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Is your home suffering from foundation settlement problems? Cracked or bulging basement walls, water seepage in the basement or a leaning chimney are all possible indicators that your foundation is settling. In rare cases, this may be caused by the home’s design. Most often, however, foundation settlement is caused by one or more of the factors listed below. Expansive or Unstable Soil Problems Some homes are built on soil that cannot support their weight and pressure. Weak bearing soils require support footings that spread the load over a wider area, and if the footings are inadequate, foundation settlement is the likely outcome. Homes may also sometimes be built on expansive soils. These soils contain minerals that cause the dirt to expand as water is absorbed and contract as the soil dries. Expansive soils provide inconsistent support for footings and foundations, often resulting in structural damage. Poor soil compaction can also cause foundation settlement. So-called fill dirt is frequently used in residential areas to provide support for foundations, and if these soils aren’t appropriately placed and compacted, the homes can suffer foundation settling when the soil becomes compressed over time. Water Problems Extremely wet weather and flooding can cause a building’s foundation to settle. A foundation’s underlying dirt may become saturated with a sudden influx of water. This makes the soil expand dramatically, which stresses the structural support. Settlement may be more significant if poor soil excavation creates a slope that directs water back toward the base of the house. Downspouts that do not direct rain and runoff far enough away from the house can also lead to foundation problems. When the weather is cold, frost heaves can cause foundation damage as the ice expands in the ground. Most foundations today are built below the frost line in order to avoid damage from freezing water, but that wasn’t always the case. Vegetation Problems If you have maturing trees, bushes or other vegetation in close proximity to your home, these may also contribute to your foundation’s degradation. As trees and large plants mature, their root systems expand further beneath the foundation soils, causing movement and stress. In addition, and perhaps more significantly, the roots of this vegetation demand more water as they grow. This water is pulled from the foundation soils and, over time, causes the underlying dirt to dry out. As the soil dries, it contracts, which can greatly affect the stability of the foundation. Homes with foundations closer to the surface of the earth are more likely to experience damaging soil dehydration than homes with basement-level foundations. Expansive or clay-rich foundation dirt can cause a greater vegetation-related settling problem than more solid soils. The larger the root system beneath your home, the bigger the problem it’s likely to cause. If you’ve noticed problems with the supporting structure of your home, you may be wondering about the potential cause. Any or all of the factors listed above could be contributing to the problem, and these issues rarely resolve themselves. The only way to determine the exact cause is to contact a qualified foundation support system contractor in your area. A qualified contractor can inspect your home, determine the nature of the problem and then provide a recommendation and estimate for repairs. The longer you wait, the more serious the problem may become, so don’t wait to investigate any foundation settlement at your home.
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Foundation Repair, Foundation Settlement, Foundation Settling, Foundation Restoration, foundation support systems,
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