This guide outlines why foundation repair is important, why it’s a crucial part of looking after your home, cost to repair foundation problems, and a checklist for what to do.
Looking after your home is something you must do if you want to maintain the condition and value of your property. However, this is not always as easy as it sounds, and there are certain issues that can cause a lot of problems if they are not addressed. One such problem is foundation damage, which is far more common than many people realize, and they should be across foundation cracks to be concerned about.
Once foundation damage occurs, it is important to ensure you find a foundation recovery system provider to deal with the problem. By finding a specialist in foundation recovery systems, you can quickly get the work carried out to repair the foundation and protect your home.
Why foundation repair is important
There are many reasons why it is so important to get foundation repair work carried out rather than leaving it to fester. Foundation issues can impact everything from the visual appeal of your home to your costs and safety levels at your property. In this section, we will look at why foundation repairs are vital for your home.
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There are many reasons why it is so important to get your foundation issues addressed by a professional. This type of damage can have a huge negative impact on your home and even your life quality in many ways. Some of these are:
Increasing risk of injuries
One of the major issues of foundation problems at your home is that it can increase the risk of injuries in a number of ways. Naturally, you want to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, but when you have foundation issues, this goal can become far more difficult to achieve. Sinking concrete stemming from foundation issues can cause people to trip and fall, after which they could sustain serious injury by hitting the concrete floor. Weakened walls with deep cracks could be at increased risk of collapse and causing injury. Even sticking windows and doors stemming from foundation problems could cause injuries such as trapped fingers.
Affecting your property value
Foundation issues can also affect the value of your property, so this is something else you need to keep in mind. When your foundation is damaged, it can cause all sorts of serious issues at your property that can lower its value. In addition, if you decide to sell the property in the future, you could struggle to secure a sale because of foundation issues. How to fix holes in drywall: steps to repair large or small holes
Ruining appearance of the home
The appearance of your home will also suffer due to foundation issues, and the longer the problems are left unaddressed, the more of a negative impact they will have on your home. Deep cracks in floors and walls, bowing and bulging walls, and sinking areas of concrete can all make their mark when it comes to the visual appeal of your property. This can all make your property look in very bad condition.
These are some of the many reasons why you need to ensure you get your foundation issues sorted out as soon as possible.
What problems will require foundation repair?
Various forces act on a foundation:
- Wind loads
- Weather conditions
- Wetness
- Aging
Therefore, a wide variety of damage to a foundation can occur. Cracks in foundations are quite common. But dissolving concrete is also not uncommon. There are also foundations that it has lifted or that have sunk. All of these types of damage sometimes require different approaches to foundation repair.
Cracks in the foundation
In the case of cracks in the foundation, the behavior is basically similar to that in the case of cracks in reinforced concrete or other concrete components. The first thing to do is to determine what caused the cracks. Above all, settlement cracks and stress cracks come into question. In any case, suitable measures must be taken to prevent the damage from progressing. How much insulation do I need and what should I use?
Many of these cracks are repaired with special resin. This resin acts like a high-performance adhesive and at the same time ensures a certain elasticity. However, as reinforcement is usually also cast in the foundation , it must be ensured that it has not become wet and corroded in the meantime.
Raised or sunken foundation
A raised foundation suggests frost damage. So, in this case, repairing the foundation is not enough. Rather, frost protection must be created for the foundation . That means that the old foundation has to be dug up. In most cases the foundation is renewed. This usually happens with point foundations that are used for a fence, for example. How crawl space encapsulation improves your home
The sunken foundation is a bit more problematic as it is mostly seen on large objects such as a foundation for a building. This is a partial setting. In this case, the foundation must be raised . Various methods can be used for this.
Either segment piles are driven into the ground under the foundation (ERKA pile) or a two-component resin is injected under the foundation, which expands and lifts the foundation to the millimeter (URETEK injection). The piles are sometimes driven many meters into the ground until either solid ground is hit or the ground under the pile has become massively compacted. Both techniques require execution by certified specialist companies.
Crumbling concrete foundation (often connected with ‘concrete cancer’)
If the concrete foundation is dissolving, weathering can usually be assumed. Simply removing, repairing and re-concreting the damaged areas is not possible. Especially not for larger construction projects with corresponding loads. An individual solution for foundation repair methods must be found in each individual case.
How much does foundation repair cost?
If cracks appear in the masonry, it is likely that there is damage to the foundation. This can be stabilized afterwards. However, the costs for foundation repair in this way are considerable.
Foundation repair cost at a glance
Material $2,000 – $4,000
Assessment $3,000 – $5,000
Stabilize $5,000 – $10,000
Total $10,000 – $19,000
Example calculation: In order to professionally renovate 30 feet of foundation, these costs must be expected.
The costs in detail
Exact information is hardly possible without a detailed examination. The prices mentioned are therefore only a very rough guide. All figures refer to a foundation that has to be renovated over a length of ten meters.
Root cause research is inevitable
An expert usually takes samples from the ground and the foundation. He assesses the damage and gives a recommendation for the renovation. This work should cost $3,000 to $5,000.
The material costs are comparatively low
Depending on the cause, concrete piles have to support or reinforce the foundation or a synthetic resin is pressed into the ground, which swells and provides support. The material costs around $2,000 to $4,000 .
These costs are to be expected for the labor input
The procedures are complex and require both a great deal of experience and technical equipment. For this reason, a sum of between $5,000 and $10,000 can be expected for the professional stabilization of a foundation.
Important factors
The foundation bears the load of the house and distributes the forces evenly over the subsoil. Failure to renovate can lead to serious damage to the building, which may necessitate demolition.
No renovation without an appraisal
Before the renovation, an independent expert or a competent specialist from a renovation company must assess the situation. Water, a sagging subsoil or an insufficiently dimensioned foundation are possible reasons. The procedure is different depending on the cause.
No DIY work
Refurbishing a damaged foundation requires roughly the same precision as lifting a house of cards from the ground onto a table without destroying it. Every thoughtless approach can have fatal consequences.
It is therefore not advisable to simply expose the foundation in order to refurbish it. Only a specialist can decide where which measure is correct after a thorough preliminary investigation.
Checklist for renovating a foundation
Notes on damage to the foundation:
- Cracks in the masonry that are constantly changing.
- The floor is no longer level. Balls roll without being bumped when placed on the floor.
- The house shows an imbalance.
- Pipes break for no apparent reason.
Rehabilitation process:
- Search for a specialist company (Chamber of Crafts, Chamber of Architects, Internet).
- Describe the damage exactly, preferably with a photo.
- Make an appointment for an expert opinion.
- Get a proposal for a renovation.
- Tender out the required work.
- Carry out preliminary work as agreed.
- Make an appointment for the renovation.
Final measures:
- Check whether the damage has been repaired.
- You may need to ask an expert again for help.
- Observe for new cracks or subsidence.
