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Foundation Repair
If One or More of Your Foundation Members are Failing, it's Foundation Repair Time.
Don't wait for your foundation to collapse. Entire foundation replacement is more expensive than a foundation repair. Besides, leaving your failing foundation slowly falling apart, also jeopardizes the safety and well-being of your family.
Why Repair Your Foundation?
Prevent earthquake damage.
During an earthquake, a house with a damaged foundation could (and is likely to) fail.
A damaged foundation puts your family at risk.
A damaged foundation is weak. As time goes on it gets weaker. Sooner or later it may be unable to carry the weight it bears, and it could collapse, taking your investment and your family with it.
The damage could get worse.
Damage to foundations left alone can lead to further damage. For instance, if foundation develops cracks, and they are not repaired, water could get inside. This will widen the cracks and make the foundation even weaker.
Repair is so much cheaper than replacement.
Left alone, a damaged foundation's condition could worsen, which means increasingly more costly foundation repairs. In the end, the entire foundation may need to be replaced — and a foundation replacement project would cost you a lot more than a foundation repair today.
Back to Top of Foundation Repair Topics
Possible Indicators of Foundation Damage.
On the Building's Exterior
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Improper drainage
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Cracks in the concrete, block or brick
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Gaps around doors and windows
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Bulging or bowing of foundation stem walls
On the Building's Interior
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Misaligned doors
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Windows that stick
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Cracks in the walls
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Cracks in the floor or tile
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Sloping of the floor
On Crawl Spaces and the Basement
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Walls that are not plumb or are rotating in or out
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Visible cracks
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Improper or failing construction
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Water intrusions
What Does Foundation Repair Involve?
Sinai Construction Engineering decides on the appropriate course of action depending on the extent of repairs required and the particular nature of the problems encountered. Each foundation presents a unique set of conditions. Thus, we conduct a through inspection and evaluation before we proceed with any repairs; this way, we can tailor our foundation repair solution to a project's specific needs.
Typical Foundation Repair Procedures.
The following are the usual procedures for repairing foundation cracks, damaged piers, posts and girders and continuing foundation settlement.
Repairing Foundation Cracks
If foundation cracks that are greater than 1/4-inch wide, they are considered to be structural cracks. It's recommended that they be repaired ASAP.
Cracks on foundation wall first sign of needing foundation repair
Proper foundation repair of foundation cracks
Possible implications of foundation cracks:
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Foundation cracks can indicate significant foundation settlement. Foundation cracks that are wider at the bottom than at the top indicate soil settling.
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Foundation cracks can mean the presence of expansive soils. Cracks that are wider at the top than at the bottom indicate expansive soils.
Potential consequences of not repairing foundation cracks:
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Wet crawl spaces
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Water intrusion in your basement
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Pest infestation
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The above consequences could lead to further foundation damage; as a case in point, water intrusion could weaken your foundations
Solutions to cracked foundations:
There are various solutions to different types of foundation cracks. We choose a solution depending on the particular needs of a foundation repair project.
If the foundation cracks are repairable, we use an epoxy crack injection which glues the concrete. Then, a "Simpson HST foundation plate" is bolted across the crack. This epoxy system provides structural strength which greatly exceeds the strength of the concrete itself.
Repairing Damaged Piers, Posts and Girders.
Piers, posts and girders are the structural elements beneath the floor. Piers support the posts, while girders are beams that support the floor joists. Piers, posts and girders together are responsible for bearing the weight of interior loads.
Foundation repair includes new concrete pier, post and girder.
Non reinforced brick pier needs foundation repair ASAP.
Crumbling concrete pier ready for foundation repair process
Foundation repair with concrete pier reinforcement
Typical issues with piers, posts and girders:
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The piers may be non-reinforced.
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The concrete piers may be crumbling.
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The piers may not be placed deep enough into the soil.
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The posts may be undersized.
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The posts may be out-of-plumb.
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The girders may be split or warped.
Solutions to damaged piers, posts and girders:
Damaged piers, posts and girders are usually replaced to ensure optimal load-bearing capacity.
Stemming Continuing Foundation Settlement:
Foundation settlement is natural, and all foundations are expected to have some degree of settlement throughout the years. However, continuing foundation settlement could lead to foundation and structural damage.
Some indicators of continuing foundation settlement:
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Floors that are out of level
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Cracks (in walls and the foundation) that keep getting bigger
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Doors and windows that stick
Solution to continuing foundation settlement:
Underpinning extends the foundation's footing to depths that provide greater bearing capacity. In underpinning, the soil beneath the existing footing is excavated and replaced with concrete.
NOTE: Underpinning requires special attention to design, methodology and safety procedures. Unskilled personnel could aggravate foundation issues and cause damage in the home's foundation and structure. Be sure to hire Experienced and Expert Foundation Repair Contractors for your project.
I do not make many recommendations, but I will recommend Sinai Construction to anyone! An honest general contractor who does quality work is a must! I established my relationship with Sinai Construction over 10 years ago and have never been disappointed. I have and would continue to refer them to anyone.
E. Hart, Los Angeles