Stressed about the state of your foundation? Don’t be! The foundation repair contractors working in your area have a catalog of foundation repair measures at the ready. Your only challenge will be choosing the foundation solution that suits your home best.
When Does Your Foundation Need Repairs?
It’s not always easy to notice when something’s wrong with your foundation. That’s where a professional eye comes in handy. Contractors working in the Winston-Salem, NC, area will be able to assess your home and inspect the key areas that give away foundation damage.
While a professional will be able to tell you exactly what’s gone wrong with your home, there are some symptoms that will give generalized foundation damage away. If you think you may have a problem on your hands, you’ll want to keep an eye out for any of the following:
- Bowing walls
- Shifting floors
- Gaps at the joints of your foundation
- Sticking doors
- Foggy windows
- Water-damaged belongings or furniture
- Mold
Unfortunately, foundation cracks and leaks can start to impact the outside of your home if they go untreated for too long. If you’re noticing any of the following outside of your home, you’re going to want to get in touch with a professional contractor as soon as possible:
- Vertical cracks in your walls
- A cracked chimney
- Cracks running horizontally across your foundation
- Sinking
Your Foundation Repair Options
Once you’ve determined that your foundation does, in fact, need repairs, it’s time to start considering what solutions will be able to best protect it. The repair measures that best suit your home will vary based on your house’s size, the severity of your damage, and the age and type of your foundation.
That said, most contractors will recommend one of the following foundation repair solutions:
Foundation Piers
Galvanized steel piers are among the most traditional foundation repair measures used by contractors today. Upon their installation, these piers take the weight of your home off of your foundation, allowing for additional repairs and limiting the foundation’s exposure to future hydrostatic pressure. Push piers are most-used on homes, and other options include helical piers for light structures like porches and chimneys, as well as slab piers for homes specifically with slab foundations.
Crawl Space Supports
Your crawl space support system also could be settling or failing to properly support the above floors and floor joists. To shore up sagging, bouncy floors, IntelliJacks™ can be installed in crawl spaces
Foundation Wall Repair
Foundation walls can crack and bow inward when exposed to continuous hydrostatic pressure, or pressure exerted on the walls by exterior soil as it expands when wet and shrinks when dry. Instead of worrying about the walls caving in, shore them up with sturdy supports like wall anchors or the IntelliBrace™ system that also can help improve the walls’ appearance and conditions.
Foundation Wall Reinforcements
Walls with minimal to moderate cracks or movement can be permanently reinforced with strong carbon fiber supports. These low-profile strips firmly bond to the walls and protect them from any additional cracks or bowing.
Polyurethane Injections
Though not specifically intended for foundation repair, your home can benefit from polyurethane injections. The state-of-the-art PolyRenewal™ system lifts and levels cracking and uneven concrete slabs – typically exterior sidewalks, porches, and the like – but interior concrete slab floor also can be lifted, leveled, and stabilized.
DIY And Your Foundation
Even with such a diverse catalog of options at their disposal, some homeowners opt to put off foundation repair for fear of its time and financial commitment. Unfortunately, the longer you leave foundation damage to fester, the worse it’s going to get.
Why not take advantage of today’s DIY trend? You can probably MacGyver a foundation repair solution, right?
More often than not, no. Quick fixes may buy you some time, but these do-it-yourself treatments can often make your foundation damage worse. It’s always best to get in touch with a professional when you think something’s gone wrong with your foundation.
If you do try to repair your foundation on your own time, you may end up costing yourself more time and money in the long-run. Why? Because if your foundation damage does worsen, the professional you eventually get in touch with will have to time remove any quick fixes, which could lead to a longer and potentially more expensive project.
Permanently Repair Your Foundation With Expert Help
Ready to get in touch with the contractors in your area? Reach out today for a professional inspection and a free quote on potential services.
