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Foundations become compromised for a variety of reasons like poor construction, drainage issues, inadequate grading, deficient waterproofing, insufficient fill, are some of the variables that can destroy your homes foundation.
Time is everything when it comes to foundation damage. Erosion will start slowly and will progress quicker as the damage progresses under the right conditions.
Waiting just creates a bigger problem that will ensure a larger repair cost and a larger scope of work to remedy the damage to the building. Types of damage that can occur are foundation cracks, bowing or caved-in basement walls, water entering the home, mold and other significant damage to the building.
When a property owner first encounters a crack in a foundation wall, they usually don’t have any idea how to deal with it or why it has happened. In our experience many wait too long before they attempt to resolve the issue. When foundation issues are dealt with in the early stages of decline it can usually be repaired with an easier and cheaper solution compared to those who wait and allow the deterioration to continue. Ignoring foundation cracks and issues will be a costly mistake. Early prevention is the key to maintaining the value in your home.
The foundation of a building is the main support of the building, if it fails, eventually your support structure will all fail causing serious structural problems in a chain reaction.
Basement walls can crack for a variety of reasons. Some cracks need to be taken more seriously than others. Most cracks occur over time and sometimes go unnoticed for years until a water leak is discovered. Basement wall cracks can change with the seasons, depending on the climate. Water and soil can be a serious threat to the foundation. Seasonal variations like “Freeze & Thaw” can cause basement walls to crack. Pressure from soil, poor drainage, combined with water and climate variations can damage basement walls causing basements to crack.
Maintenance around your building can help to avoid costly future repairs. Things like; grading soil so water is shedding away from the house will help. Make sure down spouts are in working condition, not split or blocked. Downspouts should have extensions to properly move water away from house.
The crack can be minor or major crack. A minor crack can be repaired and save the home owner from more sever future damage and save money in the long run. Once the crack becomes more severe the repair become more intensive and the cost will increase. Fixing the cracks as soon as possible is the best line of (and cheapest) defense.
By the time you’ve begun to notice bowing or buckling in your basement walls, there’s a good chance that this situation has been present for a long time. Bowing walls occur most often due to the force of hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure occurs when water accumulates against the basement walls, causes soil to became saturated and adds pressure against the basement walls. Walls can bow and fail when clay or frost cause expansion of the soils and damage the wall. Cracking, bowing, and buckling foundations are indicators of a serious problem for a homeowner. These problems should always be taken seriously and repaired as soon as possible.
Cracked drywall can be a sign of a more serious problem. Shifting foundations move homes and can cause cracks in drywall. Some cracks are a normal part of a home settling process but some cracks are a sign of serious issues with a homes foundation.
Masonry grout is made from cement, fine aggregates, and enough water to be fluid. The foundation is prepped by drilling holes that will be filled with grout and rebar. Core Fill adds needed strength and support to foundation walls.
If a crack or bowing wall is repaired using only the parging method and/or core fill (core fill provides strength; not waterproofing) and no waterproofing then there is no guarantee the repair will last. In all likelihood if the foundation is not waterproofed or poor (soil) drainage exists; then the foundation damage will happen again. To fix the problem from reoccurring; waterproofing, drainage and soil pressure must be addressed and corrected, or the foundation problem will persist.
If a basement wall is too damaged to repair with core filling, then the entire wall or a portion of the foundation wall will be removed and replaced. During a site visit an assessment will be done to decide if the wall should be repaired or replaced.
Underpinning is the reinforcing of an existing building foundation. It is required when the original foundation is no longer strong enough to support the house. This is usually a result of a change to the soil structure, whether due to poor soil conditions or some external influence on the soil.
Damaged foundation footings can also be the result of poor construction or faulty repairs. In cold climates a foundation footing is required to go below the frost line. Footings create stability for the foundation by transferring the buildings load from the foundation to the footing which is in direct contact with the earths surface.
Footings are critical, as the footing distributes the weight of the building evenly across the entire structure so that it doesn’t sink into the ground.
When the footing becomes compromised entire structure can move. This causes cracks and bowing walls. Footings become compromised due to a variety of reasons. Improper drainage, frost or poor construction can cause damage to the foundations footing.
Sometimes when old construction is involved the footing could be non-existent or not be below the frost line. This will need to be repaired or the entire structure will be affected and in jeopardy. Under-pinning is a repair used to provide an existing foundation with a proper footing to stabilize a damaged or non-existing footing.