If you see horizontal cracks in your home’s foundation, it’s time to get it checked out. These are a sign of shifting soil that, left unattended, will cause bowed basement walls and cracked floors.
Fortunately, there are many effective solutions to repair a failing foundation. Read on Sugar Land Foundation Repair Solutions to learn about the best ways to restore your home’s structural integrity and stability.
Polyurethane Foam Jacking is a concrete lifting method used to relevel uneven concrete slabs, such as driveways, pool decks, garage floors, and more. A newer alternative to mudjacking, this method is a more environmentally-friendly way of lifting and repairing your uneven concrete. This is because it uses a synthetic material to relevel concrete, rather than a water-based mixture of soil and clay like the traditional mud slurry.
The foam is injected into the concrete through small, dime-sized holes in the slab. Once the technician has injected the foam, it quickly expands into the voids of the soil underneath the slab, pushing it down and compacting it from within. The resulting upward force of the expanding foam lifts the slab back to its original level, restoring its structural integrity and stabilizing it from future sinking.
Unlike the heavy mud used in traditional mudjacking, commercial grade polyurethane foam is much lighter and puts less stress on the soil beneath it. This makes the foam a more effective foundation repair solution, as it minimizes the risk of your foundation sinking again in the future. Additionally, URETEK’s polyurethane foam is closed-cell, which means it won’t be compromised by water like open-cell foams can.
While foam jacking is a great option for many situations, it may not be the right solution for everyone. This is because it doesn’t support extremely heavy buildings, such as two-story homes. If your home is very large or you have issues with the structure of your foundation, then a push pier system may be a better choice for you. Push piers are driven hydraulically to depths with highly dense soils or bedrock, where they can then be seated against a bracket on the foundation slab and pushed down to lift it upward.
Slab Jacking
Slabjacking is a more cost-effective alternative to replacing foundation slabs when they sink. This method involves drilling holes into a slab foundation, then injecting a special mixture to fill voids and raise the concrete back to its original position. This can be done in any weather and is less disruptive than tearing up and replacing the concrete.
Slab jacking can be used to address both non-structural and structural cracks. Non-structural cracks are caused by expansion and contraction of the concrete while structural cracks are a result of soil erosion. Once the concrete is raised, workers plug the holes that they drilled at the beginning of the process. This technique is also more environmentally friendly than pouring a new slab, as it eliminates discarded materials and construction noise.
A contractor can use a variety of injection materials to raise the concrete slab, but the two most popular are stone slurry grout and polyurethane foam. The first involves a mixture of pulverized limestone and water to slowly fill any voids and lift the concrete. The second is a polyurethane foam that expands when injected, then pushes against the concrete to create lift.
This method is very effective and can be performed in any weather conditions. It is also far less invasive than replacing a foundation slab, since there is no demolition or large equipment involved. Slab jacking is also a better choice than piering, which can be very expensive and requires extensive excavation.
Concrete Piers
Concrete piers are one of the most common options when it comes to foundation repair. Typically, foundation contractors use them when they can’t get into the crawl space and when there’s a lot of decomposed rocks or stiff clay in the soil.
They consist of a series of concrete cylinders stacked on top of each other and then pushed into the ground. The crew will continue pushing them until they reach a point of refusal or when the soil isn’t able to hold anymore. Then, they’ll start on the next row of piers.
Another advantage of these piers is that they are quite durable and will not deteriorate easily. Typically, they can support loads of up to 4,000 pounds per square inch. That means they can redistribute the weight of your home over a large area. This helps reduce damage to the structure and minimizes differential settlement.
This type of foundation repair is relatively quick and doesn’t require any extensive excavation or heavy machinery. The crew can finish the job in a day or two and you’ll be able to resume using your home just as before.
While these piers are great for a number of situations, they’re not the best solution for expansive soils. This type of soil expands when it gets wet and contracts when it dries out. This constant movement can wreak havoc on your foundation and cause it to shift unevenly. This can lead to cracks in the walls, doors, and windows. This is why it’s important to hire a foundation contractor that understands these types of problems and has experience working in these conditions. They can provide you with the most effective solution to your problem.
Steel Piers
Unlike other methods that require concrete piers to be formed and poured on-site, steel piers are driven straight into the ground. While they are more expensive, they can offer a superior level of stability to the foundation. They also have a high resistance to environmental factors that typically damage foundation materials like moisture, soil erosion, and corrosion.
KC Pro’s steel pier foundation repair solution is a long-term solution that transfers the weight of your home from unstable soil to the piers, which rest on bedrock beneath the surface. Whether you are looking for a permanent solution to foundation settling or just need help stabilizing your foundation, this method is the best choice.
The installation process for this system is relatively quick and can be completed with minimal disruption to your home or business. Once your foundation is back in place, helical or screw piers are used to further anchor the new piers into the ground and hydraulic jacks are then utilized to lift interior floor levels back to their natural position.
The advantage of this system over other pier systems is that the helical or screw piers can be driven into the ground to a depth of over 75 feet, which is five times deeper than concrete piers. This allows it to support structures in problem soils that are prone to shifting, such as large buildings constructed on frequently wet or sandy ground. The helix shape of these piers helps them resist shifting by preventing the upper-level soil from pushing against it. This translates into a stable and durable support system for your foundation that can hold up to the elements and a structure that will last a lifetime.
Spot Piers
If your home shows signs of foundation settlement, like uneven floors or noticeable wall cracks, you should consult a local, experienced contractor as soon as possible. These early warnings can signal that the structure is unable to support its own weight and will continue sinking without intervention. Foundation piers are crucial, serving as columns that transfer the weight of your house to more stable ground. These piers also help prevent future settlement and keep your home’s structure stable for decades to come.
There are various methods for installing piers, including slab jacking, push piers, and helical piers. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, but helical piers are the best for foundation repair. These steel piers are hydraulically driven into the soil through patented steel brackets, which effectively bonds your foundation to load-bearing soil or bedrock layers. This method is quick, efficient, and requires less excavation than traditional methods. It is ideal for new construction projects, as well as existing foundations in need of structural repair.
Other methods include concrete piers, segmented piers, and carbon fiber straps. These methods are often used in combination with other repair methods, and may be appropriate for your situation. Carbon fiber straps are excellent for addressing bowing basement walls, as they provide a structural support system to restore the integrity of your home’s foundation.
A crawl space is a dangerous place for your foundation, as it can be infested with pests and prone to dampness from the ground beneath. The installation of piers in a crawl space can help solve these problems and restore stability to your home’s foundation.