When it comes to the safety of your home, a solid foundation is absolutely critical. Unfortunately, many homeowners face the serious problem of having a sinking foundation. A sinking foundation, which refers to your home’s foundation sinking deeper into the ground, is caused by improper installation and unstable surrounding soil. When the soil surrounding the foundation has a large amount of clay, it is more susceptible to expansion and contraction, which can lead to a sinking foundation. In addition, poorly compacted soil allows the foundation to settle too much and can cause sinking.
If your foundation is sinking, there are a few common signs you may notice inside your home. First, a sinking foundation can cause the windows and doors in your home to shut unevenly or not at all. Second, it can cause the floors in your home to slope. You can tell if your floors are sloping by placing a spherical object on the floor and seeing if it rolls in one direction. A sinking foundation can also cause the walls in your home to curve.
Another common sign of a sinking foundation is basement cracks. While all concrete foundations develop small shrinkage cracks over time, cracks that are over ¼” wide indicate a serious problem with your foundation. If these cracks are left unrepaired, they can lead to water leakage in your basement, another common sign of a sinking foundation. If you have noticed any of these signs of a sinking foundation in your home, it is important that you contact a professional as soon as possible to prevent more costly repairs in the future.
To repair your sinking foundation, we will use underpinning, a process that reinforces the structural strength of your foundation. This technique involves installing either helical piers or resistance piers underneath your home. Helical piers are steel piers that have a central shaft (typically square in shape) with helices, or helical flights. Structured similarly to a very large screw, it is inserted into the soil underneath your home. The helices function as bearing plates that support your home, adding strength to your original foundation. Helical piers are especially suited to deep soil where bedrock is difficult to reach.
Another option for repairing your sinking foundation is using resistance piers, which are also made of steel. Sometimes referred to as push piers, resistance piers are installed into the soil using hydraulic pressure. They are forced deep into the soil until they have reached either bedrock or soil that is capable of supporting your home. Then, the piers are fastened to the footing of your home using brackets. Resistance piers add structural strength to your original foundation and prevent it from sinking further into the ground.
It is incredibly important to seek out repair options for your sinking foundation as soon as the issue is suspected or noticed. The reason why this is so important is due to the fact that damage caused by a sinking foundation is generally progressive, meaning that the impact starts out small but grows almost at an exponential rate as your foundation begins to sink over time.
As the cost of repairs increases over time, it is best to be proactive in seeking out repairs for your sinking foundation to help minimize cost before a foundation overhaul or more extensive repairs become needed. Do not procrastinate in seeking out repairs for your sinking foundation, as it will save you time and money in the long run.
If you have noticed the signs of a sinking foundation in your home, do not wait to seek repairs.
Tim is the President of Intech Anchoring and has 25 years of experience in the Civil Engineering and Geostructural Industry. Tim has developed extensive industry knowledge by working to support the needs of specialty contractors at each and every business level. Tim’s diverse industry background has given him exposure to a wide variety civil construction projects, ranging from the simplest residential applications to the most complex commercial and industrial projects. Coupled with a highly skilled and educated team, Tim focuses on providing the highest quality products and solutions to Intech Anchoring’s customers in order to consistently exceed expectations.