Foundation Repair New Jersey, PA & CT

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Foundation problems can lead to major structural damage within your home. Whether you’re a homeowner or a perspective buyer, foundation issues are scary and you likely have a lot of questions.

Foundation Repair/Foundation crack repair or settlement can lead to major structural problems within your home. Weather and soil conditions in New Jersey, New York, Houston, Texas can both contribute to foundation problems. With over 50 years of experience, W.A. Building Movers & Contractors Inc. are experts in foundation repair.

In this article, we go over the warning signs of foundation failure, the causes of foundation problems and options to repair it.

Foundation Repair: Signs of foundation failure in New Jersey, PA a,d CT.

Foundation failure is a significant and costly problem in its own right. But left unaddressed, even relatively minor foundation damage can lead to much bigger and more expensive repairs down the road.

The best defense against escalating expenses is to scan for potential signs of foundation damage and address these issues as soon as they appear. Many of these signs often manifest in other parts of the home, usually several levels above the underlying foundation. These signs include:



Hairline fractures or cracks in flooring, foundation or walls

Sloping, sagging or buckling of foundation floors or walls

Displaced or cracked moldings

Space between wall and ceiling or floor

Wall separation from the house

Improperly fitting doors and windows

Separation of doors, windows and garage doors

Water damage (including pooling water, mold and stains)

Crumbling or flaking of the concrete

By scanning for these signs on a regular basis, it’s possible to catch problems early and keep foundation repairs to a minimum while extending the lifetime of a property.

Foundation Repair: Causes of foundation failure

Heaving and settling of soil

The freezing and thawing of the unpredictable winter months can cause the soil under your foundation to expand and contract, it may lead to heaving and settling of the foundation above.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Some storms can lead to excess moisture in the ground, which increases the hydrostatic pressure in the soil. This pressure pushes on foundations, causing the concrete to shift and crack under stress.

Erosion

Common after a sudden or severe rain, erosion can wash away soil under your foundation, forming voids that will lead to foundation settlement and sinking.

Poor Soil Compaction

If the soil under your home was not properly packed when the home was built, it will most likely settle unevenly over time. The foundation above may also settle and sink as the soil that supports it begins to move.

Pooling Water

When water pools around your foundation it can cause a buildup of pressure on foundation walls. Remember that when pressure builds up, walls will bow, crack and lean. Water will find it’s way into your basement or crawlspace if this occurs. Mold and mildew can then become a health risk for you and your family.

Inferior Foundation Construction

Insufficient steel and inferior concrete will contribute to movement in the slab. If quality building materials are not used during construction, the entire foundation will be weaker and more susceptible to problems.

Foundation Repair: Options

W.A. Building Movers offer options such as underpinning, pile installation and house lifting & moving to fix your foundation.

Underpinning

Some houses experience foundation problems because the existing one is shallow in depth. Underpinning is one option to fix this problem. Underpinning is the process of strengthening a foundation by installing a new one under an existing one.

Mass Concrete underpinning is the most common method of underpinning. The ground below the existing building foundation is excavated in controlled stages (or pins). When strata suitable for bearing the weight of the building has been reached, the excavation is filled with concrete and left to cure before the next pin is excavated.

Pile Driving

Sometimes underpinning isn’t enough and that’s where pile driving comes in. If your foundation has settled or begun to sink due to soil movement, it can be stabilized with wood, concrete or helical piles, a type of steel.

These piles are driven (or screwed as is the case with helical piles) into the ground beneath the foundation until “refusal,” meaning it hits strong soil or rock. Once installed, the piles are used to support the foundation and the home above.

House Lifting & Foundation Replacement

If your foundation has suffered extreme damage and the house is still intact, house lifting is the best option to replace it. Using a unified jacking system, the house is raised and supported by steel beams and support columns called “cribs.” These cribs are built by cross-hatching wood beams into square towers. Once the house is supported, the foundation is demolished and the new foundation is poured. When the foundation walls have cured, the house is lowered, the steel beams and cribbing are removed and the house is attached to the new, stable, and sturdy foundation.

This is also a great option if you want to raise your house and extend the foundation to create another floor.

Foundation Repair: More Information

W.A. Building Movers & Contractors Inc. has been fixing foundations for over four decades. To read more about us, click here. To see a portfolio of our work, click here.

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For more information about getting your house raised or any other aspect of construction, please feel free to contact us via e-mail at info@wabuildingmovers.com or call our office at (908) 654-8227 . or fill-out the Contact form from here. We look forward to hearing from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is foundation leveling? The term “foundation leveling” refers to the process of leveling an uneven concrete slab, crawl space or basement foundation to a satisfactory elevation. Foundation leveling can be accomplished using a wide-variety of different foundation repair methods…. Read More..

How much does it cost to level a foundation? Foundation problems can lead to major structural damage within your home. Whether you’re a homeowner or a perspective buyer, foundation issues are scary and you likely have a lot of questions. Luckily, there are ways to repair … Read More..

How much does it cost to level a house on blocks? Pier and beam foundation repair costs can range from high to low depending upon what is required to properly fix them. Average foundation repair prices can vary, and can cost as little as $1,500, while others can cost upwards of $10,000. …Read More..

How do you fix the foundation on a house? Your home’s foundation is the most important structure of the entire house because it shoulders your home’s weight. It also distributes the weight of the house along the walls of the foundation which, keeps the structural integrity of the home intact … Read More..

Is foundation damage covered by homeowners insurance? Cracks, settlement, and other types of damage to your concrete foundation are not only serious to the structural integrity of your home, they can also be very expensive to repair. Depending on the extent of the damage and the method of repair, … Read More..

How long does it take to fix the foundation of a house? Every foundation repair job is unique. From a minor leveling job to a complete reconstruction, there are many factors that determine the complexity of a job and its duration. … Read More..

How much does it cost to build a foundation for a house? A structurally sound home starts with a strong foundation holding its weight and it can be considered the most important part of the house … Read More..

How much does it cost to raise a home? W.A Building Movers knows that house raising if very costly. Depending on the size of the house, the location, and the current structure and foundation, the cost that house raising contractor will charge to raise your home will be in the range … Read More..

How much does it cost to tear down a house? Demolition costs are subject to a lot of factors that make them vary from as little as$4 a sq foot to over $15. However, completely demolishing a home alone costs between$4,000 and $14,000… Read More..

Is it expensive to move a house? Moving a house can be a costly ordeal. The low estimate for moving an entire house is anywhere between $12 and $16 dollars per square foot…. Read More..