Good drainage and regular checkups help foundation repairs last. Watch for new cracks, especially if they’re growing. Gaps around doors and windows are another warning sign that the foundation is shifting again.
Permanent solutions like steel push piers and helical piers transfer your home’s weight down into competent soil layers or bedrock. But mud jacking and other temporary methods only fix symptoms. Contact Foundation Repair Nashville for more details.
Soil Conditions
Whether your home has a slab foundation, pier and beam or basement foundation, its stability depends on the soil conditions underneath it. Some soil types expand and contract more than others, creating problems that can affect the entire structure of your house. Understanding these issues and taking steps to address them will help you avoid costly repairs later on.
The type of soil you have under your house will impact the way it holds up against stress from your home’s weight and weather changes. While many homeowners are familiar with the different structural challenges posed by sandy coastal areas and clay-rich inland regions, they might not realize that even within a single region, different soil layers can offer very different levels of support.
For example, clay soils tend to shrink when dry and swell when wet, which can put tremendous pressure on the foundation as it shifts. Sands and silts offer a more stable base but are not without their own risks, especially if they retain too much water. Fortunately, soil stabilization methods like chemical polyurethane injection and helical piers can stabilize these types of soils.
When your home’s foundation is in danger, you will usually notice signs of movement around your house. These may include new cracks in walls, doors or windows that are hard to open or close. Other warning signs include damp or wet basements, mold and mildew in your home’s attic, sagging floors and uneven ground.
If you think you are seeing signs of foundation problems, it is important to call a professional right away. A qualified Ram Jack representative can provide an inspection and assess the damage to your home’s foundation. If necessary, we can recommend a repair plan and work with you to complete the work.
Depending on the extent of your foundation’s damage, the repair process can take anywhere from several weeks to a few months to finish. During this time, your house will be under construction and you will need to find temporary accommodations or move out while the work is being completed. When you schedule your initial consultation, ask about the duration of the repair process so that you can make plans accordingly.
Climate
When soil around a foundation experiences extreme weather, it can affect the structure of a home. Heavy rains can cause soil to become saturated, which can lead to a buildup of water pressure and put more stress on the foundation. Harsh winters can also impact a foundation. Clay soil expands when wet and shrinks when dry, which can create dramatic foundation shifts. This type of soil movement can cause cracks in walls and floors, as well as make doors and windows difficult to open and close.
The climate changes that happen as a result of global warming also affect the stability of soil around a home’s foundation. As temperatures rise, permafrost melts and the ground sinks or shifts. This can lead to differential settling, in which some parts of the house settle more than others. This leads to uneven floors, sloping walls, and other structural damage that requires professional repairs.
Fortunately, the right foundation repair company can help prevent these issues. A good contractor will focus on creating a long-term solution that will keep the foundation stable for decades. This means addressing drainage issues and using techniques that minimize movement in the soil. Concrete piers, steel push piers, and helical piers are all permanent options for supporting a foundation on unstable clay soil.
Keeping up with regular inspections can help homeowners spot warning signs like new cracks in walls and floors. Those signs can include gaps around windows and doors that are getting wider, squeaks in spots that used to be quiet, or hardwood floors that are beginning to separate. If you notice any of these symptoms, contact a foundation specialist right away to schedule a free inspection. Waiting usually just makes the problem worse. Addressing issues sooner rather than later can also save homeowners money.
Drainage
Whether you have a slab or pier and beam foundation, your home’s structural integrity sails on the sea of good drainage. When water is unable to drain properly, the soil around your foundation becomes saturated and shifts, leading to foundation problems. This is especially true for homes in areas with heavy rains or other frequent moisture.
Foundation problems can range from sloping floors and bouncy surfaces that disrupt furniture placement to cracks in walls and doors. Keeping an eye out for these symptoms, and seeking professional repair immediately, can protect your property from expensive damage.
If you notice water pooling around your home’s foundation after a rainstorm, or cracks in your foundation walls or floor surfaces, consult a specialist for repairs as soon as possible. If you wait, the damage will worsen and the cost of repair will go up significantly.
The foundation repair process will begin with a thorough inspection of the interior and exterior of your home to assess the severity of the problem and recommend a solution. For instance, if your house is experiencing settlement or sinking, a contractor will install supports underneath the foundation. These are usually spaced 7 feet apart along the perimeter of your home. In some cases, your home may need support under the middle area as well, but this isn’t typical for most homes.
Once the supports are in place, your foundation repair contractor will raise the sunken sections of your home with a pressed pile method or by driving steel piers into the ground to stabilize and lift your foundation. In the pressed pile method, your home is lifted by the tension of the piled soil pushing up against your foundation. Your contractor will then fill in the voids with hydraulic cement to restore the original level of your foundation.
In addition to the above, you can help keep your home’s foundation healthy by maintaining clean gutters and downspouts, and ensuring that dirt slopes away from your foundation for at least eight feet. Regular landscaping and grading adjustments can also improve the overall drainage of your property.
Repair Methods
Your foundation repair methods play a big role in how long your repairs last. Heavy-duty fixes like helical piers and steel and concrete piers transfer your house’s load to stable soil or even bedrock. These heavy-duty methods reduce stress on your foundation and may last 20-50 years or more, depending on the soil conditions. Clay soils that swell and shrink with moisture put more pressure on your foundation, shortening the lifespan of repair methods.
The climate and drainage around your house also affect how long foundation repairs last. Flooding or standing water ruins foundations by pushing your foundation down, causing it to shift and crack. Proper grading of your yard pushes water away from your foundation, helping to prevent this. Good gutters and French drains keep water from dumping near your foundation. These improvements can double the lifespan of your repair.
How bad the initial damage was and what type of foundation was built can also influence how long your repair lasts. Foundations built with rebar and other reinforcements last longer than those built with concrete slabs. Repairs that address a small movement tend to last longer than repairs that fix major shifting.
Getting the best quality repair from a qualified contractor can also help your foundation repairs last longer. Quick fixes like sealants and fillers conceal cracks without addressing the underlying problem, so they don’t last as long.
Bowing or buckling foundation walls aren’t safe, so it’s important to get them repaired quickly. If you ignore them, the walls can collapse completely or cause serious problems for your house’s structural integrity and your family’s safety. The best repair methods stop bowing and buckling walls from worsening and stabilize them to prevent further movement.
Getting your foundation repaired can save you money in the long run by stopping costly damage to your home’s structure and finish. It can also improve your home’s resale value and make it more comfortable for you and your family. If you spot early warning signs, like horizontal and diagonal cracks in walls and floors or sticky doors and windows, schedule an inspection with a foundation repair expert.