Foundation Repair

What causes foundation failures and foundation damages?
Many different elements can cause your home’s foundation to be damaged and possibly even destroyed.  Some of these elements include roots, moisture, leaks, and even changes in the weather.

If you’ve already got foundation failure or damages, these are several foundation repair companies you may want to consider:

Each of these companies specialize in foundation repair, and their websites include more information on foundation repair solutions, and even tips on preventing foundation failure and damages.

Weather and Seasonal Changes

How does the weather cause foundation damage?
The weather can cause foundation damage in several different ways, mostly depending on the seasons/weather conditions.

  • Spring/Wet – During the spring the soil can be saturated due to spring showers and storms, causing the soil to be washed or pushed away from the foundation.
  • Summer/Dry/Hot – During the summer the soil can dry out from dry spells or droughts and the soil will lighten and loosen up in which the loose soil can be pushed away or simply fall out of place away from the foundation.
  • Winter/Cold – During the winter, pipes within your home and under your home can freeze and burst open causing moisture to get into the dirt under your home, and this can saturate the soil and cause it to shift away from the foundation.

How can Moisture Barriers prevent foundation damage and repair foundation failure?

A foundation moisture barrier can help prevent these damages in several ways, again depending on the conditions.

  • Spring/Wet – This foundation moisture barrier can help prevent unwanted moisture from showers and storms from reaching the soil under your home, keeping the soil in place and free from excess moisture.
  • Summer/Dry/Hot – A moisture barrier can also help keep the soil in place and prevent it from shifting out from under your home, and keep the soil cool and prevent it from drying out excessively.
  • Winter/Cold – A moisture barrier will keep leaks from frozen/burst pipes from saturating the soil and prevent the soil from shifting away from your home’s foundation.

Roots, Root Barriers and Moisture Barriers

How do roots damage my home’s foundation?
As trees grow, their roots can travel away from the trunk to your home’s foundation.  Once the roots reach the foundation, they can press into your home’s foundation, breaking it, even lifting or lowering it, which can cause severe damage to your home.

Tree roots seek water.  They tend to travel to where there is moisture, and in most cases they’ll target the moisture under your home.  Once the root reaches under the house, it soaks in all of the moisture in the soil, leaving the soil dry, and this can cause foundation damage since the dry soil can shift.

How can I prevent my tree’s roots from damaging my home’s foundation?
A root barrier or moisture barrier  can be used to prevent the roots from ever reaching your foundation.  Moisture barriers are designed to surround the house and prevent roots from getting under the foundation and soaking up the necessary moisture, as well as causing damage by force, while a root barrier will set a perimeter around the tree and its roots, diverting the roots downward.

The root barrier or moisture barrier is a less expensive form of foundation repair though it takes time for the results to be seen.

Moisture and Moisture Barriers

Where does moisture come from?
Moisture can come from just about anywhere.  It can come from rain, muggy or humid conditions, leaks, or even watering the garden or lawn.

How can lack of or excess moisture damage my home’s foundation?Uneven levels of moisture in the soil causes a shift in the soil to expand or contract the foundation, causing the foundation to shift out of place with the soil.

How can I keep moisture from damaging the foundation?
A foundation vapor barrier or a moisture vapor barrier will help maintain the moisture level under your foundation.  These barriers will prevent any excess moisture from getting under your home’s foundation, but continue to keep in the necessary moisture.

For more information on moisture barriers, visit the following sites:

All links and “Underseal Underslab Membrane” picture furnished by https://www.polyguardproducts.com/.

Leaks and Barriers

Where do leaks form?
Leaks can form anywhere under your house.  From your septic tank and its plumbing to your own kitchen sink’s drainage system.

How do leaks form?
Leaks may form from bursting pipes after freezing in the winter, or they can form from poor plumbing.

How do leaks damage my home’s foundation?
Leaks can lead to standing water, which will create saturated soil.  Once the soil becomes saturated, it can wear away or push secitons of your home’s foundation up.

How can I prevent this?
A moisture barrier such as a polyguard waterproofing barrier or concrete slab waterproofing barrier can help prevent any leaks from saturating the soil underneath the home.  The moisture barrier will channel the water as well as block the water from the soil that is under your home.