Comments for Repair My Foundation-A homeowner's look at the options http://www.repairfoundation.net A home owner's concrete look at foundation repair choices Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:10:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses by Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/#comment-11724 Digger Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:08:19 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11724 Most people don't worry about soaker hoses and driveways in that the driveway represents a relatively small area compared to the rest of the foundation. Same with the patio. The soil that has pulled away should snuggle back up after the soaker hoses have done their thing. If not, you can press it back to the slab with garden tools. Good luck! Most people don’t worry about soaker hoses and driveways in that the driveway represents a relatively small area compared to the rest of the foundation. Same with the patio.

The soil that has pulled away should snuggle back up after the soaker hoses have done their thing. If not, you can press it back to the slab with garden tools.

Good luck!

]]> Comment on Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses by Austinite http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/#comment-11721 Austinite Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:14:24 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11721 I am living in Austin and we are seeing some signs of some movement in the foundation. We have some wall and floor hairline cracks and there are new cracks on the foundation. I am going to put a soaker hose around the perimeter of the house, but I am wondering what people do about the parts of the house that are covered such as the driveway or a tile patio. If the goal is to keep moisture levels constant is it a problem if there are two parts of the house perimeter that won't be getting hit with the soaker hose? Also, once your soil has dried out and pulled away from the house a bit what is the solution? Thanks for any input, this is very stressful for a new first time homeowner! I am living in Austin and we are seeing some signs of some movement in the foundation. We have some wall and floor hairline cracks and there are new cracks on the foundation.

I am going to put a soaker hose around the perimeter of the house, but I am wondering what people do about the parts of the house that are covered such as the driveway or a tile patio. If the goal is to keep moisture levels constant is it a problem if there are two parts of the house perimeter that won’t be getting hit with the soaker hose?

Also, once your soil has dried out and pulled away from the house a bit what is the solution?

Thanks for any input, this is very stressful for a new first time homeowner!

]]> Comment on Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses by Kat http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/#comment-11503 Kat Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:35:14 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11503 We are up on a slight incline or hill so water either runs down the front or down the back of our property - not too concerned about water pooling, just see the large gaps in some of the sides and the enormous crevasses in the yard in other places (where they seem bottomless) which concerns me. We lived in another part of DFW and I never ever saw such horrible soil shifts. Even two years ago when we had numerous days in the mid 100's and not a drop of rain in sight. We are up on a slight incline or hill so water either runs down the front or down the back of our property - not too concerned about water pooling, just see the large gaps in some of the sides and the enormous crevasses in the yard in other places (where they seem bottomless) which concerns me. We lived in another part of DFW and I never ever saw such horrible soil shifts. Even two years ago when we had numerous days in the mid 100’s and not a drop of rain in sight.

]]> Comment on Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses by Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/#comment-11502 Digger Thu, 07 Aug 2008 16:25:09 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11502 I don't see how using soaker hoses could hurt in your situation assuming you have good drainage away from the foundation. You don't want water to pool. You may need to use a combination of regular hoses and soaker hoses to get even pressure all around the foundation. Check this earlier post for a diagram. http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/08/03/the-trouble-with-soaker-hoses/ I hope this helps and thanks for reading the blog. Good luck! I don’t see how using soaker hoses could hurt in your situation assuming you have good drainage away from the foundation. You don’t want water to pool. You may need to use a combination of regular hoses and soaker hoses to get even pressure all around the foundation. Check this earlier post for a diagram.
http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/08/03/the-trouble-with-soaker-hoses/
I hope this helps and thanks for reading the blog.
Good luck!

]]> Comment on Keep an Eye on the Soaker Hoses by Kat http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/08/05/keep-an-eye-on-the-soaker-hoses/#comment-11499 Kat Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:08:57 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=152#comment-11499 What about watering pier and beam with concrete skirting around the perimeter? Being in Texas with severely cracking soils and soaring temps - I don't want the soil to pull away from the concrete any more than it already has - about to run out to Home Depot and get enough hoses to circle the house. Let me know your thoughts. What about watering pier and beam with concrete skirting around the perimeter? Being in Texas with severely cracking soils and soaring temps - I don’t want the soil to pull away from the concrete any more than it already has - about to run out to Home Depot and get enough hoses to circle the house. Let me know your thoughts.

]]> Comment on The Smart Way to Use Foundation Repair Coupons by Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/06/23/the-smart-way-to-use-foundation-repair-coupons/#comment-11403 Digger Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:56:05 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=150#comment-11403 Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I am just a home owner like you and not in the foundation repair business nor do I know anybody in the business. I always recommend spending a few hundred dollars to have an independent professional structural engineer inspect your foundation and provide a detailed report. They will know if it is a drainage issue and can suggest methods of repair that is right for your situation. Since you are in the DFW area, you can visit the Foundation Performance Association website http://www.foundationperformance.org/members_structural_engineers.cfm and search for structural engineers. Most are based in the Houston area, but there is one in Richardson and one in Allen. I used the one in Richardson for my inspection. He has a few repair companies he recommends, not because of financial ties, but because he has confidence in their work. Always ask about that when talking to engineers. Good luck! Thanks for the kind words about the blog. I am just a home owner like you and not in the foundation repair business nor do I know anybody in the business.

