subject: Avoiding The Need For Foundation Repairs [print this page] When it comes to owning your own house, foundation repair takes the spot for the most expensive repair that one could face. This is primarily because of the role that foundations play in keeping the house structurally sound.
There are a number of reasons why homeowners would need to have their foundation repaired, the most common of which is the dryness of the soil surrounding the foundation. This problem is more visible to the homeowners eyes especially during the summer months when the soil would draw away from the concrete slab.
Seismic testing is another reason why a foundation cracks, albeit not a common one. This happens when companies do a geophysical testing in order to explore the presence of petroleum. During seismic testing, the ground is repeatedly thumped using a mechanical device. It is the initial and the reflective jolts that could damage concrete slabs on houses located a few meters away.
If you are looking at a need to repair cracked foundation due to dryness of the soil, your first step would be to put up soaker hoses around the perimeter of the house. These soaker hoses should be pushed onto the gap in between the slab and the soil. During initial use, you might have to keep the hose in place with the help of some bricks or any heavy object. Later on, however, your hoses will conform and would no longer need something to weigh it down.
If you need to repair cracked foundation that is no more than an eighth of an inch, all you have to do is clean the area and caulk the crack with special filler which you can purchase form hardware stores. Use a small wire brush to clear away small particles or debris that might have accumulated in the crack.
If you are looking to repair cracked foundation due to seismic testing, or if the crack is more than an eighth of an inch, you might have to skip on doing it yourself and look for professionals who can repair foundation. This is because cases like these might require foundation or concrete slab lifting.
