Concrete slabs and pier and beams are two prominent house foundation types in Texas and both of these foundation types have good structural qualities. These foundations are frequently repaired by the best foundation contractors in Texas because failure can be brought on by soil movement, wind, and water. Although concrete slabs and pier-and-beam foundations are successfully used, problems might still occur. You should therefore become familiar with the potential for failure in these two categories of foundations. Despite their popularity, both great designs frequently need their foundations repaired because of soil movement and weather.
Concrete slabs can withstand a variety of foundation issues, but success is not always certain. For this reason, you should work with a reputable expert. It’s crucial to discover how to pick the best slab foundation repair contractor. Additionally, your concrete slab must be repaired using tried-and-true techniques when you have the foundation of your home repaired. Thankfully, the best constructors are extremely knowledgeable about concrete slab foundations. Unless they are exposed to extreme conditions like droughts or other harsh weather, worries about these foundations that are so in demand are mostly unjustified. Because there are so few pier and beam structures in this area, concrete slabs are the sort of foundation that foundation contractors fix the most frequently of the two types that are most common in the Texas area. This is because slab foundations frequently succeed whereas many other types of foundations fail.
Repair of Slab Foundation
Although repairing them does require cracking the slab, local homeowners are aware that concrete slab foundation designs are resistant to many of the circumstances that afflict foundations built utilizing wooden beams and piers. Jackhammering a concrete slab foundation can lead to issues, as any excellent contractor who fixes this kind of foundation can attest, particularly if inner concrete piers or steel piers are being added. Nevertheless, designs made of concrete are still widely used across the state since they are known to withstand the effects of the weather, and foundation failure typically does not occur for a very long time. Learning more about concrete slab foundation collapse, including how, when, and why it happens, is a smart idea. If yours fails, get in touch with a specialist like Foundations MD.
The pier and beam foundation is unquestionably another form of popular foundation. Additionally, it reduces worries that homeowners frequently have and resists harm. Pier and beam foundations can have issues such as sinking flooring and moisture in the crawl space since they don’t lay directly against the earth. That’s because these foundations’ beams may sag, and wooden piers may rot. Pier and beam foundations are the kind of foundations that are typically associated with older properties or those located near the seaside, even though these designs are popular and used throughout the state. Because they are less common in this part of the state than concrete slabs, foundation contractors in North Texas don’t fix this kind of foundation as frequently.
People frequently worry that pier and beam constructions may draw pests and other animals. Buildings with pier and beam foundations have a wet crawlspace underneath them, unlike other types of foundations. In addition to being resistant to rats and other potentially harmful animals and insects, concrete slabs don’t have these foundational problems. Another potential issue that these elevated foundations, as opposed to slab foundations made of concrete, can produce is the requirement for stair climbing.
Get in touch with Foundations MD for further details on these two common foundation types. Foundations MD might be of assistance as a company that offers the greatest customer service and free foundation repair estimates.
Flooding Damages To The Home Foundation
If you live in North Texas, you are no stranger to the effects of natural catastrophes such as flood damage, particularly in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the high rains in 2018. In 2018, North Texas was hit particularly hard by flooding. After the water level has returned to its normal level, the next action that should be taken to get things back on track is to conduct an inspection of the damage to your property and make repairs to your foundation. In the aftermath of a flood, homeowners who have foundations made of concrete slabs or piers and beams may have several tasks that need to be completed; however, the foundation of your home should be one of the first steps that is addressed.
Houses that were inundated
The damage caused by flooding can be a very serious problem. When conducting a post-flood damage assessment on your property, be sure to look for the following indications of foundational instability:
- Unrest within the core of your being
- Any new fissures that have appeared in the walls
- Numerous large fissures in the foundation
- A musty odor present within your basement’s crawl space
- Condensation appearing on the walls and ceilings
- sloped floor surfaces
- The manifestation of rot and mold.
- A difficulty in opening or closing doors easily
It is essential to inspect multiple places of your house for signs of damage when looking for issues with the foundation of your home. These areas include crawl spaces and areas outside the main structure.
What Types Of Problems With The Foundation Are Caused By Flooding?
A considerable amount of water damage can be caused to your foundation by flooding, regardless of whether the flood event consists of long periods of standing water or quick-flowing water over a short period. Flooding causes shifts and upheavals that might put a building’s structural integrity and strength at risk. The flooding reaches deep below the base of a building. The continuous presence of water is, without question, the most hazardous type of flooding that can cause problems for your property. This type of flooding is characterized by a high-pressure barrage of water that is always pushing against your house (or under it), which has the potential to cause the foundation to move or upheave. Keep in mind that water has a significant impact on weight.
Homeowners in Texas may also have to deal with expansive clay soil, a type of soil that is not commonly found in other parts of the country but is prevalent in North Texas. Although expansive clay soil is uncommon elsewhere in the country, it is widespread in North Texas. This particular kind of soil swells up when it comes into touch with water, and as a result, the earth that the foundation is built on shifts, which could result in damage costing tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. Because of the excessive rainfall, homes in Dallas may experience damage to their foundations from expansive clay soil. You can only imagine the kinds of challenges that may arise as a result of the flood water.
What Steps Should A Person Take If The Flooding Has Caused Damage To The Foundation?
In the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, if you think that recent floods or rain may have caused foundation damage to your home, call Foundations MD as soon as possible. We provide free foundation evaluations to determine what work needs to be done, as well as whether or not your home is safe to stay in. If you have any concerns about the stability of your home’s foundation, give us a call. Do not procrastinate if you have been affected by flood waters; foundation problems that are not corrected will lead to other problems in the future, which will result in additional expenses for you. Remember that the worry-free lifestyle that our lifetime warranty promises will be yours for the years to come.
Is It Possible To Prevent Future Flooding?
There is no way to ensure that flooding will never occur in your home, but there are certain measures you may take to reduce the likelihood that it will happen. You can reduce the risk of flood damage by taking the following measures:
- Make sure that your downspouts and any other pipes that discharge water are not pointed in the direction of your house by inspecting their positioning. Immediately invest in downspouts if you do not already have them.
- It is important to waterproof all of the entryways into your home, including the garage door, to reduce the amount of water that can seep inside via the crevices.
- Maintain a keen awareness of the state of your foundation, and if necessary, get preventative repairs done on it. The durable pressed concrete piers and steel foundation piers that Foundation MS installs prevent sinking, shifting, and heaving of concrete slabs and pier and beam foundations, respectively. Foundations MD also provides other foundation services.
- Raise off the ground whatever valuable goods you have, such as your appliances and your heating and air conditioning system.
If your home’s foundation has recently been damaged as a result of excessive rain or floods, or if you simply wish to take preventative measures against such damage in the future, Foundations MD is a company that can assist you.
Our reasonably priced solutions are effective at addressing a wide range of issues. Please get in touch with us as soon as possible for a no-cost assessment of your foundation if you require assistance.
