Foundation repair 101 - Class In Session

First I would like to welcome everybody to a new class entitled Foundation fix 101.

I will be your instructor. My name is Ed. I have been in the building company for close to 20 years now, and I have worked on hundreds of building foundations straight through the years. I have a vast knowledge of foundation failures and the probable causes. I have developed unavoidable systems and techniques to deal with the problems. I still keep an open mind, and I learn new things practically daily.

DRYWALL SETTLEMENT

I would like to start today's class with an open forum. I am going to give each of you the occasion to ask questions and share in open discussion. I will effort to write back the questions and provide inherent solutions to the problems. I am hopeful that everybody may learn something from this exercise. Now then,, Lets get started!

-Ed - Questions?.....Yes, In the back row. Please ask your question.

- Hi, My name is Joe. I would like to ask about a problem with my basement. I have lived in my house since 1982, and never had any foundation problems until recently. I have noticed a long vertical crack that runs downward from a window opening, all the way to the floor. I am looking very small cracks in the drywall directly above this area. What is going on? Is this serious?

-Ed - Well Joe, you right on have some foundation movement. I need to ask you about the crack. Is it wider at the top or at the bottom?

-Joe - It is wider at the top and it seems to taper to a hair line at the bottom.

- Ed - That would indicate angle settlement on either side of the window. The intuit for the crack being directly below the window is because that is the weakest area for separation. The first thing you should do is go down to your local Sears, or Home Depot, or a similar hardware store, and purchase a laser level. It doesn't have to be a fancy one, but make sure it will throw a 360 degree line. Make sure it is a self leveling type. They are not very expensive if you shop around. You need to set the laser in the basement and throw a line along the problem wall. Measure the length between the laser line and the overhead floor joists. You will swiftly see the exact dissimilarity and the exact number of settlement that the corner, or corners, have realized. You should then take a very close look at the exterior of the foundation and peruse the soil for negative grade or problem down spouts or other likely contributors to the problem. You will need help with straightening and stabilizing of the foundation. You should touch a few different foundation piering associates in your territory. Give them the details with as much information as you can. They should be able to give you some basic price figures for the stabilization and restorative jacking of the problem areas. The ones that you can trust are the ones that write back with confidence and offer satisfaction guarantees and period warranties. If they seem confused and their level of expertise is questionable, then you should not allow them to experiment on your house.

-Ed - Any more questions about this type of a problem?..Yes, You in the second row...

- Hi my name is Carol. I'm wondering about a similar type of vertical crack, except it is wider at the lowest and it only runs halfway up the wall. What would cause something like that?

-Ed - That is a very good demand Carol. That type of a crack indicates a sag in the foundation below that singular area. Regularly that situation occurs in crawl space foundations and Regularly it is in foundations that were poured prior to the mid 70's. Probably a spread footing type.

-Carol - That is right. The home is a 1968 and the neighborhood is mostly spread footings and slab on grade type construction.

-Ed - I'm going to suggest a few possibilities. There may be a problem with the main sewer drain that Regularly runs directly below the footing and flows toward the street. The line may be leaking and softening the soil below the region in question. You may have a water main leak that could be as small as a pinhole and generate the problem. You may just have groundwater softening due to negative grade. Look around the yard for signs of sinking spots. Look for settling sidewalks or porch, or any other indications of softening soil. You should touch foundation experts in your area and give them all of the information. They should be able to help you with some options and permant fix ideas.

-Ed - More Questions?...Yes..You in the front..

- Hi my name is Bill. I just got transferred into town and my wife and I are house shopping. We are not customary with the territory and we are worried about the soil problems over on the south side of town. We found a newer home that is just the right size and we realy like it. It is priced below market and we view it might ba a great deal, but when we looked it over closely, we noticed un-even floors and crooked doorways and we realized why the price is so low. We are wondering either or not we should look elsewhere?

-Ed - Bill, Your concern is probably shared with thousands of folks that want the same answers. I am going to try to give you the best inherent suggest about that situation. There are several things that you should do before you make any commitments. First you should look around the neighborhood for other signs of problem soils, Particularly if it is a newer development, or is settled on a recently terraced hillside. You should talk to the around neighbors about their houses. Ask about any problems that they may be experiencing. Look very closely at streets, curbs, sidewalks, driveways, porches, and so forth. If the home that you are curious in seems to be the only real problematic home then the movement could be associated to poor landscaping. There might be negative grade. There might have been problems with a badly designed sprinkler ideas or over watering because of plants along the foundation. The best thing to do in a situation like this is to get devotee advise, preferably local and customary with the territorial problems. Seek out the best foundation fix associates by reputation and track record. They should be able to give general ball park figures for the repairs that will be necessary. You will then be able to rate either or not the purchase may be a good deal. In territories where there are numerous incidents of similar problems, it is inherent that you may be able to procure lots of information from the others that have undertaken the repairs.

_ Ed - Well folks, it looks like we're running out of time. I am sorry that we did not get to all of you in this meeting. I noticed many hands up, and I wish we had more time. I would like to thank you all for coming. I have a special homework assignment for those of you that did not get a occasion to ask your questions. I would like you to go to a website: allexperts.com. Click on: Home and Garden, then click on: Home Improvement, then click on: Foundation Stabilization. You may enter questions there. Make sure you keep all of your notes, and I'll see you again soon.

Foundation repair 101 - Class In Session

DRYWALL SETTLEMENT