Archive for September, 2006
Rooting Out a Root Barrier Estimate
The structural engineer who inspected my foundation Monday is recommending a root barrier be installed in a back corner of the yard to keep roots from a nearby live oak tree away from my concrete slab foundation. They are also called root walls and root caps. The idea is to cut any roots that are [...]
Posted: September 29th, 2006 under Tree Roots and Shrubs.
Comments: 2
Sir! The Foundation has Been Inspected, Sir!
Yesterday just before 1 p.m. there came a light rapping at the front door. “Be still my beating heart,” I told myself. The inspector is here!
His name is Mike and he is a licensed structural engineer who’s website described him as just the kind person you want inspecting your slab foundation: unbiased, independent, yet with [...]
Posted: September 26th, 2006 under Choosing an Engineer, You might need foundation repair if...
Comments: 1
Foundation Inspection Protects Both Agents and Home Buyers
Frank Kneller is involved in licensing the Cable Lock method of foundation repair and wrote the following for the Houston Business Journal:
“The floor plan is perfect, the landscaping is beautiful and the amenities are ideal. A prospective home buyer is sold on the appearance of a home, but there are questions about what is [...]
Posted: September 25th, 2006 under Choosing an Engineer, Real Estate and Foundation Repair.
Comments: none
Be Selective When Choosing a Foundation Inspector
These days almost anyone who appears to be an adult, has a hard hat, a tape measure and a clipboard can claim to be a foundation inspector. Even a well educated registered professional engineer can make the claim. But if his field of expertise is aeronautics or electrical, might as well have your dentist [...]
Posted: September 20th, 2006 under Choosing an Engineer.
Comments: 3
“Oh, Mommy, Look!”
This has nothing to do with foundation repair or structural engineering although you could say there are drawings and metal work involved.
I need to raise my right hand and repeat, “I will never criticize my kids again.” Reason number one. Reason number two. And my favorite, reason number three.
That is all.
Posted: September 14th, 2006 under Uncategorized.
Comments: none
Foundation Inspections-Engineer vs. Contractor
If your home is showing the classic signs of foundation movement, like cracks in the brick and sheetrock, or sticking doors and windows, you might want to have it inspected. Do you call a foundation repair contractor or an independent engineer? GeoDynamics is an engineering firm in Richardson, Texas and here is why they think [...]
Posted: September 13th, 2006 under Choosing a Contractor.
Comments: none
Keeping Tree Roots Away From The Foundation
You hear a lot about tree roots causing concrete foundation problems for houses that sit on expansive clay soils and may be wondering how that can be. In my travels around the Internet I’ve learned the trouble is two-fold. Large trees can suck huge amounts of water from the soil. If thirsty roots get under [...]
Posted: September 12th, 2006 under Tree Roots and Shrubs, You might need foundation repair if...
Comments: none
There Be Cracks Under the Carpet.
Do hairline cracks in the concrete slab under the carpeting mean that I need foundation repair? Good question. Edward Robinson runs an engineering inspection company in Houston and here is his take:
“Hairline cracks in a concrete slab, even those found below carpeting are not necessarily a measure of foundation performance. If there are floor cracks [...]
Posted: September 9th, 2006 under You might need foundation repair if...
Comments: none