Is Foundation Repair Necessary

Is Foundation Repair Necessary

By
FoundationRepair-SC.com

Determining When Foundation Repair Is Necessary
“This article is written by an independent resource not
affiliated with Ram Jack.”
Foundation repair is an intimidating prospect as your
foundation is the most important part of your home’s
construction. Walls and roofs can be repaired or replaced with little
trouble. Your foundation, however, is the base for every element in
your home, from walls to carpet, to ceiling fixtures. If the foundation
fails, and no foundation repair is made, the rest of the home will
ultimately crumble.


Types of Foundations
The type of foundation that your home has will vary depending
largely upon geographic location.
Basement style foundations, while common in northern
regions, are unsuitable for
many southern areas of the
country due to flooding
caused by shallow sources of
ground water.

Foundation Repair

While slab foundations are popular in the South, some
areas require use of piles due to steeply sloping, uneven,
or unstable soil conditions.
If a foundation is not chosen to
meet the environmental
demands of that area, it is
destined to fail, needing often-
costly foundation repair.

Crack in Foundation

Basement style foundations are very common throughout
the country.
Basements are obsolete in states such as Florida.
The reasoning is that the water
table is so high that flooding
would be inevitable.
Basements provide great
storage, but also increase
building costs substantially.
Foundation Piers

98% of basement homes in North America feature some
kind of concrete construction.
Clearly wood is an unsuitable
choice underground due to its
lack of resistance to moisture,
rodents, and termites. Additional
attributes of concrete are that it
does not rust, warp, or provide
an environment favorable for
mold to grow.

Pile foundations, also known as pier and beam are also a
popular foundation choice.
The piles are constructed of wood, steel, or concrete.
They are driven into the ground or
placed in excavated holes. The piles
reach down into the earth to a stable
layer of soil or rock. The piles extend
above ground level in a linear manner
to provide support for the walls and
floor of the structure.
Foundation Repair

Concrete slabs are quite common for homes in the South.
Slab on grade foundations are easy and affordable to
construct.
A poured layer of concrete about
4 inches thick is applied to
compacted soil or crushed gravel.
This base helps to improve
drainage.

Steel rebar or reinforcing rods are placed before the
concrete is poured to make the concrete stronger.
The edges and interior weight-bearing locations are
typically poured to a greater thickness of 8 to 12 inches.
Though popular in the South, this
foundation is not recommended for
areas that experience frequent
freezing temperatures.

Crack in Foundation

Unlike the slab on grade style, a t-shaped foundation can
be used in geographic areas prone to ground freezing.
This method is also known as a
spread footing or continuous
style.
An inverted T shaped footing is
first constructed beneath the frost
line.

This added support spreads the load over the sub-soil.
Walls are built on top of the T.
A poured concrete slab then
connects the walls.
Unfortunately, this 3-step system is
one of the most costly available
methods.


Frost protected foundations can withstand freezes, but
come with a significantly lower price tag.
The structure is built using a
single step process, but is only
suitable for heated structures.
This means that it can be used
for homes and businesses.

Foundation Piers

It is not appropriate, however, for an unheated barn,
garage, or storage shed.
It utilizes 2 layers of polystyrene
insulation to minimize heat loss.
This keeps the heat generated
from the above structure in the
ground to prevent ground freeze
even in freezing temperatures.

Why Foundations Go Bad
There are several reasons why foundations can fail,
needing foundation repair.
Typically, these reasons
boil down to an improper
foundation being laid for
the home’s location and
climate.


Reasons for damage include the following:
• Water damage.
Even if water cannot directly impact
your concrete foundation, it can
impact the surrounding soil.
Soil can be washed away leaving the
concrete exposed and unprotected.
The soil can also shift due to heavy
rain, causing the structure to shift or
sink. Foundation Repair

• Difficult soil type.
Some soils are better suited for building than others.
Ideal soils are hard and compact,
providing support for the foundation.
Others are sandy and easily washed
away.
Soil type can change over time, as well,
leaving a once solid foundation in need
of help.
Crack in Foundation

• Compaction and expansion.
One of the largest issues
facing houses is the problem
of soil settling.
Some settling is normal,
particularly in the first few
years after a home is built.

• Compaction and expansion. (continued)
Repeated contraction and expansion of
the ground beneath your structure,
however, can cause problems requiring
foundation repair.
This is a more common problem facing
older homes. If the soil is packed properly
on new homes before the foundation is
laid, excessive settling can be avoided.
Foundation Piers

Older homes often suffer from problems associated with
improperly laid foundations, and they require foundation
repair.
These issues need to be
addressed to prevent serious
damage to the home and
risk to its residents.


Warning Signs of a Bad Foundations
Foundations commonly have shallow cracks that do not
necessarily affect the structure.
Due to normal post-construction
settling and concrete shrinkage all
houses will have some cracking.
These harmless shrinkage cracks are
less than 1/8 of an inch thick and run
vertically.

The crack should be limited to the foundation without
extending into the above structure.
Settling cracks are usually a result of short-term settling of a
new home.
If the crack is small (less than ¼ inch), it is
probably caused by short-term settlement.
If the crack has been repaired and re-cracks
or seems to change over time, it may be
caused by ongoing settling—a more serious
condition.

Ongoing settlement cracks are
serious, and foundation repair
will require professional
attention.
You can also spot ongoing
settling by examining the crack
itself.
If the edges of the crack do not
line up like puzzle pieces, you
have a shear crack.
Crack in Foundation

A shear crack is a big problem and will require serious help
as the home’s structural integrity is at stake.
For these types of crack, the quarter-
inch rule is of no merit.
Any horizontal cracks in the foundation
are also a red flag to homeowners.
Regardless of the size, horizontal cracks
generally mean foundation repair will
be necessary.

What Can Happen
If a structurally compromised
foundation is left unattended, the
problem will quickly manifest
itself in the aboveground
structure.
Your home may develop cracking
in the walls, leaking or collapsing
of sections of the roof.

You may also notice your floors becoming uneven and
unstable.
If you have a basement foundation, you
might see bowing and cracking of those
walls.
If you spot a significant or unusual crack
in your foundation, you should
investigate foundation repair as quickly
as you can.

The Right Company
Foundation repair is not a simple procedure that can be
undertaken by an average handyman.
This kind of work requires the knowledge of
an experienced crew. Invest in a company
that will explain what the problem really is
and help find affordable solutions to make
your home a safe place to live. Foundation
repair is a serious issue that requires a
serious professional company.
Foundation Piers

You may have just bought a 50 year-old home, and now
have a failing foundation on your hands.
You might also have realized that
the budget homebuilder you hired
was cheap for a reason.
In any case, foundation repair
issues are of serious concern.


Addressing these problems quickly will save you money
and keep from any additional damage being caused to
your home itself.
Foundation repair sounds
expensive and
intimidating, but you can
find reasonable solutions
to save your home.


Thank You

Is Foundation
Repair Necessary

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

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