Foundation Issues
Foundation Issues
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Cracks in Foundation
Knowing what types of cracking you may discover in your home can help you to determine the severity of the damage to your foundation.
Ultimately, however, any cracks you discover in your home’s foundation should be taken seriously and professionally inspected and repaired so that you can ensure the structural integrity of your home. Contact us to learn more about what you need to know if you encounter cracks in your home’s foundation.
Vertical Cracks
Cracks are usually the result of your foundation settling, and it is thusly not uncommon even for new houses to have this type of foundation damage as a home’s foundation can settle greatly in the first few years. Fortunately, this type of crack is usually the easiest and least expensive to have sealed.
Diagonal Cracks
Another common type of crack that you may encounter is a diagonal crack that runs along your foundation. Diagonal foundation cracks are caused by differential settling of a foundation, which is where one side of a home’s foundation settles lower than the rest of the foundation. This type of uneven tension then causes diagonal cracking. Differential settling can be the result of the house being built on a hill, or due to the expansion or contraction of the soil under a portion of the home.
Horizontal Cracks
Foundation cracks that run sideways (horizontally) are the most serious type of crack to look out for, as they can signal serious damage to your home’s foundation and structural integrity. While these cracks are sometimes seen in homes with poured concrete foundations, they are most common in homes with concrete block or brick foundations.
Foundation Issues
Several things can cause this type of foundation damage including soil pressure outside of your foundation, and hydrostatic pressure that can cause your basement walls to bow. If you discover this type of foundation damage it is important that you have it repaired as soon as possible before the structural integrity of your home becomes compromised. This type of cracking will require the most extensive repairs, which will likely include reinforcing your foundation in order to secure it and prevent further damage.
Tilting or Leaning Chimney Repair
A leaning chimney is a common sign that your home is suffering from foundation or structural issues and should be evaluated by a trained foundation repair contractor.
There are many reasons why a chimney may lean away from a house. While these causes vary, chimney separation should be taken seriously and an evaluation should be performed so the problem can be properly determined.
Causes of a leaning chimney include:
- Shallow or inferior footings / Inferior soil preparation underneath the chimney
- Insufficient drainage or water management
Masonry fireplaces and chimneys are so heavy that house foundations require extra reinforcing under chimneys so that the foundations will not break or sag.
Fireplaces that are located on the interior of a home, that is they do not touch an exterior wall, tend to settle by going straight down.
When a chimney that is a structural support tilts, supports can slip off of the supporting chimney, creating damage. Drops in roof and in ceilings are examples of the type of damage that can occur.
While these causes vary, chimney separation should be taken seriously and an evaluation should be performed so the problem can be properly determined. Are exports will identify the source of the problem and will use proven systems like our galvanized helical steel piers to restore your homes structural stability.
We serve Columbia, Lexington, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, and throughout South Carolina.
Bouncy, Uneven or Sinking Floors
Uneven floors are rarely caused by problems with the floor system itself. Instead, it’s often a settling or shifting foundation issue that has impacted the floor system.
Floor beams and joists are made from wood that will usually bend or flex rather than crack or break. The same can’t be said for masonry foundations.
When soil issues cause a foundation to break, the floors above it usually bend.
Floors above crawl spaces
The floor joists above a typical crawl space are supported by the perimeter walls of the crawl space foundation, and by a post or column-and-beam framework that extends down the center of the crawl space.
Although the perimeter walls of a crawl space can settle or shift to cause floor problems above, it’s more common for the center support system to settle or sag.
A center post-and-beam support system can weaken and settle because moisture in a dirt-floored crawl space has caused wood supports to rot and collapse. As crawl space structures begin to sag, the floor above will sag in turn.
How we fix uneven concrete floors that are cracking
Slab floors that are sinking independently of the walls can be repaired with a helical pier system. These piers are placed in cored holes in the floor, extending down to competent soils to hold your floor in place. They can even be used to lift a slab back to its original, level position.
Floors made of concrete that are settling and sinking
Since masonry is more likely to break than bend, concrete floors that are uneven are generally cracked and/or broken as well. If your foundation is settling, it may be lifting the concrete floor as the rest of the foundation experiences movement.
Fix your uneven floors permanently
To get your foundation fixed permanently, you will need to know exactly what is going on with your home and which solutions will best address the problem.
Our team of professional foundation contractors can help. We will personally inspect your property to identify all issues and explain what’s happening with your home and make suggestions for repair.
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Bouncy, Uneven or Sinking Floors
Uneven floors are rarely caused by problems with the floor system itself. Instead, it’s often a settling or shifting foundation issue that has impacted the floor system.
Floor beams and joists are made from wood that will usually bend or flex rather than crack or break. The same can’t be said for masonry foundations.
When soil issues cause a foundation to break, the floors above it usually bend.
Floors above crawl spaces
The floor joists above a typical crawl space are supported by the perimeter walls of the crawl space foundation, and by a post or column-and-beam framework that extends down the center of the crawl space.
Although the perimeter walls of a crawl space can settle or shift to cause floor problems above, it’s more common for the center support system to settle or sag.
A center post-and-beam support system can weaken and settle because moisture in a dirt-floored crawl space has caused wood supports to rot and collapse. As crawl space structures begin to sag, the floor above will sag in turn.
How we fix uneven concrete floors that are cracking
Slab floors that are sinking independently of the walls can be repaired with a helical pier system. These piers are placed in cored holes in the floor, extending down to competent soils to hold your floor in place. They can even be used to lift a slab back to its original, level position.
Floors made of concrete that are settling and sinking
Since masonry is more likely to break than bend, concrete floors that are uneven are generally cracked and/or broken as well. If your foundation is settling, it may be lifting the concrete floor as the rest of the foundation experiences movement.
Fix your uneven floors permanently
To get your foundation fixed permanently, you will need to know exactly what is going on with your home and which solutions will best address the problem.
Our team of professional foundation contractors can help. We will personally inspect your property to identify all issues and explain what’s happening with your home and make suggestions for repair.