Scary Pictures of Foundation Cracks

We probably see more foundation cracks than most people. After all, we visit home after home, business after business! You name it, we've seen it.

Here's your chance to see a variety of foundation cracks and other foundation problems. We've gathered together for you three links of pictures.

• Google Images
• Yahoo! Images
• Bing Images
  

Some of these cracks look pretty scary, don't they?

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What to Do After Foundation Repair

If you've just had your foundation repaired, then you're probably interested in protecting it for as long as possible. The key is to remove any of the conditions that caused your foundation to fail in the first place. Follow these tips and your foundation will provide a solid, stable base for your home for years to come.

• Check the drainage around your home and fix any problems you find. Make sure that water drains away from your home. You may need to regrade your lot or add swales. Also, make sure that your drain spouts aren't clogged and that they release water sufficiently far away from your foundation.
• Review your landscaping. Shrubs and bushes should be at least 18 inches to two feet from your foundation. Trees should be even further away. Look for tree roots shoving their way under the foundation and cracking or moving it. Tree roots can also invade and break water and sewer lanes. Install root barrier systems once you have removed damaging roots.
• Minimize the contraction and expansion of soil near and under your foundation by using soaker hoses during the summer. The best way to do this is to regularly and responsibly water your lawn. You'll get double use of your water with this technique!

Following these steps and keeping an eye for tell-tale symptoms (such as cracks around door frames) will ensure your foundation stays in tip top shape.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

5 Reasons Why Putting Off Foundation Repair is a Bad Idea

No one likes to think about foundation repair. It's not the cheapest home repair you can think of and it's certainly not glamorous. No one will walk into your home and say, "My, my, my! You have a beautiful home and -- wait -- you must have just had the foundation repaired! It's gorgeous!"

However, ignoring foundation repair or saving it to the very last can be a costly mistake. Below are five reasons why foundation repair should be at the top of your list -- not the bottom.

1. A bad foundation creates more problems throughout your home. A bad foundation can cause doors to jam in their frames, walls to crack, windows to stick, floor tiles to pop loose, and myriad other problems. Each of these problems cost money to fix and fixing them before you fix the foundation means you'll be fixing these problems again. And again. And again.
2. A bad foundation does not fix itself. A foundation moves up and down and side to side based on the water content of the soil upon which it rests. No matter how long you wait and how hard you wish, your foundation is not going to move back into its original configuration.
3. A bad foundation can be the sign of other problems. Ignoring foundation repairs means you may be missing other problems. For instance, if your foundation has shifted due to a leak in a sewer pipe, you may not even learn of the sewer pipe problem until you've begun to deal with the foundation problem.
4. Spending money on home improvement may be a bust if your foundation has a problem. Just think about installing new floor tiles in your entryway or kitchen, only to have them come loose months later because your foundation is shifting. Your investment in the floor tiles was for nothing!
   
5. The longer you wait, the more expensive the repairs may become. You want to stabilize your foundation as soon as possible. Waiting will not lessen the amount of repairs necessary.
   

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

Foundation Repair Glossary, Part 4

Here's the last post in our four-part series, Foundation Repair Glossary. This post catches us up on terms that didn't make it into the prior three posts. Don't worry — we'll post the entire glossary from start to finish so you have the whole thing at your fingertips!

Bell Bottom Pier

A concrete pier that has a bell-shaped bearing surface.

Crawl Space

The space between the bottom of the structure and the ground. This is common or necessary with pier and beam foundations. A properly engineered crawlspace allows enough room to vent moisture and allow for work on plumbing, electrical, and other utilities under the building.

Deviation

Deviation is the amount by which the structure is not level. That is, the structure has deviated from its specifications and true level. Naturally, a home with a great deal of deviation requires more work (piers) to bring it back to level.

Differential Settlement

The difference in movement vertically between different parts of the foundation; Non-trivial differential settlement can cause foundation failure.

Drilled Piers

A pier formed by drill a hole at an angle to a predetermined depth, forming rebar within the hole, and then filling the hole with concrete (mixed with a curing agent). A drilled pier can be expected to fail if the conditions which caused the foundation to fail in the first place are not corrected.

Epoxy Injection

Epoxy injection is used for concrete in manner similar to how welding is used for steel. That is, epoxy is used to fill cracks in concrete; often times, though, the cracks remain as weak point in the foundation.

