If your home has become unlevel over time, then house leveling is the service you need. However, many homeowners are not aware of what this service involves and why it is necessary in the first place. Read on to learn the answers to those questions and much more.
Why Do Houses Become Unlevel?
Before we discuss how house leveling works, let’s discuss why a house might become unlevel. The primary cause of an unlevel house is a phenomenon called foundation settlement.
Foundation settlement occurs when the soil below your home shifts or sinks. When this happens, your foundation and the rest of your home will move along with the soil. Following construction, a minor amount of uniform settlement is normal and does not typically cause structural damage.
With that said, there is another type of foundation settlement that is detrimental to the structural integrity of your home. This second form of settlement, known as differential settlement, involves significant uneven shifts in your foundation.
When differential settlement occurs, it can lead to a wide range of problems for your home. Fortunately, as the next section will show, there are viable methods for leveling your foundation and securing it in place so that future settlement is unlikely.
How to Fix an Unlevel House
Leveling a House with Push Piers
Installing push piers is one way of leveling a house that has experienced differential settlement. To employ this method, a foundation repair team will use a hydraulic pump to push a set of piers deep into the earth until they reach a firm layer of soil or bedrock.
At the top, these piers attach to your foundation via a bracket. The attachment between the piers and your foundation forms a strong connection between your home and the sturdy strata below the earth. Once the connection is created, your construction team can lift your house as much as possible without causing damage.
Installing push piers brings your home back to a level state (as close as possible) and adds tremendous stability to your home to prevent future settlement. As such, this method will keep your home’s foundation stable for years to come.
Leveling a House with Helical Piers
The second method of leveling a home we’ll describe is similar to the first. The only difference here is the type of piers involved in the house leveling.
Rather than using a hydraulic pump and a set of push piers, the team you hire may find it more appropriate to use helical piers. Helical piers are essentially giant screws that your construction team can twist into the ground. As the piers turn into the earth, they become tightly embedded into the soil, which provides excellent stability to your home.
Like push piers, helical piers attach to your home’s foundation via a bracket. Again, once the connection is formed, your foundation team can level and stabilize your home to prevent future settlement.
Signs of Differential Foundation Settlement
You now understand why homes become unlevel and some of the most common ways to fix that problem. Before we conclude, sharing some signs that your home has experienced differential settlement would be helpful. By recognizing the indicators in the list below, you’ll have a better idea of when your house requires a leveling service:
- Stuck doors
- Jammed windows
- Foundation cracks
- Bulging foundation walls
- Sloping floors
- Drywall cracks
When left unaddressed, differential settlement can damage your home significantly. To avoid that damage, keep these signs in mind. If you notice any of them in your home, the best approach you can take is to seek the help of a foundation professional in your area who can accurately diagnose any foundation problems and suggest the best solutions for you.
Talk to a Foundation Expert
The best way to address any foundation issue is to rely on the guidance of an experienced professional. If you live in Charlotte, North Carolina, or the surrounding areas and are concerned about your foundation, reach out to HydroHelp911. We have extensive experience with foundation repair, waterproofing, and more. Reach out today to learn more about what we can offer.
