subject: Repairing Rubble Wall Foundations: Using New Technology To Upgrade Old Walls [print this page] There are many elements to admire in historic houses, one such element including their original foundations made from native stone. When you consider that many of these old foundations were built without the benefits of footings, steel reinforcement and modern mortar, it's remarkable that they can last so long. Eventually, however, so-called rubble wall foundations are likely to sustain damage because of the excess water in the soil, or soil that settles, erodes or shifts for some reason. When this happens, a skilled foundation repair specialist can utilize modern techniques to repair and preserve an historic foundation.
Repairing an old rubble wall foundation almost always involves some associated repairs, like making drainage and waterproofing improvements. It's also pretty common to replace rotten framing and either repair or replace the post-and-beam framework that provides mid-span support for the first floor. The foundation repair crew often has to erect temporary supports for the first floor framing while foundation repairs are made.
One way to save old walls using new technology is to install push or helical piers that extend to proper load-bearing soil, and utilize these piers to support new beams made from steel or reinforced concrete. Steel brackets and/or uprights can extend from the beams to support the house framing. This strategy allows a new structural system to do much of the old wall's load-bearing work. Instead of being dismantled and replaced, the original rubble wall can remain in place, preserved with basic repairs like repointing.
Repairing historical houses is always challenging when historical details must be preserved. Many contractors are more accustomed to removing old materials entirely and replacing them with more modern equivalents. But a skilled foundation repair specialist should be able to preserve an original rubble stone foundation by using new structural materials like piers, beams and brackets.
