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Basement Concrete Foundation Repair and Maintenance
Basement foundation damage can be caused by building on expansive clay,
improperly compacted fill soils or due to improper maintenance around
foundations. The settlement can destroy the structures and also render
them unsafe. Therefore if there are problems with the foundation immediately
get in touch with the foundation repair professional.
Signs of foundation failure
The homes built on expansive soil suffer from foundation distress. The
problems occur when the foundation settles causing cracks and other damages
like bulging floors, cracked wall and the doors that do not close or
open smoothly. The foundation settlement occurs when there are differences
in soil moisture. Settlement cracks are vertical. The warning signs of
foundation settlement are wall rotation, displaced moldings, cracked
bricks, separation around garage door, windows or walls, cracks in the
floor, misaligned doors and windows.
Cause of foundation settlement
Those soil types which are highest in clay content are more susceptible
to foundation settlement. When unstable soils are used as a base for
a foundation, the tendency for movement is transmitted to the foundation.
Since soil movement is rