Pros Foundation Repair Greensboro NC can be expensive, but hiring a professional can save you a lot of money in the long run. They can inspect your home and recommend a repair solution.
Typical repair methods include steel piers and slabjacking, which drive steel posts through unstable soil and lift the house back into place. Other options are wall bracing and tieback anchors.
The foundation of your home supports everything else – walls, windows, floors, doors, and the roof – so it’s important to watch for signs that your foundation isn’t doing its job. While cracks in plaster walls and basement walls that extend from floor to ceiling are fairly obvious indicators of foundation problems, other signs can be more subtle. Sagging floors, doors that don’t fit in their frames or open and close properly, and gaps between interior walls and exterior brick or concrete are all red flags that your foundation is in trouble.
Cracks in your walls are the most common warning sign of a foundation problem. While small hairline cracks in drywall may be caused by normal settling, large or widening cracks should be inspected by a professional. Especially concerning are diagonal cracks in the drywall or cement that appear near door and window frames. These indicate that the foundation shifts and places extra pressure on these areas.
If your home is relatively new, you may notice a paint blister or two on the exterior walls of your house. While this could be a sign of damage caused by a variety of factors, including humidity and hot temperatures, it’s also possible that your foundation is shifting and causing the blistering to occur.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on your exterior brick. If you see brick that appears to be pulling away from the foundation, this is called corner pop and it’s a sign of early settlement in your home’s foundation. This can lead to other problems with your home’s structure and requires immediate attention by a building contractor. If you have questions or concerns about the condition of your foundation, don’t hesitate to contact us for a free inspection. We’re happy to answer any of your questions and provide you with a full explanation of your repair options. We’ll also be sure to take into account your budget, timeline, and preferences when recommending the best repair solution for your home. We can even work with your insurance company to file a claim and get you on the path to repairs as quickly as possible.
Structural Issues
A foundation is the backbone of any home or commercial building. It is responsible for the structural integrity of a structure, and it’s vital that you know how to recognize early signs of a faulty foundation. This can help you prevent serious problems and save money by getting it fixed right away.
One of the most common signs of a foundation problem is visible cracks in walls or floors. These cracks can vary in size and shape, but they often indicate movement or shifting of the foundation. They also suggest that the soil beneath your foundation may be moving, which can cause damage to the foundation itself and lead to other problems in the building.
While some interior hairline cracks are harmless, any crack that is wider than a quarter inch can be considered a sign of a serious issue. Diagonal cracks, cracks that run along floor or ceiling, and gaps around doors and windows can all be signs of a foundation problem that requires professional attention. In addition, a leaning chimney is often a sign of a foundation problem that needs to be addressed immediately.
Another sign of a foundation problem is uneven or sloping floors. When a foundation shifts, it can pull support beams apart or compact them, which causes the floors to become unlevel and uneven. In addition, it can lead to sagging and warped floors.
The type of soil in your yard or garden can also affect the stability of your foundation. Clay soils tend to expand and contract more than sandy soils, which can put pressure on a foundation and cause it to shift. In addition, a large tree can cause the ground to sink, which can impact the foundation of a house or building.
Regular maintenance and annual inspections by a foundation repair expert can help you detect potential issues before they become severe. Getting early repairs can save you money and protect the value of your home or commercial building.
Underpinning
Underpinning is a foundation repair technique that involves adding new, robust structural supports beneath existing ones. This helps distribute the building’s weight over a wider area and reduces the risk of sinking or shifting. It is a complicated and disruptive process best handled by foundation repair professionals.
It is often used for commercial and residential structures. It can be employed when settling or shifting causes visible cracks in walls and uneven floors, or when a building is considered to be at risk of structural collapse. It can also be necessary when a home or building undergoes a major renovation or extension, such as a basement conversion or an extra story addition.
Soil changes – Changes in soil composition, soil erosion or the presence of large trees nearby can have a dramatic impact on a building’s stability. This can also occur if the original construction did not take into account the characteristics of the site.
Poor construction – Construction errors such as gaps between the foundation and the basement wall or improperly compacted soil can have long-term consequences. This is particularly true if the foundation was designed before understanding of soil properties was available.
Building extensions and renovations – Adding stories to buildings adds considerable weight. This can place significant stress on the original foundation. Underpinning ensures that the new structure can safely support its load.
Other reasons a building might require underpinning include:
Underpinning is usually carried out using steel piers (helical or push piers). These are driven deep into load-bearing competent soil and act like underground stilts, keeping the foundation secure against shifts in the earth. Other forms of underpinning include use of concrete piles or a more advanced system known as beam and base underpinning. In this system, a steel or reinforced concrete beam is integrated with a series of concrete piles that extend under the building. This method can be more expensive, but it offers the advantage of being able to incorporate additional structural supports in addition to the traditional concrete foundation footings. A professional engineer must carry out an assessment and select the most appropriate underpinning method for a specific problem.
Repair Options
It’s important to consider several factors when choosing a foundation repair method. These include the severity of the damage, soil conditions, and budget. Using a professional foundation specialist is essential to ensure the best long-term solution for your home.
Some of the most common repair methods for foundation problems include hydraulic cement, concrete slab reinforcement, shims, and replacing or repairing girder beams. Some of these methods may be effective in the short term, but they will not address the underlying issue. Getting a thorough inspection from a qualified foundation expert is the best way to determine which repairs are needed for your home.
Mudjacking is another method of foundation repair that involves pumping mud under the foundation. This is a quicker process and offers more immediate relief than other methods. However, the mud may leak into areas of your house that you don’t want it in. In addition, this type of repair does not provide as much support or stability to your foundation as more permanent solutions.
Drilled piers offer a more permanent option for foundation repair. They are drilled deep into the ground and are known for their durability and longevity. They also work well for homes built on expansive clay soils. However, this method can be more expensive than other options and is not suitable for all types of damage to your foundation.
Poured concrete piers are another form of permanent foundation repair. These piers are poured into place beneath the home and are available in both cylindrical and bell-bottom styles. They are a good choice for a wide variety of soil conditions and are often a more budget-friendly alternative to steel piers.
Before beginning any work on your foundation, the contractor will need unencumbered access to the area around your foundation. This means that parts of your yard may be out of commission while the repair is underway. Additionally, the construction work can create noise and vibrations that might be disruptive to you and your family members. Taking these concerns into consideration, it is essential to choose a contractor that is experienced and familiar with local soil and climate conditions.
