When it comes to your home, the foundation plays a crucial role. It provides the stability and support your house needs to stand strong. However, like any other part of your home, the foundation can get damaged and may require repair. In this blog post, we'll answer some common questions that homeowners have about foundation repair.
Why is foundation repair important?
Foundation repair is paramount for a couple of reasons. First, the foundation carries the entire weight of your house. If it's weakened or damaged, it can compromise the structural integrity of your home, leading to serious safety issues.
Second, a damaged foundation can cause various problems in your home, including uneven floors, cracked walls, and doors or windows that won't close properly. Such issues can significantly decrease your property value, making it harder to sell your home in the future.
Finally, foundation issues can lead to water leakage into your basement or crawlspace, leading to an unhealthy living environment. This is where a trusted partner like Aqua Solutions Basement Waterproofing comes in handy, offering expert foundation repair services to keep your home safe and secure.
When should you get foundation repair?
Foundation repair should be done as soon as you notice any signs of damage. These signs can include cracks in the walls or floors, doors and windows that stick or won't close properly, gaps around window frames or exterior doors, sagging or uneven floors, and water damage or leaks in your basement or crawl space.
If you're seeing any of these signs, it's time to call a professional like Aqua Solutions Basement Waterproofing to inspect your foundation and assess the level of damage. The earlier you catch these issues, the better chance you have of preventing further, more costly damage.
What happens if you don't fix foundation issues?
Ignoring foundation issues can lead to serious problems down the line. If left unchecked, minor cracks can expand, leading to significant structural damage. This can make your home unsafe to live in and significantly decrease its value.
In addition, water leaks caused by foundation damage can lead to the growth of mold and mildew, which can cause health issues for those living in the home. Unresolved foundation issues can also lead to pest infestations, as cracks in the foundation give bugs and rodents an easy way to enter your home.
What are some cost-effective foundation repair approaches?
Foundation repair needn't be an expensive affair. There are several cost-effective methods you can use to fix foundation issues. Two of the most efficient are carbon fiber straps and wall anchors.
Carbon fiber straps are a popular choice for foundation repairs as they're durable, effective, and non-invasive. They are a non-mechanical foundation fix. This means they don't require any moving parts or heavy machinery to install. Instead, they use the strength of carbon fiber to reinforce the damaged walls. They are installed vertically on the walls to counteract pressure and prevent further movement. This is a highly cost-effective solution for homes with walls that are cracking or bowing due to hydrostatic pressure.
On the other hand, wall anchors are used when a more robust solution is needed, specifically for severely bowed walls with more than 2" of displacement. These are a mechanical fix, meaning they use equipment to physically move the wall back into place. Wall anchors consist of metal plates installed on both the interior and exterior of the foundation wall. A steel rod connects these plates, and when tightened, it pulls the wall back into alignment. Despite being more labor-intensive, wall anchors are still a cost-effective solution given their long-term effectiveness.
At Aqua Solutions Basement Waterproofing, we also offer adjustable post shores to level off floor joists. We use pressure-treated lumber beams for this purpose. These shores are adjustable, allowing us to provide a custom solution for your unique foundation issue. Not only does this help ensure your floors are level, but it also helps distribute the weight of your home more evenly across the foundation, mitigating further issues.
In summary, foundation repair is a crucial part of maintaining your home's safety, structural integrity, and value. Whether your home requires carbon fiber straps, wall anchors, or adjustable post shores, Aqua Solutions Basement Waterproofing has the experience and expertise to provide a cost-effective solution for your specific needs.