Foundation Retrofitting is a relatively inexpensive method of repairing your home’s foundation. Many older houses do not have the necessary structural integrity to withstand the weight of today’s homes. As a result, they are frequently buckled, and their foundation eventually collapses. A foundation can be an extremely expensive project, if not addressed properly. Many individuals find that they are unable to sell their home when it undergoes this type of repair, which is unfortunate since many older homes are still worth a great deal of money.
A foundation is typically comprised of several different layers. The base, or bottom, layer is called the slab. This is a concrete foundation that is built directly onto the earth. The next layer, known as the piers, is a row of wooden posts or other structural support structures. These piers are also made from concrete and provide the framework for the rest of the foundation.
One of the most common causes of foundation failure is a lack of waterproofing. Regardless of where a house is located, if it is near a body of water, such as a lake, the foundation is most at risk. The level of groundwater in your foundation can be determined by checking the exterior foundation. If the groundwater is present, this indicates that the house may be in a zone with a high degree of drainage. If the water level is not high enough, the soil around the foundation can build up pressure on the foundation, causing cracks and foundation damage.
In some cases, the foundation may simply be built too high. In these cases, the amount of water draining to the house is insufficient to keep the foundation from becoming damaged. In addition, water can soak up the insulation in the walls, causing them to become moist and brittle over time. Finally, the presence of mold spores can cause a building to become unhealthy over time and must be addressed.
There are a number of different ways to remedy foundation damage, and there are a number of different reasons that a foundation may need to be repaired or replaced. Many homes have a basement, which serves as the main storeroom for the family. Without this space, a house would have to be designed with an unoccupied basement. Additionally, homes that were built before plastics produced their wonderful insulating properties will often have a basement which is nothing more than a storage area for items. In these instances, a foundation repair project is necessary.
In many cases, water damage can occur due to the improper design of the house’s basement system. For example, if the basement is not designed to take the amount of water that a house might experience, then the foundation could become damaged. Additionally, the house’s foundation may be built on soil that contains a lot of moisture, without the system being able to adequately remove excess moisture. All of these conditions can lead to damage to the basement system, and should be addressed with a foundation repair.
If a basement has been flooded, the first thing that the homeowner needs to do is to stop the water from flowing into the house. This can be done by installing sump pumps or excavating the basement floor to remove excess water. Once the water has been stopped, a foundation repair project can begin. In some cases, all that needs to be done is to waterproof the walls. In other cases, a complete foundation repair will be necessary. If the walls have been completely flooded, the walls will need to be reinforced and waterproofed.
Remodeling a basement can be an excellent investment for a homeowner. The cost of repairing a basement and remodeling a house can be far less than replacing the entire foundation of a house. A good contractor can easily make improvements to any basement and give a house a new, beautiful look.