Water – the Root of Foundation Damage; Technology Offers New Innovations in Home Foundation Repair

When it comes to a home foundation problem requiring some type of home foundation repair, the culprit is almost always defined in one word. Water!

Of course, when a home foundation buckles or heaves due to soil expansion or contraction underneath, the resulting cracks and heaves become water intrusion points.

The first type of soil reaction to water is with soils too high in clay, which tends to expand with water content. Clay soil expansion most often accounts for the common home foundation problem of heaving.

Improper or inadequate compaction of non-clay soils during preparatory work for foundation building causes settling. Another common foundation problem requiring house foundation repair.

Today’s New Foundation Repair Technology

Concrete foundation repair techniques of the past involved introducing wood, concrete, steel, or other materials under the building foundation or slab, attempting to jack it up to correct the problem. Unfortunately these type attempts often proved ineffective.

Modern technology offers new methods of innovative foundation repair. Slabjacking, also called mudjacking, is the process of pumping or injecting concrete under the affected foundation or slab to lift it back into place.

In addition to rendering effective foundation and slab repair, this process also fills any voids beneath the slab; enhancing future water resistance.

A variation of mudjacking includes lime and soil included in the cement mixture. This will administer lime treatment stabilization to the base soil. Restoring the slab to its original grade; offering stabilization to offset future shifting and damage.

Piling or “piering” is the process of adding adjustable supports beneath the foundation. Large push pier pilings are hydraulically driven into the ground beneath the foundation. Helical auger-type pilings are mechanically twisted into the ground; inserted through unstable soil to reach a stable layer of rock or soil below.

Hydraulic jacks are then fitted onto the ends, and the foundation is jacked into place. During this type process of home foundation repair, pilings are tested to insure they will support the required load.

While foundation repair cost can run into large sums of money, it is a much better alternative to an unsafe, shifting building. Not to mention the additional time and expense required to jack the building up to install a totally new foundation.

Finding a Foundation Contractor

When seeking the services of a reliable concrete contractor or foundation contractor, an excellent source is HandyCanadian.com

Whether needing foundation repair services, or a foundation installer, homeowners simply sign up for free with no obligation. They can post their home foundation project online and watch the competitive bids from local service providers in their community come rolling in.

Ontario foundation experts, Winnipeg foundation installers, and other reliable foundation contractors throughout Canada are waiting to provide bids for your home foundation repair project.

To sign up now, CLICK HERE.

<<--Back to Home Improvement Tips and Articles Main Index