Foundation problems can have an impact on your home’s resale value and safety. Repairing foundation issues before they worsen will help you avoid costly repairs and higher home prices in the future.
Foundation repair in Carrollton, TX costs vary depending on the type of foundation. They also depend on the severity of damage.
Water Damage
Foundations are a major part of your home, and they help support the weight of your house. So when they’re damaged, it can be devastating.
The most common way foundations get damaged is from water seepage. This is when water seeps in via cracks and fissures in the walls.
Another cause of foundation damage is hydrostatic pressure. When water soaks into the soil surrounding your basement, it adds pressure to the concrete walls.
In general, the weight of a square foot of soil is around 74 pounds (33 kg), and the weight of water is around 62 pounds (28 kg). When combined, these two forces will increase the stress on your foundation, which can lead to a number of serious problems.
Foundation Cracks
While foundation cracks don’t always spell trouble, they can be a warning sign that your home needs repair. If left unattended, foundation cracks can cause water leakage, mold, and other damage.
Horizontal cracks can appear in any foundation type, and are often a sign that your foundation wall is losing its battle against hydrostatic pressure from the outside. This pressure comes from the soil outside your foundation walls and can be caused by heavy rains or flooding.
Stair-step cracks (like the ones in this photo) are more specific to block and brick walls because they follow the mortar joints. They can also be a sign of shifting soil that puts changing amounts of pressure on your foundation and creates movement in ways that your foundation wasn’t designed for.
Vertical cracks can be a simple fix for older homes, while horizontal cracks may require more work, such as reinforcing a wall that is bowing inward. These types of problems can be expensive, but fixing them early can help keep your home safe and healthy.
Sewage Drainage
Sewage drains are the pipes that carry waste from your home to the city sewer line or a septic tank. They also take away water used to flush toilets, showers, and sinks.
When a drain pipe gets broken under the foundation of your home, the result can be a sewage leak that may end up causing damage. When this happens, you need to be able to get the plumber in there and fix it right.
The plumber comes out and uses a “roto-rooter” or some other kind of drain cleaning system to clear the pipes and make them flow properly. That’s fine for a while, but then the same problem happens again.
Oftentimes, these breaks in the drain lines happen due to the movement of the foundation of your home. This causes the drain lines to be shifted, separated, or misaligned, and that can lead to a leaking sewer pipe underneath the foundation.
Foundation Elevation
One of the most common problems that occurs when foundation repair is performed is foundation elevation movement. This is caused by a number of factors such as cyclical soil expansion and contraction and/or plumbing leaks, dead tree roots or the capillary action of water in the ground.
This kind of movement can cause sloping floors, drywall cracking, binding doors and even foundation cracks. A foundation survey can help determine if the problem is caused by a builder’s error, an environmental condition or movement in the soil under the home.
Most professionals in the field evaluate foundation performance using foundation elevation data, which is the most repeatable and reproducible measurement tool available. Ideally, the elevation survey should be taken within 12 months after construction to establish a baseline for future comparisons.
