The foundation of your home is the pinnacle of everything that keeps it safe, if that foundation is damaged the entire structure can be at risk. It is important to seek professional help when you notice foundation damage.
Licensed engineers perform foundation inspections and issue a forensic engineering report. These reports observe anomalies in floor elevations and find traceable correlations between the damage and site characteristics. Keep reading the article below to learn more about Foundation Repair Plano.
Foundation piering is one of the most effective ways to fix a shifting or sinking concrete foundation. It transfers the foundation’s weight to load-bearing soil strata, preventing future shifting and cracking. It is also far more affordable than a replacement foundation and can often be completed in a shorter time. This method can be used to fix residential and commercial buildings.
In order to determine the best solution for your foundation repair, a professional will perform a thorough inspection and provide you with a detailed report. This will detail the specific soil types under your foundation, its current load-bearing capacity, and other factors. It will also indicate whether your foundation has structural or non-structural cracks. Non-structural cracks are often vertical or diagonal and caused by the expansion and contraction of the concrete’s surface while structural cracks are more severe and appear in the walls and floors.
If your foundation is in serious need of repair, it’s important to take action right away. This will prevent the problem from getting worse and help you avoid costly repairs in the future. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to replace your foundation completely. If this is the case, you’ll need to look into financing options. There are many different loans available, including home equity loans and second mortgages. Home equity loans are a great option for homeowners because they allow them to borrow against the ownership stake they’ve built up in their home. This allows them to get the money they need without having to dig into savings or max out their credit cards.
For those who prefer a less invasive repair, concrete leveling is another great option. It involves filling the cracks with a concrete-leveling compound, which is typically made of polyurethane or epoxy. Once the cracks have been filled, they’ll be reinforced with steel to ensure that they won’t widen. This is a quick and affordable way to fix your foundation, and it’s also one of the most durable options available.
Slab Jacking
Slab jacking is a common fix for sagging sidewalks, driveways and garage floors. It can also help with some foundation problems, especially for homes built on a slab foundation. Sometimes, the ground underneath a house wasn’t compacted properly when it was being prepared for construction. The soil can shift or erode, leaving gaps between the concrete foundation and the rest of the structure. Slab jacking fills these gaps with a special material and lifts the concrete slab.
This is a less expensive option for foundation repair than replacing the damaged concrete, and it’s eco-friendly because it uses natural materials rather than poured concrete. It can also be done quickly and without disturbing the household or property, so homeowners are able to return to their homes more rapidly.
In addition to mudjacking, this method can also be used to repair uneven concrete in swimming pool decks and driveways. Often, this is caused by rainwater washing out part of the soil underneath the slab, which can cause it to sink or become uneven. It is possible to prevent this by regularly removing water and debris from the area, using gutter systems with downspouts that direct the water away from the slab and repairing any leaky pipes or drains.
When the concrete slab of a home begins to sink, it’s important to have it repaired as soon as possible so that the structure doesn’t weaken and further sink. A foundation professional can determine the best repair method for your specific situation based on your home’s size, location and what has caused the sinking concrete slab.
This is a simple process that involves drilling small holes into the concrete slab and injecting a synthetic lifting solution through these holes. This can be either a concrete slurry mixture or polyurethane foam. Once the synthetic material fills the void and raises the concrete slab, it is sealed. In many cases, this can be completed in just a few hours, and homeowners are able to return to their homes much faster than if they had to replace the concrete.
Epoxy Injection
Epoxy injection is an excellent solution for repairing cracks in foundation walls that are wide enough to accept the injection material. It is an exceptional way to reinforce the structure, prevent future cracking and to stabilize the foundation against shifting or settling. It also fills voids within the concrete and can help distribute structural loads more evenly, significantly reducing the risk of cracking. It is a great option for homeowners who are looking for a permanent repair that is much more effective than a simple caulking job.
To perform an epoxy crack injection, first, the cracks must be thoroughly evaluated. The allowable crack width needs to be determined as well as the cause of the problem. Next, the cracks must be cleaned and prepared to ensure that there are no loose particles or debris in the area. Finally, an exterior surface crack seal is applied to the affected area and allowed to fully cure before proceeding with the injection process.
For the injection, short, rigid plastic ports are inserted into the wall at intervals along the length of the crack. Each port is then capped with a pre-mixed cartridge of epoxy or polyurethane resin. The ports are then injected using a low-pressure hand dispensing tool. It is important to inject slowly and consistently in order to avoid a blowout of the system or the cracks themselves. The resin is injected until the crack is filled and the compression spring of the dispensing tool can no longer be felt.
After the injection, the cracked area must be monitored for any further movement or cracking and, if necessary, additional injections may be made. Once the cracks have cured, they are virtually indistinguishable from the surrounding structure and the homeowner is left with a permanent repair that will last for many years to come.
If you are interested in learning more about this innovative technique for repairing structural foundation cracks, contact our experts for a free estimate. We are a family owned and operated business that is committed to providing our customers with a high level of service. We use only the best products and our team is highly trained to assist you with all of your foundation crack repair needs.
Underpinning
When a house is showing signs of serious instability, it might be time to consider underpinning. This process entails digging a set of pits below the existing foundation and filling them with concrete to raise the foundation up and restore its weight distribution. It’s typically done when a foundation shows structural distress due to changing soil conditions, such as subsidence or creeping of the ground.
The reason this may be happening is that the original foundation wasn’t constructed properly. It could also be because of erosion problems or simply because the soil is not stable.
Underpinning a foundation can be expensive and disruptive, but it is a long-lasting solution. In some cases, it can even be covered by home insurance if it is a result of environmental factors that are out of the homeowner’s control.
Different types of underpinning include the mass concrete method and the use of piles. The former involves contractors excavating sections of the foundation and laying down concrete to lift it. The latter is more advanced in its approach and doesn’t involve excavation, but instead, contractors inject a concrete mixture below the existing foundation. The liquid concrete then sets into what’s referred to as a Soil Cement Column, which adds an additional layer of support underneath the existing foundation.
If you are experiencing serious structural issues, don’t wait to call for help. DIY solutions like epoxy injections can mask underlying damage to the structure, but they can’t address shifting soil and other more severe problems. A licensed contractor who specializes in foundation repair can give you an accurate evaluation of your home and determine the best method of underpinning to stabilize it for life. To get started, enter your zip below and be matched with top-rated pros near you. Then, you can receive free estimates and begin your next home repair project. With our services, your house will be as safe and comfortable as possible. We’ve been providing the highest quality foundation repairs in the region for years, so you can trust us to get the job done right.