Somerville Concrete Foundation Repair for Settlement Issues

Early Detection of Signs of Foundation Distress

Identifying Early Warning Signs

Homeowners should be alert for early indicators of house settling. Drywall diagonal cracking, which appears on the sides of doors and windows, is a sign of the potential for future problems. Door frames that have shifted and will no longer open properly are a sign that the frame has settled and is now “out of square.” Horizontal cracking in the walls of the basement is indicative of excessive soil pressure. If you catch the signs of a problem early, before the problem spreads to the upper floors of your home, the damage can be stopped.

Reasons for Houses Settling in Area Soils

Soil types vary in the local area. There are small areas of clay and areas of historical fill that can compact over time. Moisture changes create expansion and contraction of the soil; this expansion and contraction create forces on the walls of your basement. Poor drainage around the perimeter of your home allows excess water to flow towards the footings of your home, adding to the force exerted on the walls. Tree roots that are planted within six feet of your home can draw moisture from the soil, resulting in the soil shrinking and pulling away from your home’s foundation. Knowing the reason for the settlement is key to a successful fix.

Repairing Cracks Through Injection and Sealing

Epoxy or Polyurethane injection is one of the best remedies for non-structural, vertical cracks in a foundation. This repair method involves placing a strong bonding agent (epoxy or polyurethane) into the cracked wall, allowing it to flow through the crack and seal the gap from the inside of the wall outward. The repair material expands to seal the crack and bonds the concrete together. This type of repair is fast, prevents water intrusion into your finished basement, and helps restore the monolithic condition of your basement wall without excavation.

Solutions to Structural Underpinning Problems

If the footing under your home has settled, the entire home must be lifted and stabilized using underpinning. Underpinning consists of placing steel piers deep into the earth until they reach a stable area of soil or bedrock. Once in place, the piers are anchored to the foundation to raise it to its original height. This transfers the weight of your home to a deeper layer of soil or rock. This is a permanent solution that eliminates the possibility of further settlement.

Stabilizing Bowing Basement Walls

Bowing basement walls due to excessive soil pressure must be immediately stabilized to prevent complete collapse. One of the more recent solutions to stabilizing bowed basement walls includes using carbon fiber straps. These straps are bonded to the interior surface of the wall with heavy-duty epoxy, providing significant tensile strength to the wall. More severely bowed walls may require the installation of steel I-beams or wall anchors to provide counter-pressure. Both of these options will secure the wall, eliminating the need for rebuilding the entire wall.

Combining Foundation Repair with Waterproofing and Drainage Improvements

In many cases, foundation repair and waterproofing go hand-in-hand. Maintaining a dry environment surrounding the foundation is essential for maintaining the stability of your home. At the beginning of each project, we evaluate the current state of the exterior drainage system, including French Drains and downspout extensions. Additionally, we apply a waterproof membrane to the outside of the wall to prevent moisture from wicking up into the wall. A dry basement means less chance of mold growth and structural damage.

Repairs to Bulkheads and Walkouts

The concrete stairs and bulkheads leading into your basement are some of the first parts of the foundation to show signs of separation. Because the stairs/bulkheads typically settle independently from the rest of the home, there is usually a gap that exists between the two, allowing water to enter. We can either mudjack or replace the entryway to reestablish a tight seal with the rest of the foundation. Repairing these access points will improve the overall security and weather-tightness of your home.

Why an Expert Should Inspect Your Home

Not all cracks indicate a disaster, but only an expert can determine whether or not you have a catastrophic situation on your hands. A professional assessment of the degree of structural movement and the necessary repair solution can only be completed by a licensed structural engineer or certified concrete contractor. When you try to fix a problem yourself, you are just masking the symptom of the problem and making things worse. We use precision instruments such as levels and lasers to measure and map the structural movement of your home. Using accurate data ensures that the repair is done directly to the source of the failure.

Historic Preservation of Older Homes

When working with older homes, including those made of fieldstone or old concrete foundations, we take great care to preserve the integrity of the home. While we want to make sure that the work we do meets today’s building codes, we also want to keep the look and feel of the home intact. To this end, we design our repairs to be as discreet as possible, concealing reinforcement whenever practical. As professionals who deal with historic homes in Powder House Square and other neighborhoods, we recognize the importance of preserving these homes so that they continue to stand for generations to come.

Trustworthy Partners for Your Foundation

As your largest investment, your home relies heavily on its foundation. Therefore, when dealing with issues related to the health of your foundation, we take all issues seriously and always consider the long-term effects of the repairs we perform. With the training and expertise to provide the most advanced structural repair solutions, our team of experts will provide you with clear communication and detailed explanations of the diagnostic and repair processes we follow. Trust us at Somerville Concrete Masters to repair your foundation to the extent needed to ensure the stability of your home.