Foundation Repair

Foundation replacement has never been taken lightly, of course, but there was a time when it was the only viable option for many people. This is, thankfully, no longer the case. While there are some cases in which replacement is necessary, we always view it as a last resort. 

Lifting and Repair 

Lifting and repairing a damaged foundation is easier than ever thanks to things like polyurethane foam and foundation pier systems. These tools and products make it possible to lift, stabilize, and restore foundations that would have been considered beyond saving even 50 years ago! Of course, they are specialist tools that require professional input, but the benefits of repairing rather than replacing your property’s foundation are many. 

First and foremost, there is the matter of cost. While no one would even call foundation repair a small expense, replacing a foundation is still more expensive and, sadly, far less effective. You see, repair methods address the cause of the damage in a way that simply replacing a foundation cannot. This means that pier systems and other repair products offer an all-around solution. 

Replacement as a Last Resort 

The biggest problem with replacing a damaged foundation is the fact that it simply ignores the underlying issues. This means that, as well as being expensive and inconvenient, replacement is ineffective unless you also invest in a repair solution that deals with the original cause of the damage. As such, a replaced foundation is almost certain to experience the same issues as the original one. 

This is why replacement is a last resort. Here at AFS Foundation & Waterproofing Specialists, we will only ever suggest replacement if your foundation is entirely defective or too damaged to be salvaged and repaired. Even then, we will do our best to only replace the sections of a foundation that are beyond help. This will take a long time and cause much disruption, however, because the new foundation concrete must be allowed to properly set before we will be able to install piers or other repair solutions.  

Wall braces are one of the most reliable solutions to bowing walls. Their only downside is that some space is required for their installation. If you and your neighbor’s property lines are too close or there simply isn’t enough yard space for the job to be completed, then AFS has the solution: IntelliBrace™ Wall System. 

• Wall Braces  

SettleStop is a wall bracing system that stabilizes bowing walls and even straightens them over time. The steel beams have a rust-resistant coating of zinc and are guaranteed to last for the rest of the property’s life, making it a long-term solution to bowing basement walls. 

One of the best things about wall braces is that they don’t require any kind of excavation. No yard disturbance is necessary for installation, making it a perfect solution for homeowners that want minimum disturbances while the wall is being repaired. It’s also perfect for those that don’t have the space for wall anchors, since the bracing system is all installed indoors. 

• How They Help  

The wall braces are first cut to fit the height of your basement. The braces are then attached to brackets at the top. The contractor then makes sure that every beam is in place using a level ruler and finishes setting the beams so they are perfectly spaced out. 

At the bottom of the beams, at the floor joists, bolts are used to tighten the beams against the wall. Because the I-beams used for the IntelliBrace™ system run along the entirety of the wall, tightening the bolts forces the wall to straighten out to its original position. 

Although it may not seem like it, foundation heave can cause quite a lot of problems in your home, especially if it goes unfixed. Fortunately, foundation heave can be quite easy to catch before it results in these drastic results. Regardless, foundation heave that goes unfixed can be very destructive. 

Other Foundation Issues 

Foundation heave that remains unrepaired can lead to even more foundation issues. Some of the more common foundation problems include foundation settling, caused by soil shrinkage, compaction, and settlement under constant exposure to water, bowed-in foundation walls, caused by hydrostatic pressure, or uneven concrete floorings and house structures. Foundation heave can also cause cracks to form inside and outside your house. 

In more extreme cases, foundation heave can cause leaking in your crawl space and even your basement. This typically occurs when foundation heave is present with the other previously mentioned foundation problems. Water being introduced into other areas of your home can, therefore, open a whole avenue of other issues outside your foundation, which can be very costly and time-consuming to repair. 

Lifestyle Issues 

Foundation heave that is left unchecked not only alters the integrity of your soil and your home, but it can also affect your daily life as well. Since foundation heave can pose a tripping hazard, it can make your landscape difficult to walk across and even be problematic for your cars if the foundation heave has altered your driveway. Furthermore, it can also disrupt your landscape aesthetics because it can look incredibly unsightly, as it makes concrete slabs uneven and ridden with water. 

The damage it can cause to your home, such as cracks and misaligned doorways and window frames, can change your living space environment as well. Cracks in your walls, doors and windows that do not close properly can introduce and host a multitude of pests inside your home. It can also affect the temperatures within your home since even these tiny openings allow some of the outside air to waft inside. Since Alabama and Tennessee experience both cold and hot temperatures at separate times of the year, this can cause your electricity bills to skyrocket as you try to maintain a comfortable temperature inside. 