Galvanizing

Galvanized metal is made via an electromechanical process by which steel (or iron, or other metal) is coated with a non-rusting metal, such as zinc. The zinc simply isn't painted on the steel but rather is deposited and bonded to the steel via electrode position. The long and short of it all is that the steel is protected by the zinc and not subject to rust.

Helical Pier

A helical pier is a steel shaft to which circular steel plates have been welded at an angle (thing of a large screw). Helical piers offer more resistance and support than traditional steel piers, which do not have steel plates.

Initial Site Inspection

An initial site inspection determines the most likely cause of damage and if it's caused by the foundation. The initial site inspection requires the inspector to gather lots of information including but not limited to structural and architectural drawings, grading plans, and plat of survey.

Root Barrier

Root barriers are physical barriers that redirect tree root growth downward, thus eliminating surface rooting that can damage foundations, sidewalks, driveways, and other hardscapes

Pier and Beam

A foundation construction method where the structure is supported several feet off the ground by pillars and posts or pilings (a.k.a. the piers).

Pier Depth

The depth to which piers are sunk. Piers must reach a depth that provides adequate support. This means to bedrock or to a particular soil density. The deeper the piers must be sunk, the more expensive the foundation repair job will be.

Post-Tensioning Cable Foundations

A foundation construction technique where high-strength steel strands or cables, typically referred to as tendons, create a grid of steel cables that actively support the slab.

Pressed Pier

A pressed pier is made up of individual pilings that are pre-pressed and pre-formed. These pilings, in turn, are pressed into the ground using a hydraulic press. The individual pilings are locked to each other with steel shims or a piece of cable.

Rebar

Rebar, also known as reinforcing steel or reinforcement steel, is a common steel bar used to reinforced concrete.

Retaining Wall

A retaining wall supports eroding soil in areas where the ground is likely to shift. Retaining walls can also provide additional support to foundations built up with fill dirt.

Soaker Hose

A gardening hose capped on one end and containing hundreds of tiny perforations. A soaker hose set next to a structure's foundation can help maintain a consistent moisture level within the soil and help prevent foundation movement and, consequently, foundation failure.

Soil Stability

Soil material (clay, sand, etc.) and drainage play a big part in how much water the soil can contain and how often that soil is asked to contain that water. If the soil's moisture content changes often and/or a great deal, your foundation will move as the soil contracts and expands with moisture.

Structural Engineer

An independent registered professional engineer that specializes in civil or structural engineering.

Waffle Slab Foundation

Waffle slab foundations are formed when beams are poured throughout the interior until the pattern resembles a waffle.>

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Structural Engineers and Foundation Work

You should contact an independent registered professional engineer if you think your slab foundation needs work and you want an impartial opinion. Look for an engineer who specializes in civil or structural engineering. The average electrical or aeronautics engineer probably isn't experienced in soil mechanics or the load bearing capacity of concrete. Ideally, your chosen contractor should have experience in residential or light commercial slab on grade foundations.

Finally, ask the engineer if they have any ties to foundation repair contractors, builders or insurers. You want an engineer whose recommendations are based on professional opinion and not on existing agreements or commissions.

You’ll find engineers listed in your local phone book and on web search engines. Most inspections will run several hundred dollars, but note that fees can vary depending on where you live and the inspector's experience, etc.

Do you have an any comments or an interesting story concerning your foundation inspection? Then tell us about it. Send email to alanardoin@gmail.com.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

A Typical Foundation Repair Using Steel Piers

Every foundation and every problem has its own characteristics. However, there are some basics that apply to nearly all foundation repair jobs. Below is a typical description of the practices Ace Foundation Repair uses.

To repair a foundation problem, the contractor installs underpinning piers under the perimeter beams and then mechanically raises the foundation and holds it in place.

Historically the type of piers used in foundation repair have been concrete piers drilled and poured in place. If these foundation piers are drilled to rock they are excellent. However, if they're not, they depend on the clay soil for support just as the foundation does.

Since a poured-in-place concrete pier gets its support by skin friction from the hole in which it is poured, it is prone to move as the soil moves and create more foundation problems.

