Foundation Wall Settlement: Transition From Winter To Spring
Symptoms
- Vertical wall cracks
- Stair-step wall cracksLarge stoops and steps
- Cracks that are wider at the top than the bottom are a sign of advancing settlement.
- Tilting chimneysDamaged doors and windows
- Some chimneys are built on a footing that isn't connected to the foundation, making it at higher risk of settlement.
- Slab floor cracking
- Drywall cracks
Repairing Foundation Settlement
Foundation piers stabilize, repair, and restore issues related to foundation settlement and poor supporting soils. All three of these foundation repair techniques can be effective, and each one is designed to fix a specific type of foundation issue. All types of piers use small installation equipment, so installations can be completed tight access areas such as bathrooms or laundry rooms.
Slab piers are designed to support a settling concrete floor by being driven deep into the earth, bypassing soils that are ill-suited to support the weight so that your floor can be supported by strong, competent earth. Slab piers provide an ability to lift your concrete slab back to its original position, closing cracks and eliminating major tripping hazards. When the installation is done, grout is pumped under the slab to fill voids and all cored holes in the slab filled with new concrete for a clean and cohesive look.
Push piers are straight, heavy-duty steel piers that are attached to your foundation with brackets and extend deep below the structure to strong supporting soils. They can be installed inside or outside your foundation walls and are completely hidden once the repair is complete.
Helical piers stabilize settling foundations by connecting footings and walls to solid, load-bearing soils. Helical blades (bearing plates) welded to the shaft of the pier are designed to act as giant screws mechanically advanced into the stable earth.
Foundation brackets are secured to the footing, and the pier sections are hydraulically driven through each bracket and continue downwards until the piers meet competent, load bearing earth.
During the pier installation, a section of the foundation footing is exposed and cut to attach each pier’s bracket to either inside or outside of your foundation. All three types of piers correct foundation issues by transferring the weight of the structure to the strong soils or bedrock below.The home is lifted back to its original, level position. These steel piers will never bend over time like other sub-par pier systems.
