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4 Telltale Signs That Your Pier and Beam Foundation Needs Repair

When it comes to the structural stability of your home, the foundation is the most important part. Crumbling walls and sloping flooring are all signs that your house’s pier and beam foundation needs repair.

A pier and beam foundation is generally often used in older homes not built on a concrete pad. A pier foundation is unlikely to need regular repairs, although this is not certain. When your property has any of the following four problems, it’s worth arranging a foundation evaluation to determine if a piercing is an option for your property.

4 Telltale Signs That Your Pier and Beam Foundation Needs Repair

1. Damage to the Framing of Windows or Doors

Is it difficult to keep your windows and doors locked? Although you can have a problem with gaps in the windows and doors, it might also indicate a problem with the foundation, such as sagging door or window frames. Too much weight on one side leaves the other unsupported.

In the absence of effective foundation support, the chasms will inevitably widen. Piers are usually required to distribute the weight evenly over all four corners of these displays.

2. Cracks in the Wall.

This is unsurprising, considering that most homeowners associate fissures with foundation problems. It is normal for concrete slabs or pier and beam foundations to have cracks caused by foundation settling. It’s worth having a free assessment if you notice any little cracks in your foundation. After all, if left alone, cracks may get rather wide very rapidly, necessitating prompt attention.

3. Uneven Floors

Sagging or uneven flooring is another telltale sign of a weak pier and beam foundation. You shouldn’t notice any abrupt slopes or hills if your flooring was previously flat. Walking across the room now seems like its on uneven ground? This is a clear indicator that you have major pier and beam foundation issues that must be addressed right away.

4. Doors That Stick When Opening or Closing

Your doors and windows may be the first to show signs of a foundation issue. Doors and windows that stick or are difficult to open, as well as gaps at the top and bottom, are all signs that your pier and beam foundation may be sinking and need to be addressed. Foundation piers may be used to fix foundation difficulties and re-align the house to its original position, allowing doors and windows to open and close properly.

Contact us to learn more about how to determine whether your pier and beam foundation needs repair or to schedule a foundation investigation.

Repairing Your Pier and Beam Foundation

A pier and beam foundation is usually characterized by its crawl space feature. This means that there is space left between the actual floor and the foundation that is large enough for a human to crawl in between. This kind of foundation system is convenient because it makes it easier to access the drainage and electrical systems; thus, one can go a long time without damage. Damages are caused mainly by moisture and drainage problems, insects such as termites, and flaws made during construction. These damages, however, are repairable.

Repairing Your Pier and Beam Foundation

If there is a specific area that is damaged, it is easier to repair that area without interfering with the whole foundation. In case the damage is extensive, there are different ways in which the foundation can be repaired. First, one can take the reshimming approach. Shims are small pieces of wood placed between the piers and the wooden sill beams. This process is a slow but frequent readjusting of the floor and is mostly applicable in houses that have been kept in good working conditions. Adding pier stacks also helps in balancing the crooked floors and evenly distributing the weight of the floor or simply replacing damaged piers.

Termites can chip on the wood, or the moisture may cause the wood to rot eventually. One can, therefore, simply replace the wood. However, this is not as simple as it sounds since, in pier and beam foundation, each piece of wood is connected to another piece. Therefore, once the damaged area is removed, the remaining part needs to be supported in order to replace it. Lastly, although the interior beam is prone to more damage, the perimeter support beam may also need to be repaired, and this can be done by adding underpinning to the beam. This way, it can be brought back to its original elevation.

Steady House Foundation Repair specializes in slab and pier and beam foundation repair in the Dallas / Fort Worth, TX area. We can help you out with just a simple foundation level up to the most complex. Our team are also more than happy to answer any of your questions along the way. Give us a call today!

 

Signs of Drainage Issues You Should Not Ignore

Telltale signs of drainage problems that could spell trouble for your home’s foundation often appear following  storms. But what if the rainstorm is light — yet it takes longer than usual for puddles to disappear? If you need to put down walking bridges in certain spots throughout your yard or if you identify wet spots in the home, it’s more obvious your home’s drainage system is not properly draining rainwater away from the home’s foundation. Water build-up over time causes a foundation to become unstable – which takes a toll on your investment. It’s important to reach out to a foundation repair expert early on even if you recently bought a new construction house.

