Foundation Repair 101

Before any structure could be put up, engineers and contractors need to put in place first a solid foundation

. It is the part of any structure that transfers the load in equal amounts to the underlying materials thus preventing it from sinking on just one particular part. Unfortunately, even with all the precautions being taken when putting up a building, there still comes a time when the foundation itself will sink.

So how do you know if you have sinking foundation problems? One sign is the presence of horizontal cracks on the corners of the window. You might also need to see a foundation repair contractor if you are having problems closing and opening your doors as well as your windows and cabinets, especially of you can see that they are no longer fitting squarely. Fireplace bricks that are showing cracks are also telltale signs that you would need to have your foundation checked.

For most people, sinking foundations would automatically mean having to replace the entire slab. This could be time consuming as well as costly. Fortunately, there are a number of ways by which you can have your foundation repaired, one of which is through mudjacking, or what is commonly known as concrete lifting or raising.

Concrete lifting can be considered as a first aid for repairing sinking foundations. Holes that are about two inches apart are drilled to the affected slab. Polyurethane resin is then injected to the space underneath the slab via the drilled holes. An alternative to polyurethane is the use of sand, cement, fly ash, and water. Whats good about concrete lifting is that the concerned area can be used within a matter of minutes without having to rack up too much foundation repair cost. The downside, however, is that, if the soil is prone to expansion, it can push the overlying material upward along with the slab.

A more advanced foundation repair solutions is the use of concrete piers. This technique is most often used for houses as well as light commercial buildings. What is done here is liquid concrete is poured into large holes drilled into the ground. The advantage of this technique is that it can carry any load. The downside, however, is that it could take a while before you can use the area affected.

Lastly, you can also opt for concrete piling, another advanced foundation repair solution. This technique makes use of concrete pilings that are pushed into the ground under the foundation. They are relatively easy to install and allows the concerned area to be used right away. Unfortunately, if the contractor doing the repair does not push the pilings way into the refusal point, there is a possibility that the pilings would break leading to more sinking of the foundation.

by: John Davis

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