Year: 2021

Flooding is a concern no matter what type of foundation you have under your home. However, as the simplest and sturdiest foundation type, slab foundations are mostly unaffected by flood waters. It is likely that you will find yourself more concerned with the damage that the flooding has caused to the structure on top of your slab foundation instead. However, after you have cleaned up, this is actually when you should be checking out your slab foundation for problems.

Flood-Caused Erosion

The major concern you should have about flooding when you have a slab foundation is any erosion that has occurred. If the grade that forces water to drain away from your foundation has eroded away, this will cause drainage issues and eventually foundation problems.

However, a lesser known erosion issue is undercutting. During a flood, the soil is saturated and easily malleable. As such, when the water recedes or is affected by a current, the soil under your slab can be eroded away. This can cause extreme settling, and often does so unexpectedly because you might not notice undercutting right away.

If your slab is not sitting on a stable surface, it can cause settling that can actually crack the slab. This is why if you have had flooding you will want to wait a month or two in order to let the soil fully dry out, then have a foundation inspection conducted. This can check for undercutting and make sure your grade is intact enough. If nothing else, you will want to monitor your slab foundation in the following months to make sure new cracks do not appear on it.

Do you have foundation issues from flooding or any of the other various causes? We can help. Contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.

Do you know what type of foundation your home has? It is not a difficult question to figure out with the help of the internet, but it is important to know the answer. There are the three primary foundation types.  Each comes with their own unique issues you need to watch out for to avoid a costly repair.

Slab Foundations

The slab foundation is the most basic type, and the most popular. If your home sits close to the ground on what just looks like a solid slab of concrete, it has a slab foundation. These are prized because of their simplicity. You have less room for problems and it is excellent at weight distribution to limit settling on unstable soils.

Potential Slab Foundation Problems

• Slab cracking
• Slab sinking

Raised Foundations

Also referred to as pier and beam foundations, raised foundations sit raised up slightly from the ground with piers holding up your flooring. Not enough to be dug into the ground far enough to have another room, but often enough room for a crawlspace. You will see these in areas that have the potential for flooding since it does raise the home up a bit.

Potential Raised Foundation Problems

• Sagging floors
• Moisture issues in the crawlspace
• Pier shifting

Basement Foundations

The basement is more common in homes in the northern United States, and even now are less popular in newer construction. It turns out building your foundation inside the ground can be problematic as well as wildly more expensive to repair compared to other alternatives.

Potential Basement Foundation Problems

• Bowing basement walls
• Cracking walls
• Flooding

Is your foundation, no matter what type you have, manifesting issues? We can help. Contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help you get your home back on a rock solid foundation.

If you are having foundation problems, you may be curious as to how the process of repairing them will be. While your contractor can fully walk you through what will happen, you may begin to wonder what will happen to your landscaping while all that is going on.

Having landscaping around your foundation can be a great way to prevent foundation issues from manifesting in the first place, but most people plant around their foundation to beautify their home and yard. The good news is that some foundation repairs can be very low impact on your landscaping.

If you catch foundation issues early before the issue becomes serious, often foundation repair can be done without having an effect on the landscaping at all. Unfortunately, if there has been major shifting and piers need to be installed, this will require a bit of digging in order to do.

The technician, in order to dig, may need to remove landscaping in the area to do so. If there is a tree or shrub that obstructs the area, this may need to be uprooted as well. However, the silver lining to this is that the contractor may be saving you from foundation issues again later. Trees and deep-rooted shrub planted too close to the foundation can be responsible for shifting due to their root growth.

Do note that if at all possible, your foundation repair contractor will try to keep your landscaping. Removing landscaping is just extra work that no one wants to do. It will only be removed if it is absolutely necessary.

Are you noticing the early signs of foundation problems? Even if you are worried about your landscaping, it is always better to address foundation issues sooner rather than later. It can save both your landscaping and your wallet. If you are having foundation issues, contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.