With most objects and living things, there is a feature that forms the core; the driving force on which every other part of it depends. While the other features are important in coming together to form a whole, if you were to remove that driving force, everything else would cease to work properly. For a human, this would be the brain. If that were damaged, the effects would be apparent across the entire body. For a physical structure, it would be the foundation. If the foundation were damaged, the rest of the building would exhibit detrimental symptoms.
A good, well-maintained foundation is one of the keys to keeping a home in good repair. Unlike most other areas of a home, failure to maintain a foundation could directly cause damage across the entire structure. Catching problems before they become worse can save a great deal of money and hassle.
If your home is suffering from a bad or failing foundation, it will likely exhibit a number of symptoms, including: cracks in hard floors, walls and surfaces inside and outside of the home, windows or doors that do not align or shut properly, water leakage in the basement, and the tilting of walls or features, such as chimneys. If you suspect your foundation is failing, it should be inspected as soon as possible.
The majority of foundation problems can be traced back to the soil it rests on, which can change and shift as time goes on, often due to poor compaction during construction and/or absorption of moisture. When the soil shifts, it creates voids. A foundation on top of soil full of empty spaces will not be getting the support that it needs to keep stable. And an unstable foundation causes a great deal of stress to the home built on top of it, and it will release this stress by cracking.
Once you know that there are foundational issues with your home, do not delay. The sooner you get them taken care of, the less damage it can do to the rest of the home. Foundation issues are not so much a Do-It-Yourself project, so you will probably need to hire a professional to take care of it. Just make sure they are reputable and competent. But what exactly can they do to fix it?
The most effective method of stabilizing the foundation of an existing structure is through a process called underpinning. This entails using various types of piles or piers to compensate for the weaknesses of the soil. The type of pier used for the job depends on the soil conditions and current integrity of the existing foundation. A more stable, consistent foundation takes the load off of the structure of the home, quite literally.
Ignoring or neglecting foundational problems is never a wise decision. The sooner you get them dealt with, the better. Failure to do so is both expensive and dangerous, and it will only get worse as time goes on.
A good, well-maintained foundation is one of the keys to keeping a home in good repair. Unlike most other areas of a home, failure to maintain a foundation could directly cause damage across the entire structure. Catching problems before they become worse can save a great deal of money and hassle.
If your home is suffering from a bad or failing foundation, it will likely exhibit a number of symptoms, including: cracks in hard floors, walls and surfaces inside and outside of the home, windows or doors that do not align or shut properly, water leakage in the basement, and the tilting of walls or features, such as chimneys. If you suspect your foundation is failing, it should be inspected as soon as possible.
The majority of foundation problems can be traced back to the soil it rests on, which can change and shift as time goes on, often due to poor compaction during construction and/or absorption of moisture. When the soil shifts, it creates voids. A foundation on top of soil full of empty spaces will not be getting the support that it needs to keep stable. And an unstable foundation causes a great deal of stress to the home built on top of it, and it will release this stress by cracking.
Once you know that there are foundational issues with your home, do not delay. The sooner you get them taken care of, the less damage it can do to the rest of the home. Foundation issues are not so much a Do-It-Yourself project, so you will probably need to hire a professional to take care of it. Just make sure they are reputable and competent. But what exactly can they do to fix it?
The most effective method of stabilizing the foundation of an existing structure is through a process called underpinning. This entails using various types of piles or piers to compensate for the weaknesses of the soil. The type of pier used for the job depends on the soil conditions and current integrity of the existing foundation. A more stable, consistent foundation takes the load off of the structure of the home, quite literally.
Ignoring or neglecting foundational problems is never a wise decision. The sooner you get them dealt with, the better. Failure to do so is both expensive and dangerous, and it will only get worse as time goes on.
About the Author:
Finding a well-reported on contractor for something such as foundation repair can be a challenge. Reputations are based on previous behavior, and Park Range Construction, a Colorado's structural repair specialists, has built one based on constant dedication to quality and hard work.
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