foundation problems

Foundation Repair with Pushed Concrete Piers

Earlier this year one of my neighbors (Roy) had foundation repair done on his concrete slab. The hot dry summer drought had done its damage and resulted in some of the classic signs of foundation movement.

You could see separation of the brick veneer away from the window frames in the front of the house and by the garage door. There was a big diagonal crack (half inch or so) in one of the sheet rock walls in a small office inside the garage area. Similar cracks had developed inside the house proper.

With the cost of foundation repair in mind, Roy called three foundation repair companies for bids.

The foundation companies all suggested piers for the front and both sides of the house.The company Roy picked uses pushed concrete piers, a very common foundation repair method in Texas.

(more…)

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Texas a Possible Leader in Foundation Repair – Dubious Honor

Dr. Harry Williams, an associate geology professor at the University of North Texas says that too many new homes in the area are being built on soils that are poorly suited for housing development because of the high expansive clay content of the land.

Texas could become “the possible leader in foundation repair.”

Here’s a link to theĀ  article:

 

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Keeping Tree Roots Away From The House 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 your slab, they can reduce the moisture content of the soil and cause settling.
Tree roots under the foundation can also worm their way into the plumbing causing leaks and again changing the condition of the soil under the foundation. Heaving of the slab can occur. (more…)

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