I always recommend spending a few hundred dollars to have an independent professional structural engineer inspect your foundation and provide a detailed report. They will know if it is a drainage issue and can suggest methods of repair that is right for your situation.

Since you are in the DFW area, you can visit the Foundation Performance Association website http://www.foundationperformance.org/members_structural_engineers.cfm and search for structural engineers.

Most are based in the Houston area, but there is one in Richardson and one in Allen. I used the one in Richardson for my inspection. He has a few repair companies he recommends, not because of financial ties, but because he has confidence in their work. Always ask about that when talking to engineers.

Good luck!

]]> Comment on The Smart Way to Use Foundation Repair Coupons by Alex http://www.repairfoundation.net/2008/06/23/the-smart-way-to-use-foundation-repair-coupons/#comment-11399 Alex Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:59:21 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/?p=150#comment-11399 I have to say that I really have enjoyed your blog. Two things I am curious about. One, are you a foundation repair company? Two, if not who would you suggest in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I have had a fit with my foundation. We moved in March of 2008 and did a little foundation repair on the outside of the house and did a few interior piers as well. There is one part of the house in the hall way that is sinking but didn't put piers there. Once the ran stopped we started getting cracks everywhere! That prompted me to go on a mission. Alas the soaker hoses were put in place. The cracks started to disappate but are still getting little cracks here and there. I assume on a 1950's house on slab this is normal and could only imagine what a 'foundation' guy would want to do if he walked in here. That said I have not been interested in getting another foundation repair company out just yet because I want to see how things end up after the summer. I guess I just haven't really had anywhere to turn to and this blog seems like good information. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. I have learned (and this may be bad advice) that 75% of foundation issues are not resolved by piers but are drainage and water issues instead. I have to say that I really have enjoyed your blog. Two things I am curious about. One, are you a foundation repair company? Two, if not who would you suggest in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I have had a fit with my foundation. We moved in March of 2008 and did a little foundation repair on the outside of the house and did a few interior piers as well. There is one part of the house in the hall way that is sinking but didn’t put piers there. Once the ran stopped we started getting cracks everywhere! That prompted me to go on a mission. Alas the soaker hoses were put in place. The cracks started to disappate but are still getting little cracks here and there. I assume on a 1950’s house on slab this is normal and could only imagine what a ‘foundation’ guy would want to do if he walked in here.

That said I have not been interested in getting another foundation repair company out just yet because I want to see how things end up after the summer. I guess I just haven’t really had anywhere to turn to and this blog seems like good information. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. I have learned (and this may be bad advice) that 75% of foundation issues are not resolved by piers but are drainage and water issues instead.

]]> Comment on Protecting A Concrete Slab Foundation with Root Barriers by Les http://www.repairfoundation.net/protecting-a-concrete-slab-foundation-with-root-barriers/#comment-11013 Les Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:19:26 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/protecting-a-concrete-slab-foundation-with-root-barriers/#comment-11013 That plastic roofing sucks That plastic roofing sucks

]]> Comment on Do tree roots cause foundation damage? by Digger http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/06/09/do-tree-roots-cause-foundation-damage/#comment-10410 Digger Sun, 08 Jun 2008 20:03:40 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/06/09/do-tree-roots-cause-foundation-damage/#comment-10410 It would be better to cut the branch at some point outside of the basement to stop it from coming in any further. As it dies you can speed up the decay by drilling holes and filling them with an organic fertilizer. If the budget allows I would have a tree company come over and take a look. Whether or not the branch is causing the crack, it needs to go. It would be better to cut the branch at some point outside of the basement to stop it from coming in any further. As it dies you can speed up the decay by drilling holes and filling them with an organic fertilizer. If the budget allows I would have a tree company come over and take a look. Whether or not the branch is causing the crack, it needs to go.

]]> Comment on Do tree roots cause foundation damage? by Rochelle Hill http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/06/09/do-tree-roots-cause-foundation-damage/#comment-10405 Rochelle Hill Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:40:24 +0000 http://www.repairfoundation.net/2006/06/09/do-tree-roots-cause-foundation-damage/#comment-10405 A tree branch has come through the basement floor underneath the porch. HOw can I destroy this tree from doing further damage. Can I drill a hole in the middle and put salt in it? Will this kill it. I need your help! Right now it looks like a miniture tree trunk, oval in shape about the size of a canaloupe and it has sap running out of it. in the same area a horizontal crack is running about in the middle of the wall. Could this branch be causing this? A tree branch has come through the basement floor underneath the porch. HOw can I destroy this tree from doing further damage. Can I drill a hole in the middle and put salt in it? Will this kill it. I need your help! Right now it looks like a miniture tree trunk, oval in shape about the size of a canaloupe and it has sap running out of it. in the same area a horizontal crack is running about in the middle of the wall. Could this branch be causing this?

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