A foundation is located between the ground and a building, and it is the lowest section of the structure. Anchoring a house to a strong foundation protects the building from breaking apart, cracking, or being washed away. In addition, the reinforcement concrete insulates the building from the colder ground. Therefore, you must always ensure that your house’s foundation is in its optimum state.

However, the foundation may crack or get destroyed by several things. For instance, ineffective foundation drainage, plumbing leaks, and poor soil compaction can severely damage a foundation.

Here is what you need to know about foundation problems and how to repair them.

Types of Foundation Problems

There are several types of foundation problems, like:

Floor Cracks

The home’s weight, uneven soil, and improper construction can lead to floor cracks. Alternatively, the cracks may be due to a plumbing leak that is causing the foundation to swell. These cracks may be insignificant or a sign of serious structural issues.

Foundation Sinking or Settling

While buildings typically settle to a degree, a sinking foundation could be a recipe for disaster. You may notice that your doors have become tight, uneven, and hard to open. In addition, the floor may rise or fall as the foundation sinks and shifts.

Foundation Upheaval

Foundation upheavals lift entire buildings, but they can also force sections of the slab upwards. You may notice cracks and gaps between the exterior rock walls or bricks if this happens. Leaking underground plumbing, tree roots, and drying soil are the main causes of foundation upheaval.

Uneven or Sagging Floors

If the floors are dipping, bowing, or sagging, your foundation could be in trouble. Expansive clay soil, excess moisture, soil movement, and poor structural design are some of the causes of sagging floors. The uneven floors are dangerous, particularly for children and older adults.

Moisture

Moisture can encourage moss and mildew to grow on your house’s foundation. Moreover, too little moisture causes the soil around the foundation to contract, while excess moisture forces the soil to expand. This may lead to cracks or dampness on the foundation wall.

Repairing Your Foundation

If your house’s foundation has problems, it can be repaired. But what type of foundation repair is best? The best ways of fixing your foundation are:

  • Sealants and Masonry Patches. You can cover cracks in the foundation with masonry patches and sealants. The preferred method is to fill hairline cracks with a vinyl concrete compound and wider cracks with latex, silicone, or polyurethane concrete caulk. After sealing, you will also need to apply a protective lining and a waterproofing membrane that completely covers the foundation.
  • Slabjacking. Slabjacking is the process of raising a section of the slab to re-level it. It can be done by putting water under the foundation and forcing the section to float and rise. You will then add a mixture of stable materials, such as ash, gravel, and sand.
  • Underpinning. This is the extending of the foundation breadthwise or lengthwise. Its primary purpose is to ensure that the foundation is resting on deeper soil strata with greater bearing capacity. Underpinning becomes necessary when there have been changes to the soil supporting the foundation, or the original design didn’t consider the soil properties.
  • Grouting. This is the injection of a liquid into the soil or rock mass below the foundation. It is meant to fill breaks, seams, slips, and cavities in the rock mass and soil. As a result, grouting can strengthen and stabilize granular soils while protecting the foundation from groundwater flow.

Along with choosing a foundation repair method, you also need to come up with a budget. The cost of fixing a foundation is going to vary based on the type of repair, with issues ranging from superficial cracks to replacing or installing hydraulic piers. 

Other common issues:

  • A simple foundation reinforcement. The cost increases if the foundation is severely damaged and a complete gutter replacement is needed.
  • Hydraulic pier. The average home needs about ten piers to support a sinking foundation.
  • Repair a foundation that is sagging in the middle of the house.

Your home insurance cover may cater to some or all the costs of repairing your home’s foundation. This usually depends on the root cause of the foundation’s problems. 

Call the Experts for Foundation Repair

You may be tempted to do the foundation repair yourself, but hiring a pro would be the better option. Foundation repair contractors have the experience and skills to offer quality services. In addition, they use equipment and tools that may be beyond the homeowner’s budget.

Key Takeaway

While there are multiple foundation problems — floor cracks, foundation sinking, foundation upheaval, and uneven floors — there are effective methods to address them, such as underpinning and slab jacking.

Moisture Loc offers affordable foundation repair services, such as concrete slab repair, basement wall repair, and helical piers. You can also check out our resources page for more tips.