Thursday, September 23, 2010

4 Reasons to Fix Foundation Problems Now

  • Foundation problems never improve — they just get worse and worse. Once a crack appears in the foundation, it's nearly guaranteed that the crack will grow in size. Indeed, where there's one crack, there's probably others. The longer you wait to fix the problem, the bigger (literally) it's going to get.
  • Foundation cracks may allow pests and water to enter the structure. Bugs are bad enough, once moisture gets in the home, you have to consider the possibility of mold. Not only can mold cause wood rot, it can cause respiratory problems for you and your family.
  • A failing foundation causes all types of other problems in your home, too. Stuck windows and doors, wrinkled wallpaper, cracks in the sheet rock and ceiling, popped floor tiles, warped hardwood floors and gaps between the planks, cracks in your fireplace and exterior brick walls, and a host of other problems. The longer you put off dealing with a foundation problem, the more of these problems you'll face.
  • When it comes time to sell your home, any foundation failure will affect the sale price of your home significantly, not to mention the cost of fixing the other problems the foundation failure caused. Keep this in mind, too: Most banks don't grant a mortgage without some promise that a foundation failure will be fixed.

So, there you have it: 4 very good reasons to deal with your foundation problems now. Be sure to call Ace Foundation (972-272-1900) or visit our website and request a free estimate.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

What is Cut and Fill and How It Affects Your Foundation

Cut and fill refers to a process by which a sloping area is leveled prior to constructing a building. Specifically, part of the slope is removed (cut away) and the other area is filled with soil, gravel, etc.

If the fill material isn't compacted properly prior to the structure being built, the fill material will compact on its own over subsequent years. What's unfortunate about this is that a slab foundation will move as the fill material compacts. If the fill material is compacted before the slab foundation is poured, then there's little chance the fill will compact even further on its own.

As for the slope that was cut, there may be problems there, too. Chief among these is that clay soil that may have been under other soil is exposed once the area is cut. This allows water access to the clay and, as we've discussed before, water and clay are not good mixtures. Typically, additional water will cause clay soil to expand and the foundation will heave. During droughts, the clay will lose water and shrink, causing the foundation to settle. This expansion and contraction of the clay soil under the slab foundation spells trouble as the slab bucks up and down on the moving soil.

What can you do to prevent these problems? First, you can ask your builder about compacting the soil. In most cased, it's recommended that soil be compacted in layers no greater than four inches. If a layer of soil to be compacted is greater than four inches, it may be too thick to compact adequately before the structure is built. That leaves the rest of the compaction to occur after your home is sitting on the soil — and you don't want that.

Second, you can be proactive and maintain a constant moisture level in the soil supporting your foundation. This means using soaker hoses during the summer when the soil is dry, proper drainage to keep excess water away from the foundation during the Spring and Winter when rain is more common, and installing root barriers to prevent water-seeking tree roots from invading the soil under the house.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Chimneys and Piers

Just like few people consider foundation piers for swimming pools, few people consider piers and their fireplace chimneys. Why on earth are piers and chimneys even a topic?

Believe it or not, a chimney is a pretty heavy structure. Add to that the fact that a chimney needs to be straight, connected to the house (the fireplace, specifically), and structurally sound to do its job correctly and safely, and you can begin to understand why ensuring that a chimney is properly supported is so very important.

The Foundation Performance Organization recommends that for a mid-sized concrete slab house, four piers are necessary (that is, one pier at each corner of the chimney). If the chimney doesn't have external brick or stonework and is only one story tall, it may be possible to get away with only three piers.

What does this mean to you? Well, for starters, when you are considering a new home being built, you should ask the architect and/or builder about the chimney and its support. If you are buying an existing home, you should make sure the building inspection addresses this. And, if you're getting a foundation repaired, you should make sure that there is adequate support provided for the chimney if the foundaiton repair concerns the area containing the chimney. Always go with your gut -- if a foundation repair contractor tries to tell you that you need less than four piers (or three, if it's a lightweight chimney), then you should seek another contractor.

Do you have a question about foundation repair? Then ask us. We'll give you the answer and share the knowledge with others.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Does Foundation Repair Require a Permit from the City?

Yes, yes, yes!

We'll get this out of the way first off: Look over any bid you get from a foundation repair contract and make sure there's a line item for building permit!

If there's no mention of a building permit in the bid, then ask the contractor about it. If they tell you it's not necessary, you can be 99% sure the contractor is trying to shave the price of the bid. In nearly every municipality in north Texas and south Oklahoma, a building permit is needed when foundation repairs are performed. (Notable exceptions include Rowlett and Rockwall, both in Texas.)

So, what happens if the contractor doesn't get a permit, the work is performed, and the city finds out? First, the city can fine both the contractor and the property owner (homeowner). And, if that wasn't enough of a problem, the city can stop all non-permitted foundation repair work until the proper permit is obtained.

So, again: if the foundation repair contractor hasn't mentioned a building permit, you should ask. Failure to do so could cost you money and delay fixing your foundation!

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.