Plano Foundation Repair is a critical part of maintaining the structural integrity and property value of your home. Problems like uneven floors and sticking doors can indicate a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
When choosing a foundation repair company, it’s important to verify their licenses and insurance. In addition, ask for references and customer reviews.
Getting your foundation repaired can be a big financial commitment. Many factors influence the price of a repair, including the method used, location, soil type and more. Choosing a contractor with experience and a good track record will help ensure the work is done correctly. In addition, a local contractor will be familiar with the soil and climate conditions that impact repairs.
When soil is saturated with water, it expands and can push against the foundation of your home. This can lead to cracks, bowed walls and other structural damage. It can also cause mold, which can be a health risk for you and your family.
Water can be caused by a number of things, including foundation leaks and drainage problems. Leaking pipes are a common culprit, as they can cause damage to the surrounding concrete and the wood that is part of or supports the foundation. Other causes include excessive rain and floods, resulting in water pooling near the foundation of your home. If your house is located in a flood zone, you should take extra precautions to protect your foundation from flood damage.
A musty odor that lingers is another sign of potential foundation water damage. Mold and mildew thrive in damp environments, and they can also deteriorate the concrete of your foundation. You should always seek professional remediation if you notice any signs of mold or mildew.
Once the repair work has been completed, your contractor will have to pack the dirt back in around the piers and along the foundation. This may be done by hand or with a backhoe. It’s important that the soil is compacted and sealed so that moisture doesn’t continue to affect the foundation.
It’s also a good idea to have your gutters checked and the slope of your yard examined. If the soil around your foundation is not draining away from your house, you can experience issues like flooded basements and foundation cracks. A landscaping specialist can assist with proper drainage by installing French drains or other measures. Keeping your foundation in good condition will keep your home safe and secure for years to come.
Foundation Cracks
The foundation supports the entire structure of your home, so it is important to monitor cracks and take action when necessary. Some cracks are harmless and can be fixed with a DIY kit, while others indicate serious foundation damage and require professional attention.
Hairline cracks are common in new homes and typically pose no structural threat. They are caused by natural shrinkage of concrete as it cures and settles. This type of crack may widen over time, but it does not usually indicate a problem and should be addressed by sealing the crack with urethane or silicone caulk.
Cracks that are wider than one-eighth of an inch are serious and should be addressed immediately. Wider cracks let water and water vapor into your home, leading to humidity issues, mold growth, and pest infestation. It is also possible that they will worsen over time, resulting in further structural problems and expensive repairs.
Wider cracks often appear near the foundation and can be a sign of frost heave or differential settlement. They can also be caused by soil that expands and pushes against the foundation as it gets saturated with rain or irrigated. The best way to prevent this type of damage is by installing exterior drain tile around the foundation footer and interior drain tiles to take the excess water away from the house.
If your foundation is showing signs of settling, it may be time for underpinning. This process involves sinking push or helical piers into the soil until they reach load bearing strata or bedrock. The piers are then attached to the foundation to stabilize and support it.
Bulging or bowing walls are another sign of serious stress on your foundation. These are typically caused by sideways pressure from the soil. It is important to track these changes with painter’s tape and contact a foundation repair specialist immediately if they continue to get worse. To reduce the stress on your foundation, helical wall anchors or carbon fiber straps can be installed to reinforce the existing foundation. These also provide support if your foundation needs to be lifted by hydraulic lifting systems.
Sewage Leaks
If a foundation leaks sewage, it can cause the soil to become saturated and expand. This will put pressure on the foundation and may lead to cracking, bowing walls and other damage.
If you see puddles in your yard, it’s important to contact a plumber right away. This is a strong indicator that you have a significant plumbing problem. The puddles are caused by water that is seeping from a damaged foundation plumbing line and percolating through the soil to your home.
Foundation leaks can also cause wood to rot. This is because the rotting wood can create a pathway for moisture into the crawl space and cause mold and other damage. The rotting wood can also weaken the metal components in the crawl space which will eventually cause them to corrode.
Water leaks can also cause the concrete in a slab foundation to shift and crumble, leading to foundation cracks and other problems. It’s essential to inspect the foundation regularly and look for signs of water leaks such as pooling water, high water bills, musty smells, buckling floors and cracking walls.
Another sign of a foundation leak is excess moisture in the basement. This can be caused by a leak in the foundation, but it can also be caused by poor drainage around the foundation. This can be caused by clogged gutters and downspouts that don’t direct rainwater away from the foundation, broken water or sewer lines and improper grading of the property.
Another way to check for a foundation leak is to check your water meter. Turn off all faucets and showers and then look at your water meter. If you see that it is registering usage when the faucets and toilets are turned off, this indicates that there is a leak in your slab foundation. A plumber will be able to find the break, misalignment or separation point in the pipe and fix it before it causes any more damage.
Poor Drainage
If your foundation is suffering from poor drainage, you’ll need to get this addressed immediately before it leads to further damage. Poor drainage causes soil erosion and can cause the concrete in your foundation to crack as it expands from moisture. Water can also seep into your basement, causing it to sag or become soaked with mold.
The best way to prevent this is by ensuring that your gutters are free of debris and properly directing rainwater away from your foundation. You can also invest in a French drain, which is a gravel-filled trench that helps divert water from your foundation and away from your home. Keeping your foundation draining properly will help protect the integrity of your structure and extend the lifespan of your home.
If you notice standing water around your foundation after a rainstorm, it’s a sign that your drainage system isn’t functioning well. This can lead to water pooling in your crawl space, basement, or other areas of the house, which creates the ideal environment for mold and mildew growth. The excess moisture can also deteriorate wooden elements of your home, such as wood beams and support structures.
Foundation problems won’t go away on their own, so it’s important to contact a professional contractor immediately. Gerrior Masonry & Landscaping can perform an inspection of your foundation and recommend the best course of action for repair. We offer several repair options, including hydraulic piers and bell-bottom piers that lift sunken sections of your foundation back to their original height. We can even encapsulate your basement or crawlspace to prevent further moisture damage.
As the weather changes, it’s important to have your foundation inspected regularly to ensure that it’s structurally sound. By identifying potential problems and getting them fixed quickly, you can save yourself money in the long run by preventing major foundation damage. For more information about our residential services, contact us today! We have over 38 years of experience serving Tennessee and Kentucky. We specialize in waterproofing and foundation repair solutions that help extend the lifespan of your home.