Foundation Repair Solutions
Foundation repair is an important element of ensuring that your home is safe and structurally sound. Learn more about our foundation repair solutions and how they can protect your home and your loved ones.
Finding the Best Solution for Your Needs
Foundation repair is a complex topic. There are many elements of foundation repair, from the diagnosis of the problem and moving on to the methods you use to fix it. However, it’s important that you’re educated when it comes to what’s happening in your own home.
Even if you don’t totally understand the process of foundation repair, it’s still good to know a little bit more about the possible solutions you might use. An expert will definitely be the best option when it comes to fixing your foundation problems. However, knowing more about how that expert may fix your problems is an important element of the process. Here’s what you need to know about your foundation repair options.
Foundation Solutions
There are several possible foundation repair options you might run into. These options largely depend on your unique foundation problems, so you might see a mix of any of these foundation solutions.
Helical piers are a foundation repair solution that allows you to bolster your home’s foundation from underneath. They’re one method of underpinning your foundation, which is a term that refers to any method of supporting your foundation from underneath. Essentially, they twist into the ground to permanently stabilize the foundation, prevent further settlement, and they can potentially lift the foundation back towards its original position.
Most of the time, helical piers will be beneficial in helping to lift a foundation when the soil surrounding the foundation is too soft to support the foundation. These piers go deep into the soil, past the top layer, and into the extremely strong bedrock. They essentially bypass the problem of soil that can’t sustain the home’s foundation.
Push Piers are another underpinning option for your crawl space or basement. Whereas helical piers twist into the ground to push up the foundation, push piers push directly into the ground. They also extend down into the bedrock, which is often more stable than the soil directly underneath the crawl space or basement.
One of the benefits of push piers over helical piers is that they work better in very tight spaces as they require less space than helical piers. There are also certain elements of push piers that work more effectively on certain foundations. A foundation repair expert will be able to assess which piers will work better for your foundation.
In some situations, you may not have to raise your entire foundation. Rather, if you have a crawl space without enough support, you might have to raise the floor joists that support your floors. The SettleStop IntelliJack™ system is a great way to raise these floor joists and ensure they remain stable.
The SettleStop IntelliJack™ system allows you to ensure you have enough support for your floor from the crawl space. This is especially helpful if you’ve experienced uneven floors because of issues with your floor joists. Crawl space jacks can help you restore your floors to their initial position.
If you’re dealing with excess pressure on your basement walls, you may need to consider wall anchors to stabilize those basement walls. They help your basement walls stand up to the often extreme pressure of soil and water that can otherwise cause bowed basement walls and cracks.
The way wall anchors work is that they rely on the dirt around your basement. A wide, flat panel goes on the inside of the wall, then an anchor stretches out multiple feet away from the wall, buried in the dirt. By tightening the steel rod that connects the two, these anchors can pull your basement walls back to their original straight positions.
Whereas wall anchors stretch out for many feet to each side of your basement walls, the SettleStop IntelliBrace ™ beam system stabilizes foundation walls without having to take up significant amounts of space on each side. It’s an especially great choice if you have neighbors close to either side of your basement walls.
One of the things to remember about the SettleStop IntelliBrace ™ beam system is the fact that it works best when your basement walls have just started to crack or bow in on themselves. This is just one of the reasons you should try to catch these problems as early as possible. If you’re able to notice them early on, you can likely utilize less invasive fixes.
Basement wall stabilization can come in a variety of contexts. One method of stabilization that might work well for your basement is carbon fiber wall reinforcement. With this process, a basement repair expert attaches strips of carbon fiber to the wall with epoxy resin and wall brackets.
This may not seem like a very effective method of stabilizing a basement wall, but it can be a great way to reinforce a wall that’s beginning to bow in on itself. Talk to an expert in your area to see if this unobtrusive method of wall reinforcement could be effective for you.
If you live in an area known for flooding, your instinct to protect your crawl space or basement from floods entirely might not be the best option. Flood vents actually let the floodwater pass through your crawl space or basement, which will lessen the impact of the floodwater on your foundation.
When you use flood vents, the floodwater doesn’t bash up against your foundation. Instead, the vent lifts once the water has reached a certain level. That allows water to run through the crawl space or basement, which avoids significant amounts of pressure on the outside of your home.
FAQs About Foundation Repair Solutions
With so many different foundation repair solutions available, how does an expert determine the right one for you? Part of the solution is the fact that experts have trained for years to know more about foundation repair. An expert will be able to recommend the right option specific to your home and its repair needs because of their knowledge and training.
- Assess the Problem
The first step is to assess the problem. An expert will come into your home, get information from you about what problems you may have seen, and take a look at those problems. Once the expert has assessed the problem, they’ll look to see what underlying issues may have caused the problems in the first place. Fixing those underlying problems is what they can do to help.
Next, the expert will decide what foundation repair solution is right for your home. It’s important to remember that the same symptom of foundation problems can require a different solution depending on your exact situation. That’s why getting help from an expert is such an important step in this process.
