Sinking Foundations
WHAT MAKES YOUR FOUNDATION SINK?
Main causes of a sinking foundation
Most of the time sinking foundations are caused by changes in the soil under and around the home.
Most commonly it is caused by shrinkage due to compression of the soil from the weight of the home.
The pressure created by the weight of the structure compresses the expansive soil and now the foundation is sinking.
There are environmental factors that contribute to settlement as well. When the weather is hot and dry, the soil will dry out and shrink and then pull away from the foundation.
Water is another contributing factor. When water gets into the soil under the foundation it causes it to become softer and more likely to compress, causing your foundation to sink.
Warning signs of a sinking foundation
Structural Warning Signs
Cracks in foundation walls are indicators of a sinking foundation. In a brick or block foundation wall, these cracks will appear to stair step and most often will follow the grout lines between the block or brick.
In a poured concrete foundation the cracks often will be wider at the top than at the bottom of the crack. These cracks indicate that part of the foundation is falling away from the rest of the foundation.
Windows and doors sticking or becoming more difficult to open or close could be indicative of foundation settlement.
Cracks in plaster or drywall above door frames and window frames. For these types of cracks, if they reappear after being repaired chances are your foundation is settling.
If you are not the first owner of the home, you can sometimes tell if the cracks have been repaired before by examining the area around the cracks carefully. If there is a hump or rougher finish around the crack, it is likely that it has been repaired before.
Settlement cracks in drywall and plaster most often will occur around doors, window frames and in corners as these are the weakest areas in the walls and will be the first to show to show signs of settlement.
How do we repair a sinking foundation?
My Foundation is Sinking?
There are several effective ways to fix a sinking foundation. The solution designed for your home will depend on the extent of the damage, the type of foundation, the weight of your home and of course – the cost.
Here at B.A.M! Basements and Masons of Des Moines, we use push piers to lift the home back to maximum practical recovery. First, we excavate the exterior of the home.
We then push the piers into the ground then lift the house with the heads of the piers. Once we have achieved maximum practical recovery the area around the home that was excavated is backfilled with soil.
If you have noticed any warning signs in your home, don’t wait!
Call B.A.M! Basements and Masons today for a free estimate for a custom designed solution to stop the settlement before it’s too late!
