Foundation Repair
Common Foundation Issues
Foundation shear
Serious Issue
As you can see in the picture to the left, the entire wall slid forward causing the wall to not be fully seated on the footing. This can be repaired in different ways but it is a concern that should be addressed as soon as possible.
Normally bracing the wall with steel I-beam supports is considered the standard repair however, if severe enough, the wall may need to be rebuilt.
Give us a call for a free estimate and a peace of mind.
Bowing Wall
Potential Serious Issue
One of the most common problems we come across is bowing foundation walls. Normally, when you see a crack that runs parallel with the floor, it is a concern. Not always will it need repair, but it should be looked at, and monitored.
Bowing walls are usually caused by poor drainage from around the foundation. We have also seen where heavy equipment, stoops, traffic vibration or even a tree cause variations of this problem.
Stair Step Crack
Usually Not Major
We find this issue on almost every block foundation. While it is the most common issue, if there is a large size difference at the top compared to the bottom of the crack, this can suggest footing movement and should be assessed.
Normally it is just caused by settling and nothing to be worried about.
Poured Foundation Crack
Usually Not Major
While these types of cracks are not usually a major issue, the crack noted in this picture suggest more movement than normal and should be looked at by a professional.
These types of cracks are usually caused from the foundation settling. While not usually a structural issue, they have a good potential of leaking.
The steel within the foundation wall gives the wall majority of its strength, so don't panic when you see them. Having said that, it doesn't hurt to have us come take a peek.How we repair your foundation
Not one size fits all!
Repairs
While we gave some common issues above, each repair needs to be assessed because they are not all the same fix.
This is an example of a foundation rebuild. We only do this if there is no other option because the foundation is too damaged. This involves excavating the wall from the exterior, removing the blocks, and rebuilding to code with reinforced fully mortared cavities.
Steel I-Beam Bracing
I-Beams are a very effective repair. We have been installing them for over fifty years. If we determine beams to be the fitting repair, you can have confidence that your foundation is sound.
In all the years we have been installing them, we have removed many beams installed from other companies. They were either too small, too far apart, or attached incorrectly. We provide a lifetime warranty on these beams, and we have never had to return to repair a single beam.
The new technique used by others is to attempt to push the wall back into place by installing a bolt at the top of the brace. While this proves to be effective from time to time in the right conditions, it uses the floor joists as leverage and can cause damage. Floor joist can snap and blocks can crack.
The safest way to push a wall back once damaged is by excavating the wall from the outside, push the wall back into place, and then stabilize the wall with bracing.
Crack Poured Foundation
Its a dirty job... If we find your crack is leaking or showing signs of movement. We excavate (with a shovel) the area and seal it from the outside.
Not only do we seal the crack from the outside, we a seal large area around the crack in case there are any off shooting cracks that can leak.
We have used injections, where we can inject with a flexible polyurethane material, however, this is only used when we cant repair from the outside. We find the injection can take a few attempts and not as effective.
