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FOUNDATION REPAIR: FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a Foundation?

The foundation of a building serves two major purposes. It distributes the weight from load-begetting walls to the bedrock or oil beneath, and information technology keeps groundwater or soil moisture out. Factors such every bit topography of the structure site and building size determine what type of foundation the structure needs. At that place are two major types of foundations:

Deep – A deep foundation is required when building on soft soil that will not be able to absorb the building'due south load. The foundation must be established deep underground or underwater, where contact with stronger layers of earth is established. Examples of structures that require deep foundations include bridges, dams, and piers.
Shallow – Typically, shallow foundations are wider than they are deep. They are also called spread or open footings. Shallow foundations are more mutual than deep ones and practice non require equally much tiresome into the globe. They are used for lighter buildings and placed in soil that tin can comport a significant corporeality of the structure'southward weight.

Image of a commercial foundation

What Does the Foundation Do?

A building'due south foundation holds information technology up and holds it together. It bears the load of the building, anchors it against natural forces, such as earthquakes, and protects it from moisture, which tin cause serious damage. A potent foundation is made of quality materials, similar steel and poured physical. Older foundations are frequently made of rock, mortar, and brick, and tend to sustain damage more than hands. A edifice'southward foundation also creates a infinite for important mechanicals, like furnace equipment.

Does a Crack Hateful My Foundation is Damaged?

Finding a cleft in your foundation could be a sign of serious damage, and so if you lot discover one, it'due south all-time to contact a foundation repair service immediately. Some cracks are more indicative of serious damage than others, though all cracks demand to be addressed. Vertical cracks are the virtually common foundational cracks. They are usually the result of foundation settling and can usually be sealed relatively easily. A trained foundation repair specialist may inject the fissure with urethane or epoxy material, ensuring that it is sealed and does not reopen or grow as the foundation continues to settle. Similarly, diagonal cracks are often caused by settling. Still, they are a sign that one side of the foundation is settling lower than the other. This uneven tension can cause diagonal corking, which also needs to be sealed promptly. Horizontal cracks are the most serious blazon of foundation not bad. They oft signal serious harm to a building'south structural integrity. These cracks are frequently caused past soil and/or hydrostatic pressure.

What is Foundation Settling/Sinking?

When the soil layers underneath of a edifice are unable to carry its weight anymore, information technology can cause the foundation to begin to sink and settle into the earth. This happens when the layers of soil begin to change due to shifting levels of moisture, consolidation, poor compacting, or just generally weak soil. When the vertical loads from the structure are in backlog of the begetting chapters of the soil beneath the foundation, it begins to movement downward. Foundation settling is a common problem that occurs in all types of soils and tin be addressed by a foundation repair specialist.

What is Foundation Upheaval?

Foundation upheaval occurs when the foundation of a building moves up due to soil expansion. This creates an unsafe surroundings within the building every bit the structure becomes unstable. Upheaval is frequently caused by an abundance of moisture under slab foundations. When it rains or floods and the soil becomes saturated, information technology can aggrandize and increment in volume. The weight of the moisture in the soil nether the foundation tin exert pressure that forced the slab up. Upheaval can even exist caused by under-slab plumbing leaks. If unaddressed, the foundation will continue to fissure and ultimately break or bend.

Can Earthquakes Cause Foundation Damage?

Earthquakes can crusade serious structural impairment to a edifice of whatsoever size. Even a mild convulsion tin cause instability that could pb to foundation cracks and other serious problems. Earthquake retrofitting is disquisitional for all buildings in earthquake-prone areas. Earthquake retrofitting is the modification of a construction intended to create resistance to seismic activity. It more often than not involves foundation anchoring and bolting to strengthen the connexion betwixt the structure and its foundation and prevent damage and/or collapse during an earthquake.

How Can I Tell if My Foundation is Damaged?

There are a few common indicators of foundation impairment, including:

Visible exterior foundation cracks
Wall/floor cracks
Foundation settling/sinking
Doors sticking/not opening or closing
Gaps around window frames/exterior doors
Sagging/uneven floors
Foundation upheaval
Cabinets/counters separating from walls
Clammy clamber spaces

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Contact VCE

If you lot believe your San Francisco or Marin Canton, California expanse dwelling or commercial property may take foundation damage, contact VCE today. Nosotros offering foundation repair and strengthening services throughout Marin Canton. Call usa at 415-472-9144.

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