A foundation is a critical part of any building structure. This is because a house sits on the foundation that rests on the footing thus dispersing the weight of the structure upon the soil. When a house foundation gets damaged, the foundation begins to settle necessitating major repairs which are costly.
Pier and beam foundation is considered to be one of the best choices when it comes to home foundation.
However, no structure is completely perfect, and problems can and do occur.
Decay or damage to wooden beams or wooden joists due to excessive moisture or termites. The most practical solution for this particular problem is to replace the damaged wood and re-shim.
Water-induced movement of interior piers since interior beams are supported through wooden posts that are sunk into the ground or atop a concrete pad. This problem is preventable by simply making sure that the water does not get into the foundation. When the moisture is stable, one can re-shim.
Water-induced movement of exterior piers is also a common problem with pier and beam foundation repair. This can be solved through proper water drainage away from the exterior and by adding helical piers if required
Shim failure is also quite common in houses that have been shimmed with non-standard materials including plywood, sheet-rock, softwood or even cardboard. The ideal solution for this problem is to replace the inferior material with steel.
Inferior construction could prove to be a big problem in the long-run as the structure would not have adequate load supporting ability and could even become damaged if another story is added. This can be solved by adding steel reinforcing beams and shim.
Sagging floors is another problem that commonly occurs either because of water-induced damage. This can be solved by installing shims, piers and foundation supports.
Collapsing concrete piers which can make the foundation uneven and also cause cracks. It is important to stabilize the concrete piers if this situation occurs.
Cracks in exterior piers which tend to occur when door frames get out of the kilter. This, in turn, occurs because the piers have given way and the beams are moving. This problem can be resolved by installing shims and putting in new beams. In addition, exterior piers can be replaced.
Poor drainage system which could result in excess moisture and a damp crawlspace. This in turn negatively affects the structure of the pier and beams thus resulting in foundation damage.
Mold and mildew which can often ruin beams and joints.
Any of the problems highlighted above should never be ignored as this could result in further damage and more complications to the base structure. Not only that, any delay in dealing with these problems can make your home unstable and unsafe as foundation problems tend to get worse with time if action is not taken quickly.
Even if you are unsure of what the signs indicate, it is imperative that you get your home inspected so that any damage can be repaired immediately and the foundation of your home can be stabilized.
Since water damage is a major factor that could potentially cause pier and beam foundation problems, it is important to ensure protection from water damage.
This can be achieved by doing the following:
Other solutions to pier and beam foundation problems replacing the affected wooden members. This is a complicated task and will require the services of a professional foundation repair company as they have the necessary skill and expertise to do it right.
Whatever you do, it is recommended that you do not neglect these signs and you contact the right professionals so that they can identify the core issues and go about finding the solutions as well as the foundation repair costs.
The biggest advantage of pier and beam foundation is that any issues can be resolved fairly easily granted they are identified at an early stage. But you do need to ensure that you get the right experts to evaluate the problem and you ensure that the people doing the repairs have the experience and the knowledge to do the job right.
Time is of the essence when it comes to foundation repair. As long as you don’t neglect or miss the signs and as long as you get the right people to repair the damage that has occurred, you should be able to resolve these issues without any major complications.
Wood trim separating at the top of your brick could be a sign of a foundation problem.
Here is a photo of trim separation. This problem was not caused by poor carpentry.
Corner trim separation is a tell-tale sign of a foundation problem.
As the concrete slab drops on an outside corner, the brick veneer walls in that area remain somewhat perpendicular to the slab, while the trim remains affixed to the roof system. The result is that the brick veneer pushes outward on the trim.
One trick for hiding the foundation problem is to caulk and paint the trim. A thick caulk joint at what should have been a perfectly aligned carpentry corner is a dead give-away of a foundation problem.
A patio/ porch is a great outdoor space that we all love to have as part of our house. However, the realization that your porch is detaching from the rest of your house can be disconcerting, signaling potential structural concerns that demand immediate attention. Seeking the services of a Foundation Repair Evaluator becomes paramount as they possess the knowledge and experience to delve into the intricacies of the situation.
Texas Warranty Trust funds are not valid but some companies may make it appear that way.
Individual companies can establish private trust funds, but they are not a legal entity of The State of Texas. Such private trust funds must comply with normal banking rules and may be established for any legal purpose.
Trust funds must be administered in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas. It is not illegal or illegitimate to use the name “Texas” as part of a trust fund name.
To get more information, contact the Foundation Repair Association.