With so many choices available, you may question the best option for foundation repair. It can be challenging to decide which foundation repair method will best solve your specific problem. HydroHelp911 will assist you in making sense of your problem and the best solutions to fix it. Keep in mind that each situation is unique and can be remedied in various ways. Still, there is one best and most effective way of fixing a foundation sinking, beam contorting, column plunging, or crack leaking.
We often suggest steel I-Beam installation to solve foundation issues. Once foundation walls buckle, bend, or flip inward, homeowners should be worried. Outside soil and water tension can cause severe foundation walls like structural collapse!
The steel I-Beam is a perfected foundation wall repair system designed to stabilize failing basement walls while also allowing walls to straighten over time. I-Beams will stabilize the wall in its present position without adjusting further. The steel I-Beam can be stiffened over time to straighten and verticalize bowing or tilting walls. Continue reading to learn more about foundation repairs.
What is a Steel I-Beam?
An I-Beam is shaped like the letter I. The I-Beam comprises two horizontal planes called flanges joined together by a vertical component called the weft.
I-Beams have tapered edges and are named due to the resemblance of a capital letter when viewed through a cross-section. The height of the cross-section of an I-Beam is greater than the width of its flange.
The Installation Process of Steel I-Beams for Foundation Repair
Steel I-Beams can be installed without disturbing exterior soils. This foundation repair system installs quickly in your home, stopping the inward movement of your foundation walls entirely and permanently.
WALLS MUST BE CUT
The steel I-Beam repair method is a wall repair system of solid steel I-Beams. The beams and their supporting hardware have a rust-resistant zinc coating to ensure that your design looks and performs like new for decades.
Our foundation experts will specify the number of steel I-Beams supports needed for your wall repair. A steel I-Beam support should be trimmed before being installed in your home. The steel I-Beam wall repair team will cut each beam to the proper height relying on the wall height of your basement.
THE FLOOR JOIST HARDWARE MUST BE SECURED
The top of each brace is then fastened to a floor joist close to the mudsill at the top of the wall. The bracket is locked to the floor joist and includes a large-diameter bolt for adapting and stiffening after installation.
The steel I-Beam installation method for foundation wall repair will not harm your floor framing. However, before suggesting this repair strategy, one of our certified foundation wall repair contractors will scrutinize the resilience of your floor joists to ensure the proper performance of this wall repair system.
ADJUSTING THE STEEL I-BEAM POSITIONS
When each I-Beam is flawlessly upright or vertical, the Foundation Wall System works best. To prepare for the next step, the contractor will use a level to fine-tune the role of each beam.
BRACE ATTACHMENT TO THE FLOOR
To complete the steel I-Beam foundation wall repair system installation, each beam is bolted to your concrete floor with a specific bolt in place bracket.
The steel I-Beam spans the entire foundation walls, unlike other foundation wall repair methods installed inside the foundation walls. As a result, the foundation wall repair system installing steel I-Beams is appropriate for restoring walls that bend and buckle from the center. Furthermore, the foundation repair experts at HydroHelp911 can repair walls sliding inwards from the bottom or pivoting inwards from the top.
STRAIGHTEN THE WALLS
Installing steel I-Beams includes a one of a kind, patented optimization framework, unlike every other I-Beam foundation wall repair system.
Each I-Beam bracket is attached to a floor joist with a long bolt that can be tightened over time to advance the beam. A bowed or buckled foundation wall can be forced back to its original vertical and straight position by doing so. The potential for straightening is determined by many factors, including the soil conditions outside the foundation.
Bracing Your Foundation Walls
We suggest using wall anchors to repair bowing or buckling foundation walls when possible. However, this wall anchor system necessitates entry to the ground from outside the foundation. Property line issues can sometimes rule this out.
Our experts will inspect your foundation to ascertain if this repair strategy is the best fit for your structural issues. Our team uses a patented, one of a kind method for stabilizing and straightening bowed and buckled foundation walls over time.
Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Worried about damaged foundation walls? Contact HydroHelp911 today for a free consultation. Our expert team specializes in a variety of foundation repair techniques including interior reinforcements. We will assess the structural integrity of your foundation and provide the best solution for your home. Give us a call at 704-741-9737 or contact us online today to schedule an appointment.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T REINFORCE MY BASEMENT WALL? IS IT THAT BAD?
The basement wall may not be all that terrible right now, but if you get three weeks of heavy rain and the soil expands significantly, your basement wall sometimes goes from not so bad to having to lay on the basement floor.
Furthermore, the utilities that run through your basement walls, such as the waterline and the gas line, generally both emerge in the basement wall and, after that, make a 90-degree turn up to the first story. When a wall bows, the wall usually begins to push the gas or water fittings, eventually cracking the fittings and allowing gas or water to pour into your basement. Unfortunately, these things do occur and cause significant problems.
WHAT SIGNS INDICATE THAT THE FOUNDATION WALLS NEED TO BE REPAIRED?
- Inward Bowing – Your foundation walls were designed to withstand the weight of your home as well as any external pressure from the underlying ground. However, hydrostatic pressure can make walls bend or tilt towards the center of the room over time. This is a clear indication that you have a problem. When the soil around your home becomes overloaded and heavy, it continues to push against the foundation walls, causing hydrostatic pressure. This is common if your home lacks a dependable water management system.
- Cracks – Cracks are frequently the first indication that a home has a foundation problem. Cracks of any size can allow water to penetrate your basement or crawl space and are a red flag that your foundation needs to be repaired. Stair-step cracks, vertical or horizontal cracks, and all other types of cracks must be inspected by a foundation expert to diagnose the source.
- Leaks – Although a water leak may seem to be more of a waterproofing issue than a foundation issue, leaks indicate that your home is not strong enough to retain water and debris.
- Issues in the piping – If your home has foundation issues, it’s possible that your plumbing and pipes have begun to shift due to movement. This movement can cause pipe misalignment, making your basement or crawl space vulnerable to plumbing leaks.
WHAT EFFECT DO FOUNDATION REPAIRS HAVE ON MY PLUMBING?
Pipes run beneath concrete slab foundations. Those pipes could burst at any time. When a slab foundation settles, the pipes beneath and connected to it move and can be compromised as a result. Generally, foundation repairs entail lifting the foundation. The act of raising the foundation back to its original position moves the pipes, which can jeopardize the pipes beneath and attached to it. The likelihood of the plumbing being disrupted during the repairs is determined by how much the foundation is lifted, the type of material the pipes are made of, and the situation of the pipes before the repairs.
Pre or post-plumbing tests are recommended by Structured Foundation Repairs and can be included. Third-party, licensed plumbers, conduct all plumbing tests.
WILL FIXING MY FOUNDATION CLOSE OLD CRACKS OR OPEN NEW ONES?
It is possible to combine the two. Most foundation repairs attempt to lift the foundation back to as close to its original horizontal position as possible before stabilizing it against future movement. When a foundation settles, the walls get “stretched” somewhat. Wall “stretching” can cause cracks in the finished surfaces. When the foundation is raised, cracks are frequently close to some extent. However, contractors have no authority on how the completed characters respond to the lifting. If new cracks appear during the lifting process, the lifting will halt.
WHAT IS THE COST TO REPAIR A FOUNDATION PROBLEM?
The cost of foundation repair varies greatly. Several factors like below are considered before determining the overall cost:
- The foundation types: Poured concrete ones, for example, are less difficult to repair than brick or stone ones.
- The extent and location of the damage: Repairing more extensive damage will be more expensive.
- Access to equipment and repair crew: If the access area is restricted, it will be more challenging to repair the damage, raising the repair costs.
