Foundation issues can be the bane of any homeowner’s existence. They can compromise the structural integrity of your home and result in expensive repairs if not repaired right away. House shifting, in particular, can cause significant damage, such as cracked walls, uneven floors, and sticking doors and windows.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the signs of a shifting foundation, provide insights into the causes, and offer effective foundation repair solutions to fix the issue. Keep reading to learn how to protect your home’s foundation and ensure its long-term stability.
What Does Foundation Shifting Mean?
Foundation shifting is when your home’s foundation settles or moves due to various factors such as soil conditions, moisture levels, or structural imbalances. Foundation settlement can be categorized as uniform or differential.
Uniform Settlement
Uniform settlement, as the term suggests, occurs evenly across the entire foundation. This type typically happens when the soil beneath the foundation compresses uniformly. While it may sound harmless, any kind of settlement can lead to concerns and potential structural issues. Here’s what you need to know:
- Causes: Uniform settlement is often due to the consolidation of soil, where the weight of the building compresses the soil evenly.
- Indicators: Look for minor cracking in the interior and exterior walls, floors settling smoothly, and uniform sinking around the structure.
Differential Settlement
Differential settlement occurs when one part of the foundation settles more than another, leading to an uneven foundation. This type of settlement can cause significant structural damage and pose a severe risk to the integrity of your home.
- Causes: Differential settlement arises from various things including soil conditions beneath the foundation, improper construction techniques, and poor drainage.
- Indicators: Signs of differential settlement include uneven floors, cracks in walls and ceilings, doors and windows that stick or don’t close properly, and noticeable tilting or sinking in certain areas of the home.
Why It Matters
Both types of settlement can affect your home’s stability, but differential settlement typically poses a higher risk due to the uneven stress it places on the structure. These issues can worsen if left unaddressed, leading to structural instability, expensive repairs, or even a complete foundation failure over time. Acting quickly can prevent these outcomes and save you money in the long run.
For more information, see What Happens if a Foundation Shifts.
How To Fix A Shifting House Foundation?
Is your house showing signs of foundation issues such as sloping floors, cracked walls, or hard-to-open windows and doors? Foundation problems can be daunting, but addressing them immediately can help restore your peace of mind and the value of your home.
First Things First: Get A Professional Foundation Inspection
A thorough, professional foundation inspection is the first step in fixing a shifting house foundation. This inspection typically includes:
- Visual assessment of the foundation and surrounding areas.
- Measurement of floor levels to detect unevenness.
- Identification of cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings.
- Checking doors and windows for alignment issues.
Foundation Underpinning
After the inspection, the next step is determining the best course of action. If your foundation has shifted, it may need underpinning. Underpinning involves placing piers under the foundation to stabilize it and prevent additional movement. This process can be crucial if your house shifts due to unstable soil.
Push Piers
Push piers are hydraulically driven piers used to lift and stabilize your foundation. The piers are pushed deep into the ground until they reach stable soil or bedrock. Once in place, they’re attached to the footing, and the foundation is raised as much as possible without causing damage.
Benefits include:
- Ability to stabilize and even lift a sunken foundation.
- Minimal disruption to your property.
- Long-lasting solution for severe foundation shifting.
Helical Piers
Helical piers, shaped like giant corkscrews, are twisted into the ground until they reach the required depth and torque to stabilize the foundation. They provide strong support for both lightweight structures, such as garages and porches, and bigger buildings.
They are ideal for:
- Areas with limited access.
- Sites requiring tension resistance.
- Quick installation with immediate load-bearing capabilities.
Slab Piers
Slab piers, either push or helical, are installed through holes drilled in the concrete slab to lift and stabilize settled sections. These piers transfer the slab’s weight to more stable soil, preventing further movement. Foundation underpinning using slab piers is a minimally invasive and relatively quick procedure, typically causing little to no disruption to the homeowner’s daily routine.
Foundation Crack Repair
Several effective methods are available to repair foundation cracks caused by a shifting foundation, each suited for different types and severities of damage.
- Epoxy Injections: This method repairs non-structural cracks by injecting epoxy resin into them. Once cured, the epoxy creates a solid bond that restores the concrete’s original strength.
- Carbon Fiber Patches: Carbon fiber patches are applied to reinforce larger or more significant cracks. These patches add tensile strength to prevent further cracking or movement, making them ideal for supporting critical areas of the foundation.
- Polyurethane Injections: These injections are perfect for sealing and waterproofing cracks. Polyurethane expands to fill the cracks and creates a flexible seal, preventing moisture from entering and ensuring a watertight solution.
For more information, see How Are Foundation Cracks Repaired?
Recognize The Signs Of Foundation Problems
Before taking preventive measures, you must identify the early signs of foundation problems. Sloping floors, for instance, often indicate foundation settlement. Wall cracks, especially around doors and windows, suggest your home is shifting. A chimney pulling away from the house is a classic symptom of foundation issues. Difficulty opening and closing windows and doors is another common sign that your house is shifting.
How To Prevent Foundation Problems
Taking a proactive approach is essential for protecting your home from foundation problems. Here are several effective preventive measures to help you avoid the stress and cost associated with foundation problems.
- Control Water Around Your Home: Water is a primary cause of foundation problems. Ensure your home has good drainage to direct water away from the foundation. Regularly clean gutters and extend downspouts to prevent water from pooling around your foundation. Grade your yard to slope away from your foundation, reducing the risk of water accumulation.
- Manage Your Landscape Properly: Be mindful of how you manage your landscape. Avoid planting large trees too close to your house, as their roots can extend under the foundation. Ensure that irrigation systems do not oversaturate the soil near the foundation.
- Regular Foundation Inspections: Regular inspections can help identify problems early. Look for signs like cracks or uneven floors. Catching foundation issues early can prevent more severe problems down the line.
- Timely Foundation Repairs: If your home is already experiencing foundation issues, timely repairs are crucial.
Who To Call For Foundation Problems?
If you’re experiencing foundation problems, it’s important to address them immediately with a trusted and experienced contractor. For expert foundation repair services, call Dalinghaus Construction. We specialize in various aspects of foundation repair and serve Southern California, Arizona, and parts of Nevada.
Dalinghaus Construction offers tailored solutions, including:
- Foundation Repair
- Foundation Inspections
- Concrete Lifting, Removal, and Replacement
- Crawl Space Repair
- Retaining Wall Repair
- Seawall Repair
Our team ensures a straightforward, stress-free process, from the initial free inspection to the final repair. Contact us to protect the value of your home and restore your peace of mind.