In order to fix foundations problems with longer lasting results, a pier was needed that could bypass dependence on the soil as much as possible. This is how the steel pier came about. Whereas concrete piers are known as friction piers, steel piers are called point bearing piers.

Ace Foundation steel piers are specifically designed to penetrate clay soil and seat the point of each pier on rock or load bearing strata. Due to a unique feature of Ace Foundation's pier design, the clay soil is pushed away from the pipe as the steel pier is driven into the soil.

This feature of the steel pier prevents dependence on the soil, transfers the weight of the foundation to rock or load bearing strata, and provides a very stable support system for the foundation.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

"Can I See Drainage Problems?"

"Can I see drainage problems?"

This is a fairly common question. Drainage problems are one of the leading causes of foundation issues. So, identifying drainage problems early and correcting them can reduce or prevent foundation problems.

The answer to the question, Can I see drainage problems, is yes and no.

Yes, if it's a surface water problem. No, if it's an underground water problem. Ace Foundation can inspect, detect, repair, and prevent subsurface drainage problems. Get more information by visiting us at www.AceFoundation.com.

10 Steps to Better Foundation Maintenace, Part II

Here's the second part of our ten tips for keeping your foundation happy. You can find the first 5 tips here.

1. Make sure that the soil around your foundation is graded so that the water flows away from the building. The grade should drop 4 to 6 inches in 4 to 6 feet.
2. Use soaker hoses around your foundation to keep the soil damp during dry periods. Learn more about soaker hoses and your foundation here.
3. Trim most of the shrubs around your house so that they are 3 feet tall or shorter. Large plants need lots of water, which can cause foundation problems.
4. Make sure that all paved surfaces (driveways, sidewalks, patios, pool decks, etc.) that slope away from your foundation.
5. Check the soil around your foundation. It should be between 2 to 4 inches below the brick line or edge of your siding. Soil helps hold the water in the ground and reduces seasonal settlement.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.

10 Steps to Better Foundation Maintenace, Part I

We're breaking this topic into 2 parts. Here's the first part.

1. Check your sprinker system and swimming pool. Leaky sprinkler lines and pool circulating systems can cause foundation problems. It's a good idea to have your lines tested for leaks every two to three years.
2. If you're lucky enough have large trees around your house, consider installing root barriers to keep the trees from pulling water out from under the foundation. This is especially important if the trees are closer to your foundation that the height of the trees.
3. Avoid trapping water against the foundation. Water can be trapped against the building by raised flower beds, metal edging or other landscaping borders that do not have drainage holes, and sidewalks can prevent water from draining away from your foundation. If the water doesn't drain properly, it can pool or gather and cause uneven soil moisture and, ultimately foundation problems.
4. If your sewers back up or become block, you should have them tested for leaks. Many sewer blockages are caused by tree roots. These roots either cause or have found openings in your sewer lines.
5. Use downspout extensions or splash blocks on all down spouts. Downspout extensions are inexpensive and can be purchased at any home repair store (The Home Depot, Lowes Home Improvement, Ace Hardware, etc.).
   

Look for more tips this Thursday. And don't forget, there's always more information at www.AceFoundation.com.

6 Things You Should Know Before Signing a Foundation Repair Contract

As with any other work on your home, foundation repair should always be done using a contract. A contract describes what is expected of the service provider, what your recourse is when things don't work out as planned, and what the repair work will cost and how long it will take.

Below are six things you should look for in a contract:

1. Look for a complete description of the work to be done. This includes the number of foundation supports, the type of foundation supports, and additional services such as engineer's reports and permits..
2. Be sure the project's total cost is explicitly defined and accounted for.
   
3. Make sure you have a payment schedule. This way, there'll be no questions as to how much is due when.
4. The warranty: This should be simple to understand and the same in nature as that which was presented to you initially.
5. Make sure the contract describes who is responsible for removing debris and cleaning the site after the work is done.
   
6. Ensure the contractor's full name, address, phone number, and other contact information is accurate and up-to-date.

Remember, never sign a blank contract, no matter what. Any reputable and professional company will have their paperwork ready and complete before you sign it. If changes must be made, they will amend the contract and present it to you again. Finally, keep a copy of the signed contract for your records.

Ace Foundation Repair always presents a complete and easy-to-understand contract to you and will walk you through it to make sure you understand anything.

Get more information by visiting www.AceFoundation.com.