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Replace Foundation Without Lifting House Pennsylvania
Foundation repair/Foundation crack repair or settlement can lead to major structural problems within your home. Weather and soil conditions in New Jersey, New York, Houston, Texas can both contribute to foundation problems.With over 50 years of experience, W.A. Building Movers & Contractors Inc. are experts in foundation repair.
In this article, we go over the warning signs of foundation failure, the causes of foundation problems and options to repair it.Foundation Repair: Signs of foundation failure in New Jersey, New York...
Foundation failure is a significant and costly problem in its own right. But left unaddressed, even relatively minor foundation damage can lead to much bigger and more expensive repairs down the road.The best defense against escalating expenses is to scan for potential signs of foundation damage and address these issues as soon as they appear. Many of these signs often manifest in other parts of the home, usually several levels above the underlying foundation. These signs include:
- Hairline fractures or cracks in flooring, foundation or walls
- Sloping, sagging or buckling of foundation floors or walls
- Displaced or cracked moldings
- Space between wall and ceiling or floor
- Wall separation from the house
- Improperly fitting doors and windows
- Separation of doors, windows and garage doors
- Water damage (including pooling water, mold and stains)
- Crumbling or flaking of the concrete
Foundation Repair: Causes of foundation failure
Heaving and settling of soil
The freezing and thawing of the unpredictable winter months can cause the soil under your foundation to expand and contract, it may lead to heaving and settling of the foundation above.Hydrostatic Pressure
Some storms can lead to excess moisture in the ground, which increases the hydrostatic pressure in the soil. This pressure pushes on foundations, causing the concrete to shift and crack under stress.Erosion
Common after a sudden or severe rain, erosion can wash away soil under your foundation, forming voids that will lead to foundation settlement and sinking.Poor Soil Compaction
If the soil under your home was not properly packed when the home was built, it will most likely settle unevenly over time. The foundation above may also settle and sink as the soil that supports it begins to move.Pooling Water
When water pools around your foundation it can cause a buildup of pressure on foundation walls. Remember that when pressure builds up, walls will bow, crack and lean. Water will find it's way into your basement or crawlspace if this occurs. Mold and mildew can then become a health risk for you and your family.Inferior Foundation Construction
Insufficient steel and inferior concrete will contribute to movement in the slab. If quality building materials are not used during construction, the entire foundation will be weaker and more susceptible to problems.Foundation Repair: Options
W.A. Building Movers offer options such as underpinning, pile installation and house lifting & moving to fix your foundation.Underpinning
Some houses experience foundation problems because the existing one is shallow in depth. Underpinning is one option to fix this problem. Underpinning is the process of strengthening a foundation by installing a new one under an existing one.Mass Concrete underpinning is the most common method of underpinning. The ground below the existing building foundation is excavated in controlled stages (or pins). When strata suitable for bearing the weight of the building has been reached, the excavation is filled with concrete and left to cure before the next pin is excavated.Pile Driving
Sometimes underpinning isn't enough and that's where pile driving comes in. If your foundation has settled or begun to sink due to soil movement, it can be stabilized with wood, concrete or helical piles, a type of steel. These piles are driven (or screwed as is the case with helical piles) into the ground beneath the foundation until "refusal," meaning it hits strong soil or rock. Once installed, the piles are used to support the foundation and the home above. House Lifting & Foundation Replacement
If your foundation has suffered extreme damage and the house is still intact,
house lifting is the best option to replace it. Using a unified jacking system, the house is raised and supported by steel beams and support columns called "cribs." These cribs are built by cross-hatching wood beams into square towers. Once the house is supported, the foundation is demolished and the new foundation is poured. When the foundation walls have cured, the house is lowered, the steel beams and cribbing are removed and the house is attached to the new, stable and sturdy foundation.
This is also a great option if you want to raise your house and extend the foundation to create another floor.Foundation Repair: More Information
W.A. Building Movers & Contractors Inc. has been fixing foundations for over four decades. To read more about us, click here. To see a portfolio of our work, click here. To request a quote for our services, please feel free to contact us via e-mail at info@wabuildingmovers.com or call our office at908-654-8227. We look forward to hearing from you.
