Common Advanced Foundation Repair Explained

Foundation repair can be of many types and among residential basements, advanced foundation repair is a common requirement. Common foundation repairs refer to repairs beyond the aspect of repairing leakage or cracks in the basement or curing a termite infestation.

The difference between basic and advance foundation repairs is best understood with the example of surface cracks in the basement. If after repeated crack repairing and sealing, the basement continues to show signs of gradual weathering and poses the risk of permanent destabilization, the need for an advanced foundation repair is indicated.

Advance foundation repair includes the usage of specific supplies that need careful handling and can put forth more-than-average repairing costs. Some of the most common, advanced foundation repair methods have been explained below:

Advanced Foundation Repair Using Concrete Piers

This is more applicable to larger homes since the method is mostly seen in commercial buildings. The use of concrete piers is indicated when the basement is showing extensive signs of damage. Use of concrete piers is recommended when it seems that the basement can no longer support the weight of the overlying structure and needs additional support. Symptoms pointing towards the need for additional support include excessive cracking along the basement walls and development of an undulating basement floor due to increasing compressive forces.

This support is provided by inserting concrete piers. The piers are essentially concrete columns created by pouring concrete into big holes drilled under and around the basement. Concrete piers are recommended because:

• They can be safely installed using some conventional tools.
• They are cheaper than steel piers—they don’t rust or rot and last for many decades.

Please understand that the repair project isn't completed with the insertion of concrete piers. These piers are a medium for introducing a more durable basement support structure, i.e. concrete spacers. Once the piers have been established, hydraulic jacks are placed along them and the basement is lifted in a minimal way. Then, concrete spacers are inserted upon on the piers. This creates greater support for the foundation.

Advanced Foundation Repair Using Mudjacking

Mudjacking is a common and advanced foundation repair method. It is recommended when the basement shows signs of sinking in the underlying soil. The symptoms of this problem surface in the form of repeated basement flooding or extensive, moisture seepage. The foundation of a house can sink due to the increased load of recently-added floors to the house or changes in the sub-soil.

Mudjacking is a process of literally lifting a home by adding loads of concrete under the existing basement. In mudjacking, small holes are drilled around the perimeter of the foundation. These holes are then pumped with a mixture containing cement, soil or grout in various proportions. Low-strength concrete is recommended for this kind of foundation repair.

Mudjacking is also called slab-jacking and is regarded as one of the most undemanding and affordable ways of saving a deteriorating basement. A house can be lifted to nearly 6 inches using this technique. The presence of fresh, underlying concrete adds decades to the overall life of the basement.

Some landscapers recommend using polyurethane resins instead of pouring concrete. Though this might be a more durable option particularly if the sub-soil is excessively wet, it can considerably raise the overall costs. The bigger advantage is that greater basement lifting can be achieved using resins. The resin-mix produces gas/bubbles in large quantities when it is pumped into the drilled holes. The expanding volume of the gases lifts the overlying building by several inches.