What is Foundation Repair

What is Foundation Repair?

Why is Your Foundation's Health Important?

Just as life is full of stress and pressure, your home's foundation has a huge responsibility to remain stable, solid, and structurally sound. It is literally the foundation of your home and should not be neglected. Just as we manage our own health, your foundation's health should be assessed and reviewed. There are many signs that your foundation needs to be assessed by an expert, including the following:

• Cracking/Crumbling in your bricks, masonry, or concrete
• Uneven floors throughout your home
• Bowing walls
• Water issues in your basement
• Sticking Doors

So, what's your next step in determining how to repair your home's foundation?  Contact an expert and gather estimates.

Many foundation repair companies around the Kansas City area will provide free assessments to determine the best solutions for your foundation repairs. But a homeowner typically doesn't have the amount of time needed to research every single company in their area, so here are some tips to find the best foundation repair company:

1. Reviews: Visit Google reviews to find the most honest (both good and bad) feedback on a particular company. If you see many red flags, run...
2. Experience: Ask a company... what is your experience with repairing projects similar to mine? How many years have you been in business? Are you insured? Licensed? Warrantied?
   Not all foundation repair companies are the same. Some focus on doing the job as quickly as possible, allowing for an easy way to make mistakes or perform less than ideal results. Other companies are experienced, thorough and skilled to perform the work properly. The obvious company is the latter of the two described.
3. References: Ask the company for a list of references to call. Again, if the company stalls in getting these to you... run...
4. Warrantied Work: This can be one of the biggest differentiators. Warranties are not all created equal. Warranty terms can range from one year to five to lifetime, so it’s important to understand what is included in the warranty being offered by each company you are speaking to about your project. Ask for the specifics on the warranty being offered... and get it in writing.
5. Timeframe: If the foundation company is ready and willing to come to your home the next day... red flag. Many foundation companies are booked for weeks to months out, so having one that is able to fit you in so quickly can be alarming.
6. Costs
   Some foundation contractors are eager, and a bit blurred on the accuracy of the estimate they provide. Be aware of fine print on the estimate, as some contractors under bid the project, but include a clause that allows them to charge extra for each pound of concrete used to repair the foundation. This fine print clause can result in hundreds and hundreds of dollars over your estimated price.
   
   

RELATED: Comparing Foundation Repair Estimates

Let's continue with the basics on What is Foundation Repair...

What is Foundation Repair and What are the Signs of Damage:

Foundation Repairs can begin with any of the following issues and can escalate quickly.

• Cracks in the brick, sheetrock, or basement walls
• Vertical Cracks in Foundations - Dangerous or Not?

If the crack in your foundation wall is vertical, it’s most likely a result of soil settlement which can be a problem because this type of crack lets in a lot of water. The more water seeping in through the crack, the worse and more expensive the damage can be. This can be addressed by the specialist for a possible crack injection  process. 

• Diagonal Cracks - Dangerous or Not?

According to inspectapedia.com, steep diagonal cracks may also appear in concrete foundations due to unusual point loads that exceed the compressive strength of the concrete (maybe it was weak concrete not high loading), and we've seen steep diagonal cracks in poured concrete and other high-rise masonry buildings exposed to frost damage.

• Windows or doors stick
• Basement walls are bowing, buckling, or leaking

RELATED: Reasons Your Foundation Could Buckle

If you begin to see any of the above issues at your home, contact a foundation specialist. When it comes to home settlement issues, the sooner you address the problem, the better. If left alone, cracks in the house worsen, causing more damage to the rest of your home. More damage often costs much more to repair than if addressed when the first signs are evident. Kansas City homes are built on soil that can be the perfect mixture to cause foundation issues. 

How is Foundation Repaired?

Not all foundation is deemed unrepairable at the first signs of damage. At the first signs of foundation problems, the homeowner should reach out to a foundation specialist to receive a free estimate on the assessed damage. Many companies will focus on the immediate repairs, but companies like PierMagic Foundation Specialists have been serving the Grandview, Lee's Summit, Overland Park, and greater Kansas City areas for decades, and get to the root of the issue. They spend time evaluating the issues and providing the best solution possible. Here are some solutions for foundation repairs:

• Wall Anchors

"I" beam wall braces and tie back wall anchors are two methods to deal with bowing walls.

• "I" beam braces, along with water management on the outer side of the wall, are a very effective means of stabilizing the wall when it has undergone a minimal amount of inward movement. This is a way of reinforcing the wall against the pressures being exerted on the wall.
• Tie backs: When a wall has moved inward to the point of needing to be straightened, tie back wall anchors are ideal. Our approach is to attack the source of the problem, the soil and water. 
• Foundation Piering
• Foundation piering has many options, including helical piers, push piers, or even DynaPier® system, which combines galvanized steel and high-strength concrete making it one of the strongest foundation piers in the industry.
• With DynaPier piering, interlocking segments are hydraulically driven into the ground. Besides its sheer strength, the installation adds to its effectiveness. Instead of being attached to the outside of the footing, the DynaPier® system is installed beneath the footing transferring the weight of the structural load directly on top of the pier. This means the DynaPier® system can achieve the greatest depth while also being in a position to provide the greatest support.
• Crack Sealing
• EPOXY

Epoxy injection should be used for cracks that need to be structurally repaired and serves more as a barrier that bonds and holds. Epoxies can add a great amount of strength to a foundation as they are known for their static condition. The epoxy injection process begins by cleaning the crack and the surrounding area of all debris. Injection ports are then inserted along the length of the crack. The epoxy is then injected through the ports until the crack is completely sealed.

• POLYURETHANE RESIN

Polyurethane resins are known for their flexibility. Depending on the size and mobility of the crack, the poly resin will move with the wall during expansion and contraction of the surrounding soils. This specially formulated polyurethane can even be injected into actively leaking cracks, stopping water within minutes. The advantages include:

• Flexibility 
  
• Sealing qualities of foundation walls 
  
• Eliminating air leaks 
  
• Repairing made from the interior 
  
• Stopping active leaks 
  
• Reducing humidity and water vapor permeation 

This article, What is Foundation Repair, should have answered some of your foundation repair questions and concerns to ensure you are ready and equipped to discuss options with a reputable foundation repair company. Should you need any assistance, PierMagic Foundation Specialists is located in Grandview, MO, but services the greater Kansas City area, including Lee's Summit, Overland Park, Liberty, Lenexa, and Brookside. Please reach out at anytime - (816) 765-4800.