To maintain the structural integrity of a home is to ensure the good condition of the foundation. On which the entire building is built is the foundation home. If any problem occurs on the foundation can cause significant costly damage to the home entirely.
As a homeowner, you are responsible to take care of the foundation. In this article, you will know the process of assessing and how to fix the foundation before it becomes a big problem. Every steps mentioned is essential to ensure the foundation remains in good condition.
Assess the Foundation for Damage
The first step in fixing any foundation issues is to assess the extent of the damage. This typically involves a visual inspection of the foundation, both inside and outside the home. Some common signs of foundation damage include cracks in the walls, uneven floors, doors that don’t close properly, and windows that stick. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to have a professional inspect your foundation to determine the cause of the damage.
A professional inspector will typically use a variety of tools and techniques to assess the foundation. This may include taking measurements of the foundation, checking for moisture levels, and using a camera to inspect the interior of the foundation walls. Accordingly, the inspector will determine the location of the damage and recommend the right fixing.
Fixing the Foundation
Once the cause of the foundation damage is known, the next step is to repair the damage. Depending on the damage, several different methods can be applied to fix the damaged foundation. Here, we’ll review some of the most common ways that foundations are repaired.
Piering: The foundation repair expert will install steel piers or concrete pilings beneath the foundation to provide additional support and stabilize the structure.
Slabjacking: This involves injecting a mixture of cement, sand, and water beneath the foundation to lift it back into place.
Underpinning: By excavating beneath the foundation and adding additional concrete footings, the repair expert can provide additional support to the structure.
Waterproofing: This is a step that will likely be taken with every repair, and it involves sealing the foundation to prevent moisture from entering and causing damage.
Grading and drainage: If the problem is that the house is being repeatedly flooded because of its location, the contractors will regrade the soil around the foundation and improve drainage to prevent moisture from accumulating.
The specific repair method used will depend on the extent and cause of the damage. Some repairs may require excavation, while others can be done from the interior of the home. In some cases, multiple repair methods may be used in combination to ensure that the foundation is fully stabilized.
How to Prevent Foundation Damage?
Repairing a damaged foundation consumes time and can be costly. So, homeowners can take steps to prevent any damage to the foundation from occurring. These are much cheaper and easier than having the foundation repaired, so it’s a good idea to take these steps now, before it ever becomes a problem.
Moisture is one of the main causes of foundation damage, so it’s important to ensure that your home’s moisture levels are properly balanced. This may involve installing a sump pump, improving drainage around the home, and ensuring that gutters and downspouts are functioning properly.
Regularly inspecting your home for signs of foundation damage can help you catch problems early, before they become more serious and costly to repair.
Leaking pipes or other plumbing problems can cause moisture to accumulate around the foundation, so it’s important to address these issues promptly.
The soil around your home should be properly graded to ensure that water flows away from the foundation, rather than towards it.
If all these measures fail to stop the problem, it’s always best to hire a foundation repair company in Kansas City, who can make the necessary repairs to avoid further damage.
Conclusion
The foundation of your home is a critical component of its overall structural integrity. If you suspect that your foundation may be damaged, it’s important to get your foundation assessed right away by a reputable and trustworthy foundation repair expert.
Failure to rectify these issues immediately can cause huge damage to your home, perhaps even rendering it uninhabitable, so it’s essential that you recognize signs of possible problems and take the necessary steps to fix the issue. While foundation damage can’t be fixed without professional assistance, you can take steps to stop it from ever happening by taking care of your home. If you have any concerns about the integrity of your foundation, it’s best to reach out to a licensed and qualified Kansas City foundation repair expert right away.
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