Thursday, July 29, 2010

Why Mud Jacking is a Bad Idea

Mud jacking is usually positioned as the least expensive method of foundation repair. While this may be true in the short run, it doesn't always hold up over time. Below are four reasons why you having your foundation mud jacked is a bad idea:

  1. Mud jacking may cause serious foundation problems in regions with lots of clay soil (like what we have in North Texas). If there's a plumbing leak or a lot of rain, the clay soil's moisture content will increase and the ground will swell. This swelling causes upheaval on and through the void fill material and, in turn, causes the foundation slab to heave.
  2. It's possible to "overlift" the foundation. This happens when the mudjack technician doesn't monitor the amount of slurry used or miscalculates how much is necessary. Once a foundation has been overlifted, there's no economical way to remove the excess slurry or otherwise correct the problem.
  3. The slurry used in mudjacking may find its way into the septic line. At that point, you've traded your foundation problem for a plumbing problem.
  4. Slurry can find it's way through the slab via the space around plumbing pipes. Believe it or not, the mud jacking slurry can enter a wall and rise until it blows out the sheet rock. Slurry can also push push upbath tubs and shower pans.

Well, three you have it: Four reasons why we don't recommend mud jacking.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Sewer Lines and Your Foundation

An acquaintance of ours is currently in the process of selling their home and, as is par for the course in such matters, an inspection was performed. One of the items that came out of the inspection was a suspected leak in the sewer lines leaving the guest bathroom. Of course, they called a licensed professional plumber who performed the requisite tests and did, indeed, discover there was at least one leak in the sewer system. Ultimately, the plumber had to drill through the foundation, find the exact placement of the leak, and fix it. In the end, the plumber found three (!) leaks, all of which were fixed without much drama.

In this particular case, the leaking sewer line had started to cause a slight upheaval in the soil. Had the leaks gone unaddressed for much longer, though, damage was almost certain to happen. Luckily for both the buyer and the seller, the sewer problem was discovered and fixed.

What makes sewer line problems so frustrating is that they're very hard to detect directly. Were the problem with a fresh water line, you'd see an increase in your water bill and you'd be curious. A sewer line leak isn't going to show up on your water bill or any other utility -- it just sits there under your foundation causing trouble.

So, what can you do? You can keep an eye for the typical signs of foundation problems and, if you think something is up (or down!), call a reputable foundation repair company (like Ace Foundation Repair>) and have them look at the situation. Odds are, they will be able to figure out why your foundation has problems. If it's related to the plumbing, then they'll recommend you contact a licensed plumber, who will fix the plumbing problem. Once that's done, the foundation can be fixed and then your home will be in good shape.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

A Big Commercial Foundation Repair Job

We recently completed a large foundation repair job for a North Texas school district. We were able to capture some pictures of the work in progress! If you have any questions, feel free to ask us.



Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

First Hurricane of the Year

If you remember, we discussed Texas summers and the potential for heavy and sustained rains and, lo and behold, we've gotten our first hurricane of the 2010 hurricane season. Hurricane Alex came ashore last week and we here in North Texas have gotten plenty of rain.

How did your property hold up? Did you take the opportunity to get out and look for puddles around your foundation? Did you get a chance to see how water flowed through and around your property?

We're still expecting rain the next few days, so don't let the next few days slip by without doing a basic look-see of your foundation. Got any questions about what else you should be looking for? Then ask us about your foundation. We love questions and we love answering them. Ask us anything and we'll send you an answer and share the information with others.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

What to do AFTER You've Had Your Foundation Leveled

If you've had your foundation leveled, you may think you're out of the woods. Well, you are for now, but that doesn't mean you can forget about your foundation altogether. You wouldn't get the brakes fixed on your car and then forget basic periodic auto maintenance, would you?

So, what do you do after foundation repair? Easy! You do the same things you normally do: keep the moisture constant, look for signs of new problems, and consult a structural engineer when you are considering additions to your home. Specifically, you should take these steps:
  • Make sure the soil around and under your house foundation keeps a constant moisture content. You know the drill, we've covered it numerous times.
  • Take time to look over your house and see if there are any new signs of foundation failure. We're not trying to scare you or say that the foundation repair work you've just had done subpar; we saying that if you've had one part of the foundation fixed or level, that doesn't mean the rest of the foundation (or the house) is immune to problems. Look for cracked walls, cracked or popped floor tiles, wrinkled wallpaper, creaking hardwood and laminate floors, and other issues.
  • Review your landscaping and make sure you have no trees or large shrubs adjacent to the foundation. If necessary install root barriers.
Remember, you've just spent quite a bit of money and time getting your foundation fixed. Protect that investment and the rest of your home by performing basic foundation maintenance. Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Rainy Season Isn't Over, Yet. (Part 2)

In the last post, we discussed some of the heavier rains we can get even in summer and what you can do about them. Specifically, we discussed drainage and what you can do to keep your foundation in good shape. Today, we continue those thoughts.

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, water can still get under a slab. What do you do then? Here's a few thoughts:
Install Moisture Barriers
Moisture barriers are vertical layers of plastic that are buried in the ground. As water flows up against a moisture barrier, it is stopped and prevented from getting under a home.
Install French Drains
French Drains are trenches filled with gravel that have a drain line buried in the gravel. French drains are designed to intercept and remove underground water.
Install Under Slab Drains
Rarely, it is necessary to tunnel under a foundation and install drains in thetunnels to collect and remove water. Drainage tunnels are dug by hand and typically measure 3 feet wide and 3 feet deep.
If you have more questions about what you can do, then ask us. Plus, get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.