Foundation Repair
The stability of a home or building depends on the quality of its foundation. Keeping it in good condition is crucial for the overall stability and longevity of the structure. Damage to your foundation can lead to a multitude of problems. These can include water infiltration through foundation cracks, bulging basement walls, sagging floors and others issues with instability.
Do not disregard even the smallest crack when you find them. These issues will only get worse over time and should be repaired before they get out of hand. The cost of repair will be much less now and will reduce the chance of it affecting other areas. Uncontrolled water flow around a foundation leads to moisture seepage, structural problems and the need for other repair solutions.
Is your foundation fixable? Click the link to help determine if you should repair or replace your foundation. Need additional help? Our crawl space repair experts will provide a free inspection, diagnose the problem and assist with the repairs.
What Causes Foundation Settlement?
Damage to your foundation is usually due to water infiltration, soil type, and soil instability. The red clay that North and South Carolina is famous for plays a large part. This fine grained material shrinks and swells depending on its moisture content. Without the appropriate engineering controls, this powerful force is enough to makes the foundation to move and shift.
Your home’s foundation may be at more of a risk of foundation damage if:
- It sits on expansive clay
- Improperly compacted soil as foundation backfill.
- There is poor drainage around the foundation
- Extreme seasonal changes in weather causing freeze thaw effect in soil
- Water infiltration through cracks and other preferential pathways
- An earthquake, flood or drought compromised the structure
Foundations built on soil with a lot of clay are more likely to have structural issues than those on other types of soil. The the finest grain classification used by soil scientist is the clay sized particle. These fine-grained materials usually create the highest pore pressures. Pore pressure is defined as the pressure exerted by fluids within the pore spaces of a rock or soil. The higher the pore pressure of a material, the harder a liquid will push through something. This influences wall stability and potential for structural failure. There are several other signs of foundation issues to look out for.
Foundation Repair Methods
There are several types of foundation failure. We offer several foundation repair services and solutions.
Foundation Crack Repair
A foundation crack wider than 1/8″ is an indication of subsurface subsidence and should be repaired. It’s best to make this type of repair from the exterior side of the wall. A typical repair involves drilling the crack to make it even in width and depth. Then, epoxy is injected to strengthen the foundation wall.
Foundation Pier Installation / Replacement
Pier subsidence is common with crawl spaces with flowing water in them. Water that flows around foundation piers can erode the soil around them causing pier instability. The pier can sink and fall over, removing the support from the floor above. Floor sagging in the area of pier subsidence is a result. In this case, the cause of the water infiltration should be solved and the pier rebuilt with a robust 24 x 24 inch concrete footer to help distribute the weight.
Piers are added in the crawl space to provide support to the floor when additional weight is placed upon them. A good example of this is adding a granite topped island in the center of the kitchen. A builder constructs a home with the specific weight of the kitchen that was designed. Consulting a structural engineer to design additional floor support is recommended before adding an island with a heavy countertop.
Girder Replacement
One of the main support elements in the crawl space is the girder. This support structure is usually aligned perpendicular to the joist system and supports the beams in a building. It is one of the components designed to distribute the weight of the floor. The girder is normally associated with a pier which sits on top of it and distributes the weight.
Solid wood beams are a good choice for girders. This means high crawl space humidity, damage caused by termite infestation and sagging / over spanned beams can affect them. Replacing damaged wood girders using 4-inch metal I-beams is a good way to add structural support to the floor system.
Band Sill Replacement
The band sill or rim joist is located at the end of the floor joist and forms the outer edge of the floor framing. This location exposes this support board to exterior weather conditions. Direct precipitation, poor exterior drainage and high humidity affect this structure. Sagging floors located near the exterior perimenter of rooms can be an indication of band sill failure.
The repair involves lifting and supporting the structure. This allows us to remove the old band sill and replace it with new pressure-treated lumber. To prevent damage from moisture, it is important to reduce the wood’s long-term exposure to high humidity. Otherwise, the same problems will happen again.
Slabjack or Slab Leveling
Slabjacking consist of drilling a grid pattern of holes through the slab and injecting a concrete grout slurry to support and lift the slab. The slurry is injected under the concrete slab to offer support and to retard subsidence. Raising the pressure of the grout injection helps lift the foundation back into level with the rest of the slab. After lifting and stabilization, concrete is used to back fill fill holes.
Compared to the cost of helical piers, this method is a low-cost solution for foundation problems. It causes little to no disruption to the property, depending on the repair situation.
The slabjacking method of foundation repair can be utilized on various areas around your home. This solution can be used on sunken patios, walkways, and driveways.
Typical Cost of Foundation Repair
Foundation repair cost for most projects average roughly $4,405. If your foundation needs hydraulic pier repairs, the cost can be $10,000 or more. Minor cracks may only cost about $500. The typical rage for the cost of a repair can be between $1,933 and $6,896.
- Minimum cost: $500
- Average cost: $4,405
- Typical Range: $2,000 – $7,000
Foundation repair contractors usually charge between $250 and $800 per crack depending on the length of the crack. Repairs include epoxy injections carbon band wall stabilizers.
About Fresh Air Technologies…
If you are looking for a stellar foundation repair company, Fresh Air Technologies’ experts certainly fit the bill. Serving the Charlotte and surrounding area for the 20-plus years. Call us today for your free crawl space and foundation inspection.
