The word foundation describes the very root of something; anchor from which every other part of the structure or ideology is supported by. This is a very apt description for the literal foundation of a home or building. Every other part of the structure relies on it for support. Without it, the changing conditions of the land would create instability that would weaken the structure until it reached the point of an eventual collapse. But if the foundation itself is not as stable as it should be, it can create problems that extend to the entire home.
Making sure your home's foundation is up to standard and kept in good repair is vital to protecting the investment you made when you bought it. A bad foundation can cause endless headaches for a home owner. The effects can be noticed all over the house.
There are a number of clues that point to foundational issues. If your home has such a problem, you have probably noticed them. They include, but are not limited to: cracks in concrete, tile or other hard surfaces, doors or windows that do not fit properly, walls, chimneys or other structures that are cracking or lopsided, and water leakage from the walls or pipes in the basement. Any of these signs warrants an inspection as soon as possible.
Foundation problems often stem from instability in the soil underneath the structure. The soil might shift and create voids, often due to improper compaction or mischaracterization of the soil during construction, or from moisture absorption. This creates inconsistencies in the leveling of the land. A home is meant to sit on a flat surface, and if the land does not stay flat, it can cause a great deal of stress to the structural integrity of the house. Once it gets bad enough, something will have to give. Whatever the cause of the problem, it will usually result in areas of the home cracking.
Once you have identified the problem, it is time to find the solution. With a foundation, the sooner it gets fixed, the better, since leaving it to its own devices will only worsen the problem. Foundation problems are too complex and risky for the average Do-It-Yourselfer to tackle on their own, so you will need to track down a competent and trustworthy contractor. But you may still be wondering about what exactly the process of foundation repair will involve.
Most contractors rely on a few different proven methods of repairing a foundation. The most common one is known as underpinning. The process of underpinning involves installing supports, called piers, that compensate for the instabilities of the soil and provide a more stable area for the foundation to rest on. With the foundation now supporting the weight like it should, the structure above gets the excess load taken off.
It would be unwise to ignore the importance of keeping your foundation in good repair. The longer you wait to deal foundational problems, the more damage they can cause, and the more dangerous it is for those living in the home.
Making sure your home's foundation is up to standard and kept in good repair is vital to protecting the investment you made when you bought it. A bad foundation can cause endless headaches for a home owner. The effects can be noticed all over the house.
There are a number of clues that point to foundational issues. If your home has such a problem, you have probably noticed them. They include, but are not limited to: cracks in concrete, tile or other hard surfaces, doors or windows that do not fit properly, walls, chimneys or other structures that are cracking or lopsided, and water leakage from the walls or pipes in the basement. Any of these signs warrants an inspection as soon as possible.
Foundation problems often stem from instability in the soil underneath the structure. The soil might shift and create voids, often due to improper compaction or mischaracterization of the soil during construction, or from moisture absorption. This creates inconsistencies in the leveling of the land. A home is meant to sit on a flat surface, and if the land does not stay flat, it can cause a great deal of stress to the structural integrity of the house. Once it gets bad enough, something will have to give. Whatever the cause of the problem, it will usually result in areas of the home cracking.
Once you have identified the problem, it is time to find the solution. With a foundation, the sooner it gets fixed, the better, since leaving it to its own devices will only worsen the problem. Foundation problems are too complex and risky for the average Do-It-Yourselfer to tackle on their own, so you will need to track down a competent and trustworthy contractor. But you may still be wondering about what exactly the process of foundation repair will involve.
Most contractors rely on a few different proven methods of repairing a foundation. The most common one is known as underpinning. The process of underpinning involves installing supports, called piers, that compensate for the instabilities of the soil and provide a more stable area for the foundation to rest on. With the foundation now supporting the weight like it should, the structure above gets the excess load taken off.
It would be unwise to ignore the importance of keeping your foundation in good repair. The longer you wait to deal foundational problems, the more damage they can cause, and the more dangerous it is for those living in the home.
About the Author:
Finding a well-reported on contractor for something such as foundation repair can be a challenge. Reputations are based on previous behavior, and Park Range Construction, a Colorado's structural repair specialists, has built one based on constant dedication to quality and hard work.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire