Is Foundation Repair Necessary

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

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• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Determining When Foundation Repair Is
NecessaryThis article is written by an
independent resource not affiliated with Ram
Jack. Foundation repair is an intimidating
prospect as your foundation is the most important
part of your homes
construction. Walls and roofs can be repaired or
replaced with little trouble. Your foundation,
however, is the base for every element in your
home, from walls to carpet, to ceiling fixtures.
If the foundation fails, and no foundation repair
is made, the rest of the home will ultimately
crumble.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Types of FoundationsThe type of foundation that
your home has will vary depending largely upon
geographic location. Basement style foundations,
while common in northern
regions, are unsuitable for many southern areas
of the country due to flooding caused by shallow
sources of ground water.

• Foundation Repair

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
While slab foundations are popular in the South,
some areas require use of piles due to steeply
sloping, uneven, or unstable soil conditions.
If a foundation is not chosen to meet the
environmental demands of that area, it is
destined to fail, needing often-costly foundation
repair.

• Crack in Foundation

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Basement style foundations are very common
throughout the country. Basements are obsolete
in states such as Florida.
The reasoning is that the water table is so high
that flooding would be inevitable. Basements
provide great storage, but also increase building
costs substantially.

• Foundation Piers

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
98 of basement homes in North America feature
some kind of concrete construction.
Clearly wood is an unsuitable choice underground
due to its lack of resistance to moisture,
rodents, and termites. Additional attributes of
concrete are that it does not rust, warp, or
provide an environment favorable for mold to grow.

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Pile foundations, also known as pier and beam are
also a popular foundation choice. The piles are
constructed of wood, steel, or concrete.
They are driven into the ground or placed in
excavated holes. The piles reach down into the
earth to a stable layer of soil or rock. The
piles extend above ground level in a linear
manner to provide support for the walls and floor
of the structure.

• Foundation Repair

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Concrete slabs are quite common for homes in the
South. Slab on grade foundations are easy and
affordable to construct.
A poured layer of concrete about 4 inches thick
is applied to compacted soil or crushed gravel.
This base helps to improve drainage.

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Steel rebar or reinforcing rods are placed before
the concrete is poured to make the concrete
stronger. The edges and interior weight-bearing
locations are typically poured to a greater
thickness of 8 to 12 inches.
Though popular in the South, this foundation is
not recommended for areas that experience
frequent freezing temperatures.

• Crack in Foundation

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Unlike the slab on grade style, a t-shaped
foundation can be used in geographic areas prone
to ground freezing.
This method is also known as a spread footing or
continuous style. An inverted T shaped footing
is first constructed beneath the frost line.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
This added support spreads the load over the
sub-soil. Walls are built on top of the T.
A poured concrete slab then connects the walls.
Unfortunately, this 3-step system is one of the
most costly available methods.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Frost protected foundations can withstand
freezes, but come with a significantly lower
price tag.
The structure is built using a single step
process, but is only suitable for heated
structures. This means that it can be used for
homes and businesses.

• Foundation Piers

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
It is not appropriate, however, for an unheated
barn, garage, or storage shed.
It utilizes 2 layers of polystyrene insulation to
minimize heat loss. This keeps the heat
generated from the above structure in the ground
to prevent ground freeze even in freezing
temperatures.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Why Foundations Go BadThere are several reasons
why foundations can fail, needing foundation
repair.
Typically, these reasons boil down to an improper
foundation being laid for the homes location and
climate.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

• Reasons for damage include the following
• Water damage.

Even if water cannot directly impact your
concrete foundation, it can impact the
surrounding soil. Soil can be washed away
leaving the concrete exposed and unprotected.
The soil can also shift due to heavy rain,
causing the structure to shift or sink.

• Foundation Repair

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

• Difficult soil type.
• Some soils are better suited for building than
  others.

Ideal soils are hard and compact, providing
support for the foundation. Others are sandy and
easily washed away. Soil type can change over
time, as well, leaving a once solid foundation in
need of help.

• Crack in Foundation

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

• Reasons for damage include the following
• Compaction and expansion.

One of the largest issues facing houses is the
problem of soil settling. Some settling is
normal, particularly in the first few years after
a home is built.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary

• Reasons for damage include the following
• Compaction and expansion. (continued)

Repeated contraction and expansion of the ground
beneath your structure, however, can cause
problems requiring foundation repair. This is a
more common problem facing older homes. If the
soil is packed properly on new homes before the
foundation is laid, excessive settling can be
avoided.

• Foundation Piers

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Older homes often suffer from problems associated
with improperly laid foundations, and they
require foundation repair.
These issues need to be addressed to prevent
serious damage to the home and risk to its
residents.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Warning Signs of a Bad FoundationsFoundations
commonly have shallow cracks that do not
necessarily affect the structure.
Due to normal post-construction settling and
concrete shrinkage all houses will have some
cracking. These harmless shrinkage cracks are
less than 1/8 of an inch thick and run
vertically.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
The crack should be limited to the foundation
without extending into the above structure.
Settling cracks are usually a result of
short-term settling of a new home.
If the crack is small (less than ¼ inch), it is
probably caused by short-term settlement. If the
crack has been repaired and re-cracks or seems to
change over time, it may be caused by ongoing
settlinga more serious condition.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Ongoing settlement cracks are serious, and
foundation repair will require professional
attention. You can also spot ongoing settling by
examining the crack itself. If the edges of the
crack do not line up like puzzle pieces, you have
a shear crack.

• Crack in Foundation

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
A shear crack is a big problem and will require
serious help as the homes structural integrity
is at stake.
For these types of crack, the quarter-inch rule
is of no merit. Any horizontal cracks in the
foundation are also a red flag to homeowners.
Regardless of the size, horizontal cracks
generally mean foundation repair will be
necessary.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
What Can HappenIf a structurally compromised
foundation is left unattended, the problem will
quickly manifest itself in the aboveground
structure. Your home may develop cracking in the
walls, leaking or collapsing of sections of the
roof.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
You may also notice your floors becoming uneven
and unstable.
If you have a basement foundation, you might see
bowing and cracking of those walls. If you spot
a significant or unusual crack in your
foundation, you should investigate foundation
repair as quickly as you can.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
The Right CompanyFoundation repair is not a
simple procedure that can be undertaken by an
average handyman.
This kind of work requires the knowledge of an
experienced crew. Invest in a company that will
explain what the problem really is and help find
affordable solutions to make your home a safe
place to live. Foundation repair is a serious
issue that requires a serious professional
company.

• Foundation Piers

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
You may have just bought a 50 year-old home, and
now have a failing foundation on your hands.
You might also have realized that the budget
homebuilder you hired was cheap for a reason. In
any case, foundation repair issues are of serious
concern.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Addressing these problems quickly will save you
money and keep from any additional damage being
caused to your home itself.
Foundation repair sounds expensive and
intimidating, but you can find reasonable
solutions to save your home.

• FoundationRepair-SC.com

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Is Foundation Repair Necessary
Thank You

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