Unless your house was installed with push piers from the moment it was built, foundation settling is inevitable. This is because no matter how much you try to stop it, soil will become displaced. External factors like soil quality and weather are what determine soil displacement, so there isn’t much homeowners can do. However, there are certain changes you can make to make sure the soil degradation process is as slow as possible.  

Outdoor Prevention 

Outdoors, you should talk to a landscaping expert to determine the grade of your yard. A negative grade means that water flows toward your foundation whenever it rains. If needed, you can regrade your lawn so that water drains away from your home. Downspouts should be extended so that they drain water as far from your home as possible and no water gets the chance of saturating the soil. 

During the rainiest time of year, make sure to continuously check your drainage systems for any debris. You don’t want water flowing down the side of your home because of clogged gutters. During the winter, shovel the snow out of your yard as often as you can, especially during the beginning and end of winter, when the temperature isn’t cold enough to keep snow from melting. You don’t want any water from the melted snow seeping into your soil. 

Indoor Prevention  

Indoors, you need to set up a proper drainage system for your foundation. This means installing an interior drain system and a sump pump if you don’t already have one. Keeping your foundation dry is just as important as keeping the soil outside dry as well. Water is an erosive element that can damage the materials your foundation is made of. The more cracks and breakage in a foundation, the faster it will settle. 

Consider getting a second sump pump, especially if you live in Alabama. Sump pumps get overworked during rainy seasons and often malfunction as a result. A second sump pump will guarantee that your foundation stays as dry as possible no matter how severe the weather is. 

Advanced settling causes certain structural issues around the home, not just in the foundation itself. If the settling gets severe, you’ll be paying for more than just foundation repairs. To avoid the damage and the extra repair costs, familiarize yourself with the problem signs. The moment you notice the settling, you can contact your local foundation experts to stop the settling completely. 

Indoor Signs 

You’ll want to start in your basement since the signs will be most severe closest to the foundation. Check for cracks along the floor and the walls, as well for any spots where leaking is common. Use a level ruler to measure the evenness of the space, and if there is any uneven area despite the smoothness of the surface, there’s likely some settling. 

In the upper portions of your home, look for cracks along the ceiling and the walls. If you have jammed doors or windows, that’s another clear sign of settling since the tilting house is warping the frame. Walk around the house and see if you can feel any areas where the floor is uneven. If you can’t feel anything, use a level ruler too, as it’s possible that the damage isn’t severe enough to cause sagging floors, only slight unevenness. 

Outdoor Signs  

Again, you can start looking for signs from top to bottom outside as well. Check along the bottom of the home for any cracks. All concrete displays hairline cracks after a few years, but if the cracks are plentiful and wide, it indicates a problem. One of the clearest signs of settling is stair-step cracking along the mortar. If the crack is wider at the top than it is at the bottom, the settling is advanced. 

Observe your chimney to see if it’s tilting. The good thing about chimneys is that because of their height, it’s easy to spot unevenness. Look at the chimney from multiple angles and search for cracks. If your front porch has handrails, unevenness there also indicates settling. If you aren’t sure about the signs you are seeing, contact a local foundation expert for a professional assessment. 

Some homeowners that have a lot of foundation issues may consider completely replacing their foundation. While this may certainly repair foundation problems, such as foundation heave, fully replacing your foundation does not properly address the issue. Repairs, especially those offered by AFS Repair, can fix your foundation problems at the root cause so that it does not happen again in the future. 

Costs of Foundation Replacement 

Replacing your entire foundation has a lot of hidden costs. Not only do contractors have to uproot and replace all your concrete, but they must put temporary support posts in place in order to support your home as they work on your foundation. Foundation replacement also requires that the soil be entirely replaced as well. Furthermore, even when your foundation is completely replaced, this does not guarantee that the issues will not come back because replacement does not address the source of the problem. 

This can be quite a lengthy and costly process. There are a lot of components to consider, such as foundation demolition, concrete pouring, soil replacement, and lifting your home with temporary support jacks. Even the most trained contractors require a lot of time to complete a big job like this. It also requires a substantial number of tools and protective equipment to accomplish. 

Benefits of Foundation Repair 

Many of the foundation repair options that are offered by AFS Repair, fortunately, face the root cause of your foundation issues and resolve them. This makes for a much longer-lasting solution, which is more cost-effective overall. Some of these options include the: 

• Slab, Push, or Helical Pier System 
• SettleStop Wall Anchor System 
• SettleStop Channel Anchors 
• SettleStop Wall Brace 
• Crawl Space Support Posts 

While it seems like there are many options to choose from, remember that the option you select depends on the issue you wish to address. You may be overwhelmed by the sheer number of solutions. However, do not worry. The expert contractors at AFS Repair will help you to select which one works best to repair your foundation.