- Recommend a Course of Action
To complete the process, the expert will recommend a specific course of action. They’ll be able to give you information about what’s going on in your home and why their course of action will be the most effective for your problem. An expert will be able to understand any contributing factors that you might have overlooked and predict what might develop in the future if the issue is not properly addressed. This gives you a more complete idea of the repair at hand, as well as the future your home can expect.
You can rest assured that when a foundation repair expert recommends an option, it’s because they know it’ll work. Groundworks offers long-term warranties on all solutions, as well as their installation process, so you can have peace of mind. All you have to do is invest in high-quality expert help.
Some of these foundation repair solutions have more obvious differences and some of them have differences that are less so. As a homeowner, you might not know the difference between your options, which can leave you feeling uncertain. These are the two main differences between foundation repair solutions.
- The Extent of the Problem
The problem may have escalated or it may have halted in place. Depending on which is which, you will need a different solution, unique repairs, and safeguards for the future. For example, some foundation repair solutions may work well for slightly out-of-place basement walls, while some may work best for heavily-bowed basement walls. Determining the right solution often has to do with uncovering the extent of the problem.
If you tackle the problem early, you’re more likely to be able to fix the problem simply. However, if you wait a long time, you might not be able to fix things as quickly or easily. The simplest solution is typically the least invasive and least expensive, which is a great reason to handle things early on.
- The Underlying Cause
A symptom may indicate different underlying causes. You can’t necessarily tell what’s causing a problem just by looking at the surface. For example, bowed basement walls may be due to hydrostatic pressure, expansive soils, or another problem that an expert can diagnose when they inspect your unique home.
Determining the right solution is all about what works best for specific problems. Instead of applying an expensive catch-all fix, an expert will look deeper into your soil, your home’s structure, any existing damage, and potential damage that might develop in the future. With this knowledge in hand, they can make sure the fix that’s applied is long-term and effective.
Investing in foundation repair is a crucial part of maximizing your home’s structural stability. You must be able to invest in foundation repair as early as possible. Here are a few of the reasons to keep foundation repair in mind as you maintain your home.
- Influence on the Rest of the Home
When you have a low-quality or poorly functioning foundation, it’s likely to impact the entirety of the home. After all, your house sits on this structure and relies on it for support to its walls, floors, and even roof. Repairs to this foundation will then ensure you don’t need repairs in other areas.
For example, a low-quality foundation may allow airflow throughout your home from the crawl space, resulting in high levels of indoor humidity. Likewise, a foundation that’s cracked or poorly insulated may also raise your electricity bill. By installing the right solution, you can keep your entire home safe, efficient, and prepared for the future.
- A Stable Starting Point
If you have a stable foundation, you at least have a reliable base on which to construct add-ons, add mounts to different walls, or even place heavier (and prettier) flooring. The quality of your foundation will allow for an equally high-quality home. On the other hand, if your foundation is poorly constructed, you’re going to find shelving, new additions, and even new roof issues developing seemingly out of nowhere.
Remember, a stable foundation is the most important part of your home. It’s a bad idea to avoid foundation repairs. Instead, you should tackle your problems when you first notice them. This ensures it can serve you well in the coming years, as well as withstand general wear and tear.
A DIY fix for your foundation might seem like a good idea, but it’s not. Here’s what you need to know about trusting an expert for foundation repair.
- The Downfalls of DIY
There are many repairs you can DIY around your home and do a great job. For example, it’s completely possible to DIY fix broken doors and windows. However, foundation repairs are not something you can handle. Not only is it expensive, but it’s also dangerous.
Since foundations work as the load-bearing base of your home, tinkering with support beams or badly repairing cracks may lead to bowing, tilting, or even collapse. This can be devastating to your property value and your health. Likewise, more invasive repairs may damage the waterproofing measures already in place, inviting mold, mildew, and pests.
- The Reasons to Seek Help from an Expert
Reaching out to a foundation repair expert will ensure that your foundation is as stable and structurally sound as possible. Not only do they bring experience and industry-approved gear to the table, but they also bring long-term warranties and peace of mind. You can benefit from their insight on your specific issue, so you’re not left to guess about root causes or struggle to find the right solution.
Additionally, a professional will have access to a wider range of materials. The solutions offered by Groundworks, for example, are cutting edge and developed according to industry standards. This means they’re designed to be long-lasting, effective, and cleverly installed. You can request a foundation inspection from Groundworks today to learn more about your options.
Establish Healthier Foundation Fixes
There are many different ways to fix a foundation because there are many different potential problems that a foundation can run into. You need a foundation repair option that matches up directly with your home’s foundation concerns. It’s not one size fits all.
If you’re looking for a way to make your foundation healthier, you may need to consider one of these foundation fixes. However, the exact fix you choose should rely on an expert’s opinion, not just a cursory understanding of foundation fixing options.
