Foundation Repair is a process of installing vertical supports under your home because it has sunk. This raises the house back to its original position, then it is secured so that it stays there.

These supports are called piers or pilings and they are installed by digging, drilling, then pouring concrete in the case of piers or driving pre-formed pieces into the ground under hydraulic pressure with pilings. Visit Website to learn more.

Foundation cracks can be a very serious problem that requires immediate professional repair. Some cracks may be part of a natural settling process, but others are indicative of more serious problems that can be quite dangerous for your home. To help you decide when to call in a professional, it’s important to understand the differences between various types of cracks and how they can be repaired.

Hairline cracks are thin cracks that often appear in concrete and occur due to shrinkage, settling, or minor ground movement. These are typically not a concern as long as they do not get wider or longer. If you have hairline cracks in your foundation, it is important to monitor them over time and to take action if they start getting bigger or widening.

Vertical cracks running up and down a foundation wall are often a sign of normal settling, but they can also indicate serious structural issues. If you have large vertical cracks or if they are accompanied by stair-step patterns, it is essential to have a professional evaluate the cracks and take corrective actions.

Horizontal cracks in foundation walls are usually a sign of heavy soil pressure. This can cause the wall to bow or even buckle. This type of cracking is often a result of water in the soil that accumulates and exerts pressure on the walls. It can be a result of poor construction, expansive soils, or improper grading that causes water to pool near the foundation.

Cracks that form in the mortar joints of brick or block foundations are common and do not necessarily indicate serious problems. However, it is important to note that the mortar can be used as a barrier and can protect against moisture intrusion. These types of cracks should be sealed and monitored over time to ensure that they do not widen or become leaking.

Most homeowners attempt to repair cracked foundations themselves using caulking or other quick fixes. While these might help in the short term, they will not provide any permanent solution. If you have a cracked foundation, it’s crucial to hire an experienced contractor to properly diagnose the issue and create a custom solution to fix the cracks in your foundation.

Water Invasion

When the soil beneath your foundation isn’t properly hydrated, it can start to shift and crack. This puts the entire home’s structure at risk, so it’s important to take care of these issues promptly to avoid further damage.

Cracks and gaps aren’t the only warning signs of foundation problems, however. If you see walls bulging and bowing or notice doors or windows that are sticking, it’s time to call a foundation expert to come take a look. This type of movement can also cause plumbing systems to rupture, which could lead to expensive water damage and pose a health and safety hazard for your family.

Foundations can be damaged by a variety of causes, including excessive moisture, varying soil composition, and aging. However, the most common issue is a lack of proper drainage, which can contribute to shifting and cracking. To prevent this from happening, install a French drain or sump pump around the foundation to safely redirect excess water away from the property.

Another way to prevent this type of damage is to keep the soil evenly hydrated by running drip irrigation around the perimeter of the house during dry spells. Additionally, keep trees and shrubs properly trimmed to reduce the amount of roots that are reaching out towards the foundation.

The final way to protect your foundation is by properly sealing penetrations in and out of the home. This includes vents, water pipes, cable wires, and other items that pass through the exterior wall. A good quality masonry sealant will help to stop any further cracking and leaks, so make sure to use one that is waterproof.

While a faulty foundation can be costly to repair, the best thing to do is to stay on top of regular inspections. By doing so, you’ll be able to catch any potential problems before they escalate. This is the key to maintaining your home’s value and ensuring that it lasts for years to come. The longer you wait to get a professional in for an assessment, the more extensive (and expensive) the repairs will be.

Bowed Walls

A foundation’s bowing walls are a structural concern that can lead to basement leaks and severe structural damage. Bowing walls are a result of a number of factors, including water pressure, expansive soil, and improper construction methods. These issues can cause the wall to swell and put excessive pressure against the house, which can cause it to bow inward.

Bowed walls can be a serious problem, so it’s important to get them repaired quickly. Fortunately, there are many ways to fix the issue and restore your home’s stability.

If you notice your walls are bowing, it’s important to contact a professional to assess the problem. They can conduct a variety of tests to determine the root cause, which will help them develop a repair plan that’s best for your home. These tests can include subsurface explorations, plate load testing, drilling and sampling of the soil, and a full inspection of the foundation structure.

One of the simplest ways to address a bowed wall is to staple or anchor the basement walls. This can be a quick, inexpensive solution, but it’s not always effective and may need to be supplemented with other techniques.

Another method of repairing bowed walls is by using carbon fiber reinforcement. This is a specialized technique that uses strips of carbon fiber fabric that are epoxied to the inside surface of your walls. The strips are 10 times stronger than steel and are designed to reinforce the walls, stopping further inward movement and preventing additional cracking.

This solution isn’t as invasive as other repairs, and it can be completed in just a few hours. However, it doesn’t correct existing bowed walls and is best suited for homes with minor bowing.

If your bowing walls are more severe, it’s recommended to consult a professional engineer for a more thorough assessment of the structural integrity of your foundation. They will use a variety of tools and expert knowledge to create a comprehensive inspection that will provide an accurate assessment of the problem, as well as recommendations for repair.

Settlement Issues

Many different factors can contribute to foundation settlement issues, which can affect the structural integrity of your home. These problems can occur both before your house is built or over time while you live in it. They can also involve a wide range of symptoms. Some of these symptoms are minor and can be addressed on your own without a professional, while others require immediate attention to prevent further damage.

A few of the most common symptoms of settlement include sticking doors or windows, uneven floors, and sloped exterior walls. The best way to identify these problems is to perform a simple test in various parts of your home. Roll a marble across the floor in different areas of your home to see if it rolls more easily in one direction than another. This can indicate that a part of your home’s foundation has shifted, creating a tripping hazard and causing uneven stress on the structure.

Foundation settlement can occur when the soil under your home isn’t suitable for the weight of your home or its supporting structures. It can also happen if your foundation isn’t constructed properly or if the materials used for your home’s construction are of low quality. Poor site preparation, improper grading and drainage, and plumbing leaks can cause water intrusion around your foundation, saturating and eroding the soil beneath.

Some of these factors can be prevented by implementing proper building practices and using high-quality building materials. Other causes of settlement can be due to climate changes, including changing temperatures and rainfall patterns. For example, clay-heavy soils can expand dramatically when saturated with moisture and shrink dramatically during dry conditions, exerting excessive pressure on your foundation. Uneven settlement can also be caused by clogged gutters, which allow water to accumulate around the foundation and cause saturation and erosion. A helical or push pier system can be installed to replace the existing soil and support your foundation. These systems don’t rely on the weak top layer of soil but instead use deeper bedrock as their primary support. They are a cost-effective alternative to replacing and repairing your foundation.