Foundation Replacement Techniques

Foundation Replacement Techniques: 6 Foundation Repair Methods

• Polyurethane Foam Jacking. This foundation repair process uses polyurethane foam material to lift and support a sunken concrete slab foundation.
• Concrete Pressed Piling.
• Steel Piers.
• Helical Piers.
• Concrete Piers.
• Slabjacking/Mudjacking.

What Causes Most Foundation Problems?

Soil conditions cause most foundation problems. Shifting soil and expansive clay soils create problems for homes or buildings with slab foundations, crawl spaces, as well as those with full basements.

When expansive soils become saturated with water, they expand and push upward into the foundation. As the soil dries, it shrinks and the foundation settles. This heaving can cause cracked foundations and damage throughout the home’s interior.

Detecting Foundation Issues

Houses and buildings will settle over time so you can expect a little unevenness without too much worry. However, you will want to watch for these signs, which could spell more significant problems.

• Doors that won’t shut properly, or fail to stay closed.
• Windows that suddenly start sticking or refuse to completely close.
• Cracks in tile work, especially those over a concrete floor.
• Cracks that suddenly appear in walls, especially in vulnerable areas such as over doors or windows.

If you see these signs, you may be having foundation issues.

Also Read: Awning Windows Pros and Cons

Permanent Foundation Repairs

There are several ways to reestablish support for your home’s foundation. The best option depends on the soil composition beneath the house and the that needs repair.

Steel Piers

In most instances, installing steel piers under your home is the best long-term solution to stabilize the foundation—It’s also the most costly. For this repair, galvanized steel posts are driven deep into the ground below the foundation. The piers can go as deep as necessary to reach bedrock or soil that’s compact enough to provide enough support.

Steel piers can carry massive amounts of weight, work in almost any upper soil condition and are considered a permanent repair.

Helical Piers

Helical piers are another permanent foundation repair method made of galvanized steel. Essentially, they are steel posts that twist into the ground with a helically-shaped leading point that resembles a screw or auger and pull the pier deeper below the surface when turned by large machinery.

Helical piers are excellent for supporting the massive weight of a home and foundation without needing to reach bedrock. The devices are drilled into the ground until they reach heavy soil compact enough to support the load before being permanently attached to the house.

Concrete Piles

Concrete piles are simply blocks or cylinders of pre-cured concrete. They can be several inches long and wide or many feet thick and long. The piles are driven or placed below the foundation into compacted soil and may consist of one piece or several stacked on top of each other.

Concrete piles are a lower-cost alternative to steel piers. However, the soil beneath your home will determine if they’re an adequate remedy for your foundation.

Poured Concrete Piers

Poured concrete piers are another lower-cost foundation repair solution if the conditions are right under your home. The method consists of digging a large hole beneath the foundation, filling it with wet concrete and allowing it to cure before attaching it to the home.

Poured concrete piers are useful in many soil conditions and may resemble simple cylinders or be created with a bell shape at the bottom to provide increased support.

Also Read: How to Make Stairs Stop Squeaking

What is the Best Method for Foundation Repair?

Slab jacking. It doesn’t require as much money as many of the other repair options, and the process isn’t as messy, extensive, and noisy, either.

Foundation Replacement Costs

The cost of foundation replacement depends on what needs to be done, and that depends on what kind of damage there is to your foundation. Factors that figure into the cost of replacing a foundation include…

• The location of the building.
• The linear footage of the foundation to be replaced.
• Does the building have a basement?
• Will the new foundation include a basement?
• Does the entire foundation need to be replaced or just part of it?

Why Should You Fix Your Foundation?

Your home is the biggest investment. Fix your foundation problems for safety, peace of mind, and Roi.

Safety

Without a proper solution, foundations and concrete pads can eventually crack, buckle and collapse, leading to serious safety hazards.

Peace of Mind

Finding a permanent solution to your foundation and concrete problems is the surest way to get on with your life, and check a major concern off your list.

Return on Investment

Taking care of your foundation repair and concrete repair needs before the realtor or future buyer requires it not only mean making more money on the sale, it means enjoying your home more in the meantime.

Also Read:  Cracks in Brick House

Common Examples of Foundation Damage?

• Poorly compacted soil base, causing the foundation to sink or shear
• Large and excessive range of cracks that build over time
• Unusual, substandard, or unsound building materials employed in the original construction (eg, cheap, low-quality concrete)
• Not allow the foundation to “cure” for the right period of time, leaving it in a porous and unstable state
• Voids or hollow spots that develop within the foundation
• Extended exposure to water, humidity, or frost
• An interrupted concrete pour which makes unintentional “joint” within the concrete and
• Using materials such as brick, stone, or un-strengthened masonry.