Most Common Options for Strengthening Foundations Wyoming, MI
Is your foundation showing signs of weakness? The integrity of the structure of the rest of your home rests on the integrity of the foundation. If your foundation is weak and shifts, it will compromise the integrity of the rest of your home. You may begin to notice signs such as basement wall cracks as well as cracks in the walls in the upper levels of your home. You may also notice signs of water damage such as mold or water pooling.
If you have noticed signs of foundation weakness, you should engage a foundation repair contractor to inspect your foundation and determine how deep the damage is and whether the foundation can be repaired.
Strengthening the Foundation of an Existing Home
There are various solutions available for repairing basement wall cracks and strengthening your foundation. With the help of an experienced contractor, you can determine which method or combination of repair solutions would best suit your foundation. Below are the most commonly used solutions for strengthening foundations.
- Underpinning
This solution involves increasing the depth of the foundation and thereby ensuring that it rests on solid and stable ground. This can be achieved in various ways. The most common types of underpinning include mass pour, pile and beam, screw piles and brackets and piled raft. Underpinning is an effective method of strengthening your foundation when it has been built on shifting soils.
- Installing carbon fiber strips
This solution involves installing carbon fiber straps on the inside surface of the foundation wall. This provides the wall with reinforcement. Carbon fiber is very strong. It will provide the foundation wall with the reinforcements it needs to prevent further inward movement. This solution is effective when you foundation is experiencing inward movement as a result of external forces acting against it.
- Jacketing
This solution involves widening the foundation columns to strengthen them. A concrete jacket is constructed around the building’s existing footings. This reinforces the footings. This method of foundation strengthening is often used when the load on the foundation is expected to increase e.g. through a house expansion.
The solutions above can be used in isolation or in combination. This depends on the type of damage your foundation has experienced as well as your goals for your property. Speak with an experienced foundation repair contractor to determine the best way to reinforce your foundation and protect the integrity of the rest of your home.
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