil. The floor they support sinks, resulting in uneven floors and interior wall cracking as they do so.
FAILURE OF THE FOUNDATION
The foundation walls themselves are prone to failure in a variety of ways. These walls are most commonly damaged by foundation settling caused by poor supporting soils. It’s also common for the walls to buckle inwards due to pressure from the expansive soils outside the house.
If you have a structural problem with your foundation, you should contact a foundation repair specialist, such as HydroHelp911.
Permanent Crawl Space Support Posts
The HydroHelp911’s permanent crawl space support post is a supplemental support system that adjusts to fit sagging crawl spaces.
It can often lift failing floor joists or beams, restoring them to their original position and providing additional support to your malfunctioning structure.
This permanent crawl space support system is unique because it is strong, corrosion-resistant, galvanized steel. And since your system will not rust, it will continue to stay adjustable for years if you need to make adjustments in the future.
Different Types of Crawl Space Support Posts
STEEL PUSH PIERS AND A CONCENTRIC BRACKET
These are also micro piles, push piers, or resistance piers. They have driven deep underground your foundation into the earth until they attain the “load-bearing strata.” This is solid, stable soil that can support the structure’s weight. After the push piers have been installed, hydraulic jacks are connected to them, and the building is elevated.
SCREW JACKS
Screw jacks by HydroHelp911 are frequently used in pier and beam and crawl space construction repairs. With load-carrying capacities of 60,000 lbs, each screw jack permanently stabilizes and increases current beams and floor joists in a crawl space. To support the screw jacks, a precast or poured concrete footing is typically installed. Each screw jack includes a heavy-duty threaded rod for final and accurate elevation adjustment.
This system is frequently used to stabilize and lift existing support beams and floor joists in a crawl space that have been structurally damaged and are commonly used to sustain sagging beams and floor joists which are often the result of incorrect spacing of current pier columns or weakened floor systems because of mold and wood rot.
HELICAL PIERS
Helical piers, so named because of their corkscrew-like shape, are another popular method of repairing foundations. Hydraulic jacks lift the foundation back up after being screwed into the ground until it reaches stable, load-bearing soil.
REPLACEMENT OF WOODEN FLOOR JOISTS AND BEAMS.
Even if the structure’s foundation is sound, there may be signs of foundation settlement. This occurs when there is an issue in the crawl space beneath a foundation. Crawl space repairs frequently include the replacement of wooden floor joists and beams.
Watch our video to learn more: Foundation Vents in Winter | Foundation Tips for Homeowners and Contractors
WHAT ARE THE FOUNDATION DAMAGE SIGNS TO LOOK FOR?
Signs of foundation damage on the inside:
- Doors and windows that stick. This occurs because, after foundation shifts, everything becomes out of plumb.
- Floor cracks, walls, or ceiling. Crashes caused by foundation damage are typically more significant. This, however, is not always the case. If you notice any suspicious cracks, have a professional foundation repair contractor inspect them.
- Wallpaper that is torn or wrinkled. When the wall behind the paper cracks, this can happen.
- The fascia board is pulling away. Gaps indicate a potential foundation issue.
- Walls that are leaning or bowing. When water-saturated soil pushes against the foundation, walls can turn.
- Water damage or mold and mildew are both possibilities.
- When you walk on the floor, it feels spongy. This is a common symptom of a crawl space problem.
Exterior foundation damage warning signs:
- Gaps around doors/windows are exterior signs of foundation damage. Gaps around doors and windows could indicate that the foundation has shifted and things are now out of alignment.
- The chimney is slanted. This can indicate an issue with the foundation beneath the chimney or the foundation beneath the house.
- Cracks in the foundation or masonry. Look for stair step cracks in the brickwork as well.
- Uneven concrete slabs. If the sidewalk, driveway, or pool deck is uneven, it could indicate that your home’s foundation is also unstable.
How can pier and beam foundation issues be avoided?
Regular inspections of your pier and beam foundation by a foundation repair professional or structural engineer can help you avoid problems. If you do this, you will be able to detect signs of a foundation problem early on before it causes severe structural damage. In the long term, this saves you money.
Another way to avoid problems is to ensure that the crawl space beneath your home is well-ventilated. This reduces humidity, which slows wood rot and inhibits mold growth. You’ll also want to ensure that pests can’t get into the crawlspace. Pier and beam foundations are less common than they once were. They are, however, a tried and true method for laying a solid foundation for your home. They will last for years if they are correctly cared for. That means regular inspections to detect problems early, either a well-ventilated crawl space to slow wood decay or the whole encapsulation to eliminate moisture and safeguard your crawl space.
If the house has a pier and beam foundation and you’ve noticed any of the above issues, contact us for an inspection and free estimate.
What are the benefits of installing permanent crawl space support jacks?
- Fast, Year-Round Installation: Crawl space support posts can be installed all year, with installations taking about a day. It is not necessary to wait for concrete to cure!
- More robust Crawl Space Support: Our crawl space support system can withstand vertical loads over 60,000 pounds, making it far more durable than traditional concrete repairs.
- Flexible installation: Because of its small size, it can be installed in even the most confined crawl spaces.
- Superior Support: Our support jacks do more than stop your floor from sagging. The support posts may also be adjusted to return the floor above to its original position.
