Foundation Damage: Learn about Preventing, Stopping, and Reversing Foundation Movement and Damage

By Richard Rash, Independent Foundation Repair Consultant since 1981.

Understanding and managing foundation issues can be straightforward with the right knowledge. Here’s a simplified guide to help.

Causes of Foundation Failure and Damage

• Earthquakes, sinkholes, and other natural disasters: can cause significant foundation damage. In these situations, repairs typically involve conventional rebuilding methods and are best handled by experienced builders and remodelers.

·???????? Expansive Soils: The most common cause of foundation movement and damage is expansive soils. If you have experienced foundation movement but have not experienced an earthquake or other abrupt act of nature, then the likelihood is that your property is sitting on expansive soils. These soils expand when they absorb moisture and contract when they dry out. Variations in moisture levels around a building can cause it to twist. This twisting can distort the rigid components of the structure, similar to a jigsaw puzzle being disturbed. Repairs are often best attended to by drainage control, plumbing repairs and foundation repair contractors who sell piers, chemicals, and other lifting procedures.

Types of Foundation Damage

1. Cosmetic Damage: Minor issues like small cracks, doors or windows that don't close properly, or tiny gaps in cabinets. These can often be fixed with simple cosmetic repairs such as painting or patching.

2. Structural Damage: More serious problems like large cracks, sticking doors, buckling floors, and visible building movement. These issues can compromise the safety of the structure.

Steps to: Prevent, Stop, and Reverse Damage in expansive soil

1. Fix Cosmetic Damage Early: Address minor issues as soon as they appear. Cosmetic repairs and minor drainage corrections can prevent these problems from getting worse. Attempt to avoid using piers for cosmetic damage; they're usually unnecessary.
2. Monitor for Progression: Keep an eye on minor damages. If left unchecked, they can develop into structural issues over several years, threatening the building’s safety.
3. Address Structural Damage Promptly: Significant cracks, sticking doors, and other major signs of damage need immediate attention from a professional to ensure the building remains safe and habitable.

Common Challenges for Homeowners and Building Owners

Many homeowners and light commercial building owners struggle with knowing when to take action, what steps to follow, and what a reasonable cost is for addressing foundation issues. Over the years, I’ve found that many foundation repair companies hire salespeople who are incentivized to sell highly profitable piers, regardless of need.

?Finding the Right Help

To effectively manage foundation movement and damage, it’s crucial to find someone who is knowledgeable and not paid based on what they sell. Here’s some of the knowledge you need access to:

• The difference between cosmetic and structural damage
• Construction principles
• Local soil types and behaviors

• The impact of weather on soil and foundations
• The role of drainage in maintaining soil stability
• How plumbing leaks, and droughts, affect foundations
• Various foundation repair methods suitable for different types of damage
• Types of piers and drainage systems
• ??Techniques for managing moisture intrusion.
• The influence of vegetation, including tree roots and root barriers
• Soil stabilization chemicals
• How these factors work independently and together to achieve lasting results at fair prices

My Promise

As an independent foundation repair consultant, I aim to provide you with the knowledge needed to prevent, stop, and reverse foundation damage.

I’ll also explain contracts, warrantees, repair failures, finding contractors including for foundation repair, drainage, gutters, and plumbing. If it relates to damage of Slabs, Pier and Beam/Crawlspace or basements I can help you get to get the facts to get it done right, at what will be a good price even when including my fee.

If I can’t help you, I don’t expect you to pay me.

I offer consultations at your location, or via phone, Facetime, or Zoom nationwide. It doesn’t cost anything to find out if I can help.

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Click here for my prices.

For more information: Call/Text Richard at 817-308-8186.