Have you ever heard the term foundation upheaval? Learning about foundation upheaval is very important. In the state of Texas, foundation upheaval is a very common problem and one that can greatly affect your home’s foundation. To better understand foundation upheaval, Dallas Foundation Repair will go into more detail about this common and rather unfortunate phenomenon.
What Causes Foundation Upheaval?
Foundation upheaval is when the foundation moves upward in direction. Upheaval is caused when there is an abundance of rain that has affected the soil underneath the foundation. The soil underneath the foundation expands and then increases in volume. The water that is now in the soil can create a lot of force. Enough force, in fact, to move the foundation of the home. The water in the soil can push a home’s foundation easily two inches, more will become a major problem. If a foundation moves even an inch, you will begin to notice tight doors, stuck windows and perhaps cracks in the wall. If the foundation moves even more than that, the moving foundation will pull against the pipes and plumbing that sits underneath the foundation. When a foundation upheaval occurs, it usually is along the outside edges of the foundation. However, in some cases it can occur within the interior areas of the foundation. Foundation upheaval can occur in any size foundation from homes to apartments and even in commercial buildings and complexes. When upheaval occurs it can also cause a lot of structural damage to the foundation that will need to be repaired. In most cases the foundation will develop large cracks and is no longer level.
Can Plumbing Issues Cause Foundation Issues?
Even though it usually takes about three inches of rain or water to cause upheaval, in some rare cases upheaval can be caused by a plumbing leaks that has occurred underneath the foundation or near it. It can also occur when the moisture in the water freezes which is also rare in Texas. However, if the soil does freeze, that puts a ton of pressure on the foundation which is why frozen soil and even a slightly saturated soil can cause major upheaval damages.
How Do Your Fix a Heaved Foundation?
Foundation upheaval is a rather serious problem that needs to be corrected. To repair foundation upheaval the foundation will need to be put back into the right position. When repairing foundation upheaval the foundation will be lifted up by using jacks, and then shifted back into the correct position. The cracks can be repaired at this time as well. Often an epoxy resin is used to fill in and seal the cracks. Additionally, the home’s foundation drainage system should be checked and possibly improved to help keep rain water away from the foundation. A good drainage system can help prevent foundation upheaval and other major problems. When you see or believe you are having foundation upheaval, do not delay in having the foundation evaluated with a professional foundation repair service. Not only is the foundation at risk, but so is the plumbing system and the home that sits on top of the foundation.
Slab Foundation Repair in Lewisville, Flower Mound, Carrollton, Plano, Richardson, Grapevine, Garland, Mesquite, Grand Prairie, Arlington & Greater Dallas, Texas
If you have foundation upheaval problems, or require foundation inspection and other repairs, contact Dallas Foundation Repair Service and schedule your first evaluation and inspection today.
