Foundation Movement – Symptoms, Causes, and Repair Solutions
Symptoms of Foundation Failure
The most obvious indicators of foundation movement are:
Diagonal cracks in interior wall finishes at the corners of doors and windows. Cracks may also occur at the intersection of walls and ceilings, and at the intersection of wall surfaces.
Doors bind or do not open or close properly. The gap between the top doors and the adjacent door frames will not be uniform.
Windows bind or do not open or close properly.
Cabinet doors do not close properly.
Floors are not level.
Cracks in exterior brick.
Cracks in the concrete perimeter beam. (Look at the concrete beam below the siding or brick along the perimeter of your home.)
Separations of wood trim at the exterior corners of your home above brick.
Separations of the brick and the adjacent wood surfaces at the sides of garage doors.
Separations of the brick and the adjacent wood surfaces at the sides of the chimney.
Drainage Modifications
Rain, runoff, and subsurface water movement can result in significant damage to residential foundations. Effective management of surface and subsurface water is critical in minimizing foundation movement.
Austin Foundation Repair has extensive experience in the installation of surface and subsurface drainage systems of all sizes. We have installed inlet drains, french drains, and subsurface barriers on hundreds of residential and commercial projects.
Pressure Grouting
Pressure grouting is normally specified after mechanical jacking. Grouting is not normally required unless the slab deflects substantially as it is lifted.
If your project requires soil compaction or other forms of specialty grouting please contact our offices for further information.
Inspection and Consulting Services
Dennie Hill Concrete Foundations will visit your property and recommend repairs needed to address your foundation movement or drainage problems.
If the project is complex, our staff can recommend consulting engineers to evaluate the problem and formulate repair recommendations. We always recommend that you hire an engineer on any project exceeding $5,000.00.
The engineer will act as your representative and verify that repair work is done properly. After work is completed, the engineer should provide you with a letter certifying that the work was done according to the project specifications.
Please call our offices in order to schedule an appointment or e-mail us with your contact information and a description of the problems you are experiencing.