When it comes to catching minor problems on a foundation before they become major ones, a foundation inspection is a must. However, the unfortunate reality is most people don’t call for a foundation inspection until there is already something problematic enough to notice going on with the foundation. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but you may wonder how often you should be having your foundation inspected to keep things on a steady.

Why to Do a Foundation Inspection?

Inspecting your foundation isn’t something that needs to be a bi-annual affair like HVAC inspections or even a yearly thing. This is because shifting and settling is something that happens quite slowly. In truth, a foundation inspection every five years is really good enough. There are, however, some situations in which you may want an immediate foundation inspection. These include:

Buying Or Selling a Home

Just like you would feel more comfortable with a clear foundation inspection on a property you are buying, so, too, would potential buyers of your home. If you are buying or selling a property, foundation inspections can be a great help.

You Notice Symptoms

If you spot a crack that is looking quite large or even wasn’t there a few months ago, find that your doors and windows have trouble shutting, or have noticed slanting floors, then it is definitely time to have an inspection. As we mentioned before, most people wait until they have a problem to get a foundation inspection done. However, that need not be the case if you want to catch problems early.

There is nothing wrong with being proactive in making sure you do not have foundation problems, especially when you live in an area with complicated soil conditions like in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If you are having foundation problems or want your foundation inspected, contact us today to see what the professionals at Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.

As a below grade area that sits under our house, we might be conditioned to believe that a crawl space should be a particularly dark and damp place. While it may be pretty dark down there, it definitely shouldn’t be wet in most cases. If you are constantly seeing unexplainable moisture or puddling in your crawl space, this is a problem that you will need to address before it is too late.

Moisture in this space isn’t necessarily an immediate problem. However, moisture that hangs around not only invites rot and pest invasions to the area, but it fosters the growth of mold. As a surprising amount of air in your home rises up from the crawl space, it is also bringing with it unhealthy mold spores in to your house.

Moisture in a crawl space comes from three possible sources, not all of them even a problem with your foundation. These sources include:

• Plumbing Issues — Sometimes where there is a puddle of water in this area, there is a leaking pipe right above it.
• Condensation — Common in times of high heat or humidity, but condensation should be able to evaporate away. If it cannot, this is a sign of foundation issues.
• Surface Water Issues — Surface water should be kept out of the crawl space, if there is heavy puddling after rain, you may need your home re-graded, the gutters adjusted and cleaned, or your basement windows may be leaking.

Not all of these issues can be fixed by foundation repair, but all of them can be detected by a foundation repair specialist. If you are having problems with a wet crawl space and definitely don’t want to find out the long-term effects of that, you will want to contact us today for professional inspection and repair to keep your foundation on steady legs.

Microearthquakes are extremely common, and they happen regularly in many states across the country. Most of the time, we don’t even feel minor earthquakes that are 2.0 or less on the Richter scale, but that doesn’t mean our houses and foundations don’t. Microearthquakes don’t normally cause severe damage, but they definitely affect foundations and often make shift happen, especially over time from multiple mini-quakes.

Shift Happens: Check Your Foundation Regularly

Cracks, Cracks & More Cracks

Microearthquakes cause cracks. Check for cracks on the outside and inside your foundation, your walls, doorways, window frames, ceilings: anywhere your house could have cracks. Even hairline cracks should be addressed immediately, and any crack over a quarter-inch could indicate a serious issue.

If you find a crack, shine a light into it to get a better idea of the depth of the cracks.

It’s best to inspect for cracks at least once per month, as many microearthquakes can occur during this short time frame.

Other Signs of Shift Happening

If doors or windows become difficult to shut, it could be a sign that your foundation is shifting. If floors are becoming less level, it’s also a sign.

Depending on your foundation type, foundation blocks or bricks that are chipping or breaking-off is a sign of foundation issues. Leaning chimneys or exterior vents that are starting to break away from roofing can also be a sign.

If you start to notice any of these signs, it’s best to consult a professional immediately. Neglecting potential foundation issues is far more costly than addressing small foundation repairs as they naturally occur from microearthquakes and other circumstances.

What to Do When Shift Happens in Texas

Like many other states, microearthquakes are common in Texas, and there is a hazard level for earthquakes throughout the state. Over the last century, Texas has even seen over 100 bigger earthquakes in 40 counties.

To schedule foundation inspection, maintenance, or repair in the Dallas and Fort Worth area, contact us today.

If you have a slab or pier and beam foundation with problems, the installation of piers could be a solution for it. While your foundation contractor will pick the best pier for the job, you may be curious about what is the difference between them. When piers need installed, you have two primary solutions – push piers and helical piers. They do the same job, but have their very specific benefits depending on the environment.

A push pier is much like a nail, it is long and straight, made of steel and driven deep into the earth using a hydraulic pressure. The pier then comes to rest on the most stable level of bedrock available to provide a stable support for your sinking foundation. These piers are quick to install, disturb the surrounding soil very little, and are great when the soil conditions on your property are unknown. However, push piers need a significant weight sitting on top of them. This means lighter loads, like a deck for example, are not suitable to sit on top of them.

Whereas push piers are the nail, helical piers are the screw. They are designed in a screw-type way so they can be driven down into the earth mechanically. These are typically used when the local soil condition is known because they can be installed at a specific depth. As they use a screw-type motion, they can provide highly accurate adjustments to your foundation that seals any cracking right up. Unfortunately, they need more space in order to install and need proper soil conditions to be supported.

If you are having foundation issues and believe piers could be a solution for you, find out for sure by contacting us. Let Steady House Foundation Repair come out and help you get the best solution to fix your unique foundation problems.

Foundation problems are often sudden and unforeseen. There are several reasons as to why your home’s foundation would deteriorate. Alongside the causes often come telltale indicators showing that the foundation needs repair. Today we look at some consequences of postponing foundation repair.

Escalating Costs of Repairs

If you have noticed a problem with your foundation, perhaps a tiny crack, it is best to repair it as early as possible. A small problem may be proof of an underlying issue which, if left unattended to, may escalate further. Repairing it soon will save you a lot of money than postponing the matter.

Property Value Goes Down

If you are trying to sell your property with foundation issues, the truth is you will have a hard time selling it at the right price. Home inspections will reveal that the property has problems to do with the foundation, which will be an extra cost to the new owner. Unfortunately, very few buyers will be interested in buying the property at the market value with all these in mind.

Insects Invasion

Creepy insects such as spiders, ants, mosquitoes, and termites breed comfortably in humid environments such as the cracks in foundations. The insects can be destructive and sometimes even cause severe health conditions to the people within the property.

Mold and Mildew Growth

Damaged and poorly maintained foundations form surroundings for the growth of fungal interlopers such as mildew and mold. These can trigger different kinds of allergy reactions and sometimes even asthma attacks that will leave your family and loved ones sick and uncomfortable.

Plumbing Problems

Postponing the repair of your foundation may lead to issues to do with plumbing. When the concrete in the foundation drops or gets dislocated, it may damage the pipes passing through the walls. Thus, a professional is required to step to carry out the extent of the damage to diagnose the issue.

If you have any foundation issues, contact us, and we will bring in our expertise for many years and satisfy your foundation needs.

When purchasing a house, assess the condition of the foundation structure. That is vital as the structural integrity of the home depends on the foundation. Below are some common signs that indicate foundation problems.

Sagging Or Uneven Floors

Floors that appear to sag or out of level is a clear indication of a foundation problem. Concrete slabs that have difficulty are easily noticeable as the ground will appear to be uneven and produce a squeaking noise. Slab foundations, however, have different signs of damage compared to concrete foundations. Sagging floors are hazardous to your children and even the elderly.

 Cracks on the Foundation and in the Walls

Check for cracks on the wall and foundation to ensure the structural integrity of the building is in good condition. A hole through the foundation is a red flag. Thus, you need to contact a professional foundation contractor. It indicates that the foundation is shifting, and it will end up tearing apart the foundation of your house. Horizontal cracks indicate that there is too much water pressure under the foundation structure.

Water Damage and Shifting Soil

Check the premises for wet areas to see if there is a water leak that could lead to foundation damage. Besides, soil-shifting is also another cause of foundation damage. Soil shifting is caused majorly by water damage or uneven ground level.

Difficulty in Closing Doors and Windows

When you notice that your doors give you a hassle when closing or opening, this is a sign of a shifting foundation. Your doors and windows are the parts that get affected in case of a soil shifting. You can try solving the problem by lubricating your doors and windows. If the issue goes on for an extended period, hire a professional foundation contractor to make the repair where necessary.

If you notice any of the above signs of foundation problems, you can contact us. Steady House Foundation Repair offers quality and professional services that will leave you impressed.

The foundation of your house is a vital structure. Thus, you need to ensure that it is durable to avoid damage in the future. Opting for DIY in case of a problem will only worsen the situation. Leave the work to the professionals, and you will not incur unnecessary repair costs in the future. With that said, here are the top benefits of hiring professional foundation repair contractors.

Expertise

This is one of the best benefits that you will get to enjoy when you opt to hire the services of an expert foundation contractor. A professional contractor is likely to give you the value of your money. Experts offer quality services, leaving you without any single doubt that your home will stand-still after a natural calamity.

 Access to Tools

Professionals have the necessary tools that are needed to carry out the job. Purchasing the tools yourself can be a daunting task since they are not readily available. Therefore, hire an expert service provider who will use the proper tools and get the job done in time.

Saves Time

Expert foundation repair contractors know their line of work very well since they are trained on how to handle foundation problems. Besides, opting for a DIY will only take up most of your time trying to find a solution for the foundation problem.

 Cost-effective

When you decide to repair the foundation of your building structure, hire a qualified contractor to perform the task. Doing it yourself will only cost you a lot of money, and you might end up not doing it correctly. The expert offers solutions to foundation problems at reasonable and pocket-friendly prices.

In conclusion, avoid solving your foundation problems on your own. Contact us, and we will provide a professional to do the repair work in the best way possible. There is no room for error, especially when it comes to the foundation of your structure.

 

Most home in Texas have slab foundations, while some have pier and beam foundations. Each type of foundation comes with potential house shifting caused by design, but shift happens in Texas for a variety of other reasons.

 

Slab Foundations

In Texas, the frost depth is rather shallow, so the home builder simply and cost-efficiently pours concrete on the ground in a big pad with rebar reinforcements. While this type of foundation is great for protecting your home from termites, it’s not so great for the drainage pipes in the concrete when the foundation starts settling.

Pier & Beam Foundations

The oldest type of foundation, pier and beam foundations look just like they sound: the house sits on girder beams held-up by piers, which leaves a little over a foot of crawl space under the house. This type of foundation shifts when there’s not enough ventilation, or insulation for water pipes, or when critters get under there and start making their own little homes.

Texas Soil & Climate

The climate in Texas gets hot and cold, sometimes very hot and very cold. Texas soil is clay soil, and clay reacts to the heat as much as it reacts to the cold climate. When it’s cold, clay expands, putting pressure on your foundation, whether slab or pier and beam. When it’s hot outside, clay shrinks, and your foundation goes with it.

This back and forth shrinking and expanding often makes your foundation and house shift.

Shift Happens Everywhere

Aside from shift in Texas, drainage systems that are not designed or constructed well can lead to shift no matter where a house sits. Moisture is a big issue when it comes to foundations and everything supporting the structure, including shims and joists. Plus, there can be issues far beyond the damage point when there’s a plumbing leak, which can also lead to moisture, and you guessed it: shift.

Tree roots can also cause issues for pipes and structural components, as well as soil that wasn’t properly compacted during the home building process.

For more information or to find-out if you have house shifting that needs to be addressed, contact us today at Steady House Foundation Repair.

We have talked about cracks in your foundation cracks a lot. We have stressed that as a foundation settles naturally with age, it will crack. As long as the crack is thin and not horizontal in direction, it is probably pretty harmless. However, when we say “small,” you may want something that is slightly more specific. How big is too big when it comes to foundation cracks?

If a crack is what could be defined as “hairline” or otherwise the width of a strand of hair, this is from naturally settling and nothing to worry about. As there is more tension put on the concrete, such as soil erosion on one side causing the foundation to tilt, that crack will widen. If you ever notice a hairline crack go from hairline to bigger, then this is a problem. It means that the crack was not caused by natural compression, something foundations are designed to handle, and is instead being widened by tension.

Any time a crack widens after it forms is cause to call for a foundation inspection. However, it may not be growing due to tension. Another potential cause of larger cracks in your foundation is erosion. Over time, water can get into those cracks, which attracts dirt as well as naturally erodes them. In the winter, water can get in there, freeze, and also serves to widen them. If you notice the edges of a crack fraying, but the interior is still rather hairline, you might not have a tension problem, but rather an erosion problem. This is why even with hairline cracks, you want a professional to come out and seal them with epoxy. It prevents the cracks from naturally getting worse.

What this means for you is even if you have minor cracks in your foundation, they still need some attention. If you have a cracking foundation that needs addressed, contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.

While you likely haven’t kept up on foundation laying techniques, they have only gotten better over the past 50 years. This means that properly laid foundations in modern houses are manifesting less problems and standing sturdier. However, as older homes already have a whole house one top of the foundation, there is really only reacting to problems and doing all you can to prevent problems. If you own an older home and are concerned about an aging foundation, here are three common problems to look out for.

Uneven Flooring

If you have doors or windows that don’t properly shut or items that roll on what should be a flat floor, then you likely have uneven flooring in your old home. While this can be a warning sign of foundation problems in a home, if you have wood sub-flooring or original hardwood floors, they are prone to warping over time. Still, it merits having the issue checked out.

Slab Leak

It is amazing how a small leak can cause such huge structural problems. If there is a leak in or beneath the foundation of your home, it is an issue that compounds. Not only is the moisture attracting mold and mildew, but it can eventually lead to further foundation shifting. This puts the pipe at risk of completely breaking which turns this into a much more urgent issue.

Cracking Walls

A sure sign of foundations problems in older homes is cracking on exterior or interior walls. You will likely see it more around windows or around chimney flues. Not every crack in a wall, particularly exterior wall cracks, is a huge problem, but it merits investigation.

Do you have foundation issues in your older home? Unfortunately, ignoring the issue won’t make it get any better. If you want help fixing up your foundation problems, contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.