(877)658-7922
Foundation Crack Repairs and Problems
When most people
notice foundation cracks in their home, they many times find
themselves asking the question "what can I do to fix the
problem?".
If you have
noticed foundation cracks or similar symptoms of a
foundation settlement such as drywall cracks, doors and
windows that will not open and close properly, sloping
floors or exterior foundation cracks, you are dealing with a
foundation issue that is caused by ever-changing soil
conditions around or under your home.
If you have
noticed cracks in the foundation of your home or building,
we are here to help!
Contact us by
phone (877)658-7922 or one of our local office numbers or
online
to schedule a
FREE Foundation Inspection!
Reasons for cracks in foundations
Foundation
problems are many times caused by changes in the moisture
content of the soils around your home. During extended
periods of dry weather, the soils around and under your home
can shrink, causing your home to settle. This is called
“linear shrinkage” and can only be measured by perform a
“PI” or “Atterberg Limits”. When this occurs, you may begin to
notice foundation cracks throughout your home that indicate
differential settlement! During extremely wet
periods, the soils under your home can do one of two things.
Swell or more often, the soils will soften or even collapse
which can also cause your home to sink and settle.
Another
foundation problem caused by wet soil conditions is deflection of walls. If your home has a basement or
crawlspace, you may notice foundation cracks in the walls,
which can be caused when hydrostatic pressure is built
behind the wall after a moderate or heavy rain. When
hydrostatic pressure builds on your foundation walls, it
will result in the wall moving inward. If your basement
walls begin to fail, you will notice foundation cracks as
the wall will start to bow, buckle, tip, or slide inward.
There are many
reasons that foundation problems exist and Precision
Foundation Specialists can help you understand what caused
the problems and your options for fixing them. Our
estimators are Certified Special Inspectors and would be
happy to contact you to set up your appointment for a free
inspection.
Foundation cracks
are an unsettling problem that leaves you concerned about
the condition of your home. Because foundation problems
must be disclosed when selling a home, many homeowners need
to find a solution to their foundation problem so that the
price of their home is not decimated. Since foundation
problems can reduce the value of a home by 12 - 22%. Fixing
foundation problems is usually the most logical option for
homeowners.
Fixing foundation
problems is what we do, so if you have foundation cracks or
other symptoms of a foundation failure, we are here to
help. Let our staff of Geotechnical, Civil & Structural
engineers come up with an engineered solution just for you.
Each foundation problem has its one unique solution. No two
problems are the same.
What Causes Foundation Problems?
With the cheap
construction methods used by homebuilders, the pressures of
the earth, settling and heaving soils, and just your home’s
weight bearing down on it, your foundation takes it from all
sides. And when your foundation relieve and fail, the
problems that appear can range from cosmetic to
devastating. Once a problem occurs, it will only continue
to worsen as the home gets older and the problem that caused
the foundation failure continues. PFS is dedicated to
recognizing these problems and addressing them with
long-lasting solutions.
Foundation Damage
Created in Foundation Construction
Many homeowners
assume that if a house is new then the foundation must be
strong. Surely the builder would have built it as if he
owned it, right? WRONG! Unfortunately, this is a very
common misconception. No matter how old or new a home is;
cracks, foundation settlement and other foundation problems
are still possible. Every crack and sag in a home is a
separate problem that will worsen or compromise the
structural integrity of your home. If the pressures that
created these cracks is not addressed, then the
stress/strain will continue.
Finding and Monitoring Cracks
Very often,
foundation wall cracks are not detected
until long after they've formed. However, these cracks are
often still very distressing, causing homeowners to believe
that this crack appeared suddenly. While this is usually not
the case, it's certainly important to treat all foundation
wall cracks as a potentially serious problem that should be
assessed by a professional foundation engineer or
specialist.
Cracks in the
foundation walls will most often appear at the weakest
points, including corners, edges of basement window frames,
holes for service, concrete cold joints, long spans of wall,
pipe penetrations, and along the tie rods in the foundation.
Any cracks detected should be checked on regularly – if you
suspect that the crack has moved, spread, or widened, then
your basement walls may be experiencing increased fatigue
which will increase the damage and deepen the problem. Keep
an eye on the crack by monitoring its length. Mark the ends
of the crack with a pencil, and draw several "alignment"
marks along the crack to check that the edges of the crack
are not shifting unevenly. Date all marks to help record the
rate of deterioration. And since Precision Foundation
Specialists Inc. offers all written estimates and
consultations at no cost or obligation to you, do not
hesitate to call for a FREE estimate today!
Crawl Space Repairs
Settled columns,
sagging beams and wavy floor joists within
a crawlspace lead to extensive cosmetic and structural
damage in a home if left uncorrected. Symptoms such as
sloping floors and cracks in drywall are common visual signs
of repair being needed.
Settling of your
columns in the crawlspace area is most often assocaiated by
weak foundation soils. Over the time, the soils shift and
settle with changes in moisture content and density; causing
movement in the columns and the beams located above these
columns. Sagging floor joists & beams are often the visual
result of excessive spacing of the existing pier columns
causing an overloading of the beams and causing them to bend
and sag. Excess moisture and rotten wood can also cause
beams and joists to weaken over time as well as termite
damage.
The Precision
Foundation Specialists Engineered Smart Support System
is the answer. The Smart Support is an additional support
system that helps correct issues caused by inadequate
structural design, weak foundation soils supporting columns
or weakening & rotten wood in the floor system due to high
humidity and moisture levels within a crawlspace.
The Support System levels and stabilizes the beams and floor
joists. A solid base of engineered select fill addresses
problems with weak foundation soils by effectively
transferring the load to competent soil bearing. Then,
treated custom cut timber is placed under the existing floor
joists. The system is anchored by using high strength
concrete. The system is designed for each client based upon
current construction practices accepted by the latest
revision of the International Residential Code as well as
our Engineers recommendations. The system is
manufactured in house and provides the best opportunity to
lift your floors and walls back to their original, level
position. We can not guarantee that drywall cracks will
close; however, we are successful 90% of the time. PFS sets
the standard in home and floor leveling.
Call or
email
us
today for a no cost inspection and estimate!
Support
Advantages:
-
No mess
concrete or curing time required
-
Restores
property value
-
Ability to
install in tight conditions where height or access is
limited
-
Minimal
disturbance to the crawlspace
-
Immediate
stabilization and results
-
Engineered
footing effectively transfers load to existing soils
-
Can support
vertical loads exceeding 50,000 lbs.
Basement Repair
Drying a wet or
damp basement is not a do it yourself job. Thankfully we
have dried hundreds of damp wet basements and have the skill
and experience to make your basement a drier, cleaner,
healthier place.
Waterproofing
your damp, wet basement will expand the potential livable
and usable space in your home. You will no longer avoid the
basement; instead, you will be able to utilize this
revitalized area to increase living space or for use as dry
storage.
The increase in
space means often increases the value of your home.
Waterproofing a wet basement will allow you to use or even
finish the basement without the potential of ruining
drywall, paneling, boxes or furniture. Waterproofing will
create a healthier environment in your home by eliminating
dampness. Mold THRIVES in damp environments!
PFS offers the
problem solving, patent-pending H2OGuard System
which has a special design that separates it from the soil
under your floor, sitting it on the foundation's footer so
it will never clog. Other waterproofing systems sit in the
dirt and mud (aka The Mud Zone). The state-of-the-art system
performs much better than the old fashioned corrugated black
hose and ceramic drain tile systems offered by other
contactors.
This economical
and effective waterproofing system from PFS intercepts water
at the perimeter of your basement and drains it safely away
unseen - guaranteed! Our unique design creates a clean edge
and keep debris out of the system. The H2OGuard
drainage system will keep your basement clean and dry so you
can use the space for dry storage, recreational purposes, or
to finish for additional living space.
We can install or
fix your basement waterproofing now and prevent a flooding
disaster that could ruin your cherished personal belongings
and cause expensive basement flooding & repair!
If you suffer
with a damp or wet basement, or have mildew or mold in your
home, call Precision Foundation Specialists now!
H2OGuard,
exclusively from Precision Foundation Specialist, is
light years ahead of the antiquated drain tile used by other
waterproofing companies.
Benefits of
choosing Precision Foundation Specialists Inc.
•Savings of Up to 50% Over Other Waterproofing Methods
•Transferable Written Warranty
•FREE Expert Written Estimates and Inspections to Homeowners
•Drug free employees working in your home
•31+ Years Experience Fixing Basements and Crawl Spaces
Reliable Sump Pump Systems
PFS provides the
most meticulously researched, highest quality sump pump
systems in the industry. Every sump pump system is
individually designed with an air-tight sump pump crock lid,
floor drain, anti back flow check valve, & a patented
PumpClean Stand!
PFS offers
multiple outstanding sump pump solutions to home owners who
want to dry their wet basement and change it into usable
space. Each system has a sump pump water zone, a good long
lasting pump liner, plus a reliable sump pump.
Our
experienced installation crews pride themselves in
completing outstanding basement waterproofing jobs, often in
a single day. We are eager to assist in drying your damp or
wet basement! For a free, no obligation sump pump or
complete waterproofing proposal, call or
e-mail us now!
ŠPrecision Foundation Specialists Inc 2012
