December 31, 2010 By

Why is good drainage so important for maintaining a foundation?

Many foundation problems are caused by poor drainage.

Here are three instances of improper drainage that harm post tension and concrete slab foundations.

  • Rainwater runoff may be channeled to run under a house.   This occurs when a neighbors yard is higher, or a hill is on one side of the house. The runoff erodes the soil under the foundation, leading to foundation failure.
  • Gutters are absent, or when gutters are present, the downspout runoff is not directed away from the house.  Water collects along the side of the house, the soil turns to mud, and loses its ability to support the perimeter of the foundation.
  • Water collecting in a low spot next to the house leads to muddy soil and foundation  failure.

Solutions for drainage problems include french drains and surface drains.  Granite Foundation Repair installs both types of drainage.

Filed Under: Foundation Maintenance, Foundation Repair Information Tagged With: ,
September 13, 2010 By

Pier and Beam Foundation Tips

There are many tips and good practices for pier and beam foundations. We will concentrate on “the most important maintenance tip” for pier and beam foundations. The most important thing you can do for your pier and beam foundation is, assure that drainage is properly maintained. The same is true for concrete slab foundations.

Absolutely no water should be allowed to accumulate near a house, run toward the foundation,  or pass under the house.

With our clay soils, water causes the surface and sub-surface piers to heave and sink or drop with seasonal changes in moisture.  A damp, enclosed pier and beam foundation area may also lead to wood rot and encourage termite infestations.  Assure that ventilation is adequate, and if not, add vents and fans.

More often than not, most of the damage to a pier and beam foundation will come from inadequate pier support as the wet clay turns to mud.

If you are in need of a pier and beam foundation repair, contact Granite Foundation Repair.

Filed Under: Foundation Maintenance, Foundation Repair Information, Pier and Beam Foundation Tagged With: , , ,
August 8, 2010 By

Cracks in Brick..Do I have a Serious Foundation Problem?

Brick cracks are an early sign of  foundation movement.

The standard rule of thumb is that foundation movement in excess of 1 inch in 360 inches will cause brick to crack.  Cracks may appear either along a mortar line, or across bricks.

Whenever cracks appear in brick, it is time to have the foundation evaluated.   A trained professional can help determine if underpinning is warranted, or if the problem can be stabilized with drainage correction.

In a perfect world, all foundations in the Dallas Ft Worth area would be supported by piers.  The unfortunate reality is that most building codes inadequately protect the home and home owner against our expansive clay soils.

While it may be cost prohibitive to wrap the house with piers, stabilizing the wall which has brick cracks is warranted.  Cracks in mortar are easily repaired, but physical cracks in the brick demand costly brick replacement.

Filed Under: Foundation Repair Information Tagged With: , ,
October 19, 2009 By

Patented foundation repair method – is this best?

Your foundation needs repair, and one company offers a patented foundation repair method at a higher cost.  Is this good?

In areas like Plano, Dallas and Fort Worth, the soil and the structure determine the best foundation repair method.  About 6-8 years ago at a membership meeting of the Foundation Repair Association, one company spokesman was asked.. why did you get a patent on XYZ? The response.. we needed a marketing edge.

A marketing edge is not what you need.   You need the foundation repair method that meets the needs of your house, your situation.  We are not saying that the patent is without merit.  We are saying that the problem dictates the best foundation repair method.  One patent will not solve all of the problems in the Dallas Fort Worth region.

A foundation on deep sand seldom needs any type of repair.  A foundation on deep clay would be best served by lifting the whole structure off the clay.

It is seldom practical to perform a whole house lift. Furthermore, the structural benefit of a whole house lift seldom warrants the cost.

When a foundation repair company tauts, our method is best because it is patented… watch out. You may be snookered.

At Granite Foundation Repair we offer the broadest selection of foundation repair methods, because your house deserves the best foundation repair method for its particular situation. And sometimes, the best method is not underpinning.  It may be as simple as drainage correction.

Filed Under: Foundation Repair Methods Tagged With: , , ,
October 1, 2009 By

Pier and Beam foundation leveling problems in Dallas Fort Worth

With proper maintenance, which means attention to drainage, pier and beam houses can be exceptionally stable.

At Granite Foundation Repair we often get calls in the rainy season about pier and beam foundation problems including cracks in walls and stuck doors and windows.

There is one way to eliminate seasonal pier and beam foundation problems… stop the water.

Too often we find that the crawl space of a pier and beam house is wet, and often even has standing water.   That is a problem because when the expansive clay soil gets wet, the soil expands, and the pier rises.  As the soil dries, the pier drops.  More often than not, some piers are on stable soil, while others are in the path of water.

Stop the water.  The soil dries.  The house can be shimmed in its new stable state, and no more cracks or stuck doors.

There may still be some movement around the perimeter, but the bulk of the problem is gone for good.

To see if drainage is a problem, check under your foundation the day after a big rain.  Put on some old clothes, open the scuttle hole, and crawl the length and width of the house looking for damp areas.  The goal is to have uniformly dry soil under your pier and beam house.

If you water regularly or not so regularly, this can also be a problem.  After watering, go into the crawl space and check for water or damp soil.

Filed Under: Pier and Beam Foundation Tagged With: , , , , , ,