All modern buildings around the world are constructed on top of solid foundations to keep them secure, from large office buildings and libraries to the smallest suburban homes. Houses, in particular, may be built on a number of foundation models, each with different attributes and advantages. Some models may be impractical to build near fault lines or in flood-prone areas, however, and foundation issues and foundation failure may be common in some cases. However, a foundation repair expert can be called upon when foundation repair services are contacted, and concerned homeowners may find a number of foundation repair services in their area. What might these foundation repair services do? And what are some common foundation models?
Typical Foundations
One common type of foundation is the “stone slab” model, which has proven popular across Texas in particular. In fact, most Texan homes younger than 50 years are built on them, and while slab foundations lack the advanced features of other types, they are solid and secure and may last a long time. In areas free of fault lines or flooding, a stone slab may be all that is needed.
Another typical foundation type is the crawlspace, which gets its name from how the foundation elevates the house 18″ off the ground. This creates an open crawlspace where homeowners and foundation repair experts alike may visit, and they can inspect or repair the foundation and the plumbing. Crawlspaces can also protect an elevated home from flood waters, allowing that water to pass right under it.
The third common foundation model is the pillar and beam type. This too is a crawlspace, but with wooden and concrete pillars and beams underneath for extra support (hence the name). Thee foundations are popular and cost friendly, but they are vulnerable to earthquakes since the pillars do not go very deep into the ground. A certified geologist on staff can be consulted to check for this.
Basements stand as the fourth common foundation type, and they are well-liked for adding a lot of square footage to a house. Such basements can be used for storage or even for a living space, and basements are known for being resistant to fires and earthquakes. The main issue with basements is that they are vulnerable to flooding since they are wide ope and go deep into the ground. Foundation repair for basements often involves flood protection.
Fixing a Foundation
A concerned homeowner may look up local foundation repair services in their area, and if they don’t already have a reference, they can check online. A good foundation repair crew will have their own website complete with helpful articles, videos, and images showcasing their work. A homeowner can compare a number of local foundation companies if they wish and use customer reviews as further reference. Once a good company is chosen and hired, the foundation may soon be fixed.
Crawlspaces offer room for workers to diagnose and fix problems with a foundation or the plumbing, and of course a basement has ample room for workers to operate in. Down in a basement, workers are often tasked with water protection. For example, very old basements (built in the early 1900s or earlier) were made of limestone brick, and these old walls bulge inwards over time from pressure of water-heavy soil. These walls may develop cracks that leak water, too. Such walls can’t be forced back into shape, but contractors may build concrete walls that contain the bulging walls and their leaking water.
Meanwhile, foundation experts may also repair and enhance a basement so that flooding water from the outside can no longer leak into the basement, and plumbers can also fix pipes on the ceiling that are leaking water down into the basement. These plumbers may also be asked to install sump pumps at the basement’s lowest point, and they may also build channels that can redirect loose water to those pumps. A sump pump may then draw up loose water and redirect it outside of the home. Loose water must be removed and prevented from leaking into the basement since standing water may damage stored items or furniture in the basement. It may also erode the concrete walls or floors over time, and also foster mold growth due to excessive moisture.