Signs of Drainage Issues You Should Not Ignore

Clogged gutters

Maintain your gutters by removing dead leaves and your child’s lost baseball can help. Some homeowners observe gutters overflowing during a storm – which is a sign of a problem. Less obvious signs of clogged gutters include mud splattering on the home, peeling paint and streaks. Maybe the downspouts are not pointed in the right direction or maybe it’s time for a thorough spring cleaning with accompanied foundation inspections.

Out-of-control pests

Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water. If you notice mosquitoes becoming a nuisance, look for puddles that serve as a breeding ground for insects. Mosquitoes make it difficult to enjoy an outdoor kitchen or backyard patio. But even more troubling is the fact that standing water or puddles could spell foundation problems not only for the main house but for the patio and accessory outdoor living features such as gazebos and pergolas.

Cracks in the garage and driveway

While everyone checks their home for cracks, they sometimes ignore the garage and driveway. Of course, some minor cracks in the foundation are part of the settling process of a house. Before having a driveway repaved to address drainage issues, talk to a foundation repair specialist. Drainage repair experts evaluate the entire picture to make sure rainwater moves away from the home and out of the driveway so water doesn’t get beneath the foundation of the garage and crack.

At Steady House Foundation Repair, we provide foundation repair services in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. From simple jobs to complex problems that require specialty foundation repair work, we are here to assist homeowners and landlords by properly diagnosing and resolving foundation flaws. For more information about what to do if you notice drainage issues that need correction, please contact us today.

3 Tips to Improve Your Yard Drainage

Drainage issues are more than simply a source of frustration. Being in the presence of stagnant water in your yard may generate turmoil, attract pests, or even pose a threat to the structure of your home. Some options to improve your yard drainage and the surrounding environment are highlighted below.

3 Tips to Improve Your Yard Drainage

Underground Drainage Pipe Installation

A property’s insufficient drainage needs more time and effort than alternative solutions, such as the installation of an underground pipe. When it comes to installing drain pipes, it is critical to pay great attention to even the tiniest of aspects. Carefully examine the outflow, the slope of the pipes, and the depth of the pipes. It is possible that a rain garden close to the drainpipe outlet will be necessary. It is preferable to employ the assistance of a landscaping professional for this task.

Constructing a Rain Garden

Additionally, you may increase soil permeability drainage issues by installing a rain garden. The rain garden’s surface gathers runoff from intense rainstorms, which then soaks into the soil. After that, the water is cleaned up and replenished.

The natural soil underneath this altered soil would benefit from an optional layer of gravel or sand, which would enable rainwater to ultimately seep down into it.

French Drain Installation

In the event of severe drainage problems, a French drain is the preferable solution. Perforated pipes and geotextile fabrics are often used to keep debris out of the trench and prevent it from becoming clogged with dirt and debris. Through the use of pipes, excess water is subsequently channeled away from the house and into deeper soil layers.

It is vital that you get expert help if you want to improve the drainage in your yard by yourself. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you want drainage services for your home or business establishment.

3 Important Reasons To Get A Foundation Inspection

While it is never a bad idea to get a professional foundation inspection, there are certain reasons that may indicate that you should get one promptly. Here are three important reasons to get a foundation inspection.

3 Important Reasons To Get A Foundation Inspection

There Are Foundation Issues In Your Area

If there are known foundation issues in your area, it is a good idea to have your foundation inspected. These foundation issues in your area may indicate that the ground is unstable and may be affecting several of the homes surrounding your home. The best way to make sure that nothing is wrong is simply to have a professional do a thorough inspection of your foundation and let you know what they find.

You See Visual Damage In Your Home

If you see visual damage in your home, this is an excellent reason to have a foundation inspection performed promptly. This visual damage may include cracks on your walls and in your floors, door frames and window frames that are beginning to separate, uneven floors, etc. If you notice one or more of these signs, the best way to diagnose the issue is to get a foundation inspection.

You Plan On Buying Or Selling A Home

If you plan on either buying a home or selling your current home, it is a good idea to get a foundation inspection. This is important if you are purchasing a home because it lets you know if there are any issues with the foundation before you purchase the home. It is also a good idea to have your home’s foundation inspected before you sell it to ensure that you don’t have any issues that need to be repaired before you put your home on the market.

To learn more important reasons to get a foundation inspection, or to hire a professional to perform your inspection today, visit us at Steady House Foundation Repair.

The Best Ways to Level a House

Repairing the foundation of a house and relocating it to its original place is known as “home leveling.” Foreign tree roots, poor construction, and excessive dampness are significant reasons for a sloping house. Since home leveling is crucial in safeguarding your property’s value and protecting your family’s health, you must proceed with care to minimize structural damage. However, here are a few expert suggestions to level a house:

The Best Ways to Level a House

Recognize Floor Surface Inconsistencies

One of the most obvious signs that you need to get your home’s flooring leveled is uneven or sagging. These red signals may go unnoticed at times. You may drop marbles on the floor and watch their path to test this. Heaves and dips may be detected by looking at where they roll and settle.

Take A Closer Look At The Fundamentals.

There may be wall cracks, uneven flooring, and doors that won’t close, or windows that stick as the foundation of your home starts to tilt. Soil lateral pressure or sinking foundation footings might cause this.

Structural professionals should be called promptly if you see any of these warning indicators on your property’s foundation. If you wait too long, you run the risk of having to pay for expensive repairs or perhaps causing structural damage to the building. The leveling of your property may also be required if foundation repairs are no longer adequate.

Find Out What’s Causing The Issue.

To properly repair your foundation, you must first identify the source of the issue. Finding out why your home isn’t level can help with the repairs. Consult a specialist if you have any questions about how it works. By doing a thorough inspection of your basement or piers and foundation, you may take the required measures to level your property quickly and inexpensively,

We’re here to Help You Out.

Steady House Foundation Repair is the company to call if you have an inclined floor or cracked walls. Professional, courteous, high-quality foundation repair services are available across the Dallas/ Fort Worth, TX area. Get in touch with us right now to learn more about our foundation repair services or to make an appointment!

Why You Should Hire A Professional When You Find Foundation Cracks

If you have recently noticed that you have foundation cracks in your home, then it is a good idea to contact a professional as soon as you can. There are professionals who are skilled and well-trained when it comes to dealing with your foundation, and they will do an excellent job for you. Here are three important reasons to hire a professional when you find foundation cracks.

Why You Should Hire A Professional When You Find Foundation Cracks

They Can Perform A Thorough Inspection

A lot of the time when you find foundation cracks, this is just the surface of the issue. A professional will be able to come to your home and find any and all issues that you may have with your foundation. Once they have found anything and everything that is wrong with your foundation, they will give you a detailed report and let you know what is best in terms of moving forward with repairs.

You Reduce The Risk To Your Family

Foundation cracks can compromise the overall structure of your home, which makes it unsafe for your family. The last thing that you want is for your family to remain in a home that isn’t safe. Hiring a professional ensures that any structural issues with your home are spotted and taken care of so that you and your family is as safe as possible.

Their Work Is Guaranteed

When you hire a professional to repair your foundation for you, their work is guaranteed. This means that if you continue to have any issues after they have repaired your foundation cracks, that they will come back out and fix them for you. This is a great comfort to you because you know that no matter what you are in good hands and your foundation will be taken care of.

To hire a professional to help repair your foundation cracks today, visit us at Steady House Foundation Repair.

3 Tips to Prevent Home Foundation Damage from Drainage Issues

Despite spending a lot on your home investment, drainage issues can cause severe home foundation damage. At some point, it might cost an arm and leg to do repairs if left unchecked. But worst of all is that water on and under your property can invisibly damage your home foundation. That will then lead to more damage to the floors, walls, and plumbing system. This article offers you various tips on how to prevent common drainage issues.

3 Tips to Prevent Home Foundation Damage from Drainage Issues

Install Gutters and Downspouts

When rainwater isn’t controlled, it erodes the soil below to form low spot pools that allow water to stand and seep into the ground directly at the foundation.

That can trigger drainage issues by allowing water to penetrate the porous concrete; it freezes and widens existing cracks in a repeated cycle of soaking and drying. Sometimes the force might be too persistent, causing the concrete slab to break.

The first defense of protecting your foundation is catching rainwater in the gutters and directing it into downspouts. Ensure the gutters are clean and the downspouts direct the water away from your house foundation.

Check on Your Landscaping

You might have planted ornamental plants all around your house. But how far are they from the foundation? Ornamental plants and hedges can contribute to water penetrating the soil, widening existing cracks, or clogging drainage pipes. So, consider removing landscaping plants that are growing close to your house foundation.

Moisture in Your Basement

It is common to find moisture in your basement, but when it is in excess it indicates severe drainage issues. For that reason, some basements have a sump pump to deal with intermittent water.

However, more signs require professional attention to identify hidden drainage issues. They include mildew, stains, and masonry conditions like efflorescence (white or gray crust forming on the wall) and spalling (masonry flakes off in patches).

Get Professional Foundation Repair Services

Have you discovered a foundation weakness that needs specialist attention? Steady House Foundation Repair we are here to help you out. Our specialists will work on a slab, pier, and beam foundation to ensure a stable house foundation. Contact us to schedule a foundation repair service for you.

4 Common Signs Of Foundation Problems Due To Expansive Clay Soils

Genuinely speaking, when somebody is constructing a home or a residential property, the last thing they think of is the soil on the property. However, considering the type of soil you are building on is essential to your building’s foundation, future structure and stability. What exactly is expansive clay soil?

4 Common Signs Of Foundation Problems Due To Expansive Clay Soils

What Is Expansive Clay Soil?

It is a kind of soil with a high composition of adsorptive clay. Expansive soils swell when they are wet, increasing in volume by 10% or even more. Another bad thing about these soils is that when they are dry, they shrink.

These two characteristics, shrinkage and swelling, are threats to the stability of your building foundation because they can cause significant stress on the concrete foundation, thereby causing foundation movements and severe damage to your building. Below are the signs of foundation problems caused by expansive clay soil?

Foundation Upheaving

One of the severe problems associated with expansive clay soil is foundation heaving due to moisture. The soil expands and freezes as moisture collects in it, causing upward pressure on the foundation. The pressure causes the foundation to heave upward over time.

Foundation Settling or Sinking.

As stated earlier, expansive clay soil shrinks or swells depending on the amount of moisture in the soil. If the soil lacks moisture and contracts, there is a possibility that your foundation may sink. Any foundational movement is detrimental to the stability of your building and should be attended to immediately.

Foundation Cracks, Wall or Floor Cracks.

When expansive soils expand, they exert enormous pressure on the foundation, causing movements and shifts that cause the foundation to crack. If these shifts persist, they can extend these cracks to the walls and the floor.

Doors Can’t Close Properly.

It is known that doors can stick during seasons of high humidity. However, off-season sticking depicts that there could be foundation problems from expansive clay soil.

These signs can cause a lot of damage if they are ignored. Suppose you notice any foundation problem, don’t hesitate to call a professional to inspect and repair your property. Visit us at Steady House Foundation Repair

Why It Is So Important To Contact A Professional For Drainage Issues

When it comes to your foundation, drainage issues can be a big problem. They can cause damage to your foundation that could otherwise be avoided, and they need to be taken care of right away. Thankfully, you have the option of calling a professional to come and fix this issue for you. They are there to help and will do an excellent job repairing the problem. Here are three reasons why it is so important to contact a professional for drainage issues.

Why It Is So Important To Contact A Professional For Drainage Issues

Save Money On Repairs

One awesome reason to hire a professional for your drainage issues is because you will end up saving so much money on repairs. The sooner you contact a professional for your drainage issues, the less money you will have to pay in repairs. However, if you wait, then your foundation will become much more damaged by the water.

Fix The Issue Correctly

Another important reason to contact a professional for drainage issues is because they will fix the problem correctly the first time around. They will install a drainage system around your home that ensures water does not pool around your foundation, and they will also perform any necessary changes to your driveway and/or sidewalk slopes.

They Can Answer All Your Questions

Even if you aren’t sure if you have a drainage issue, but you fear you might in the future, it is a great idea to contact a professional. They will be able to answer any and all questions that you have about drainage and can proactively help you to ensure that you don’t end up with any drainage issues in the future.

To contact a professional for drainage issues today, visit us at Steady House Foundation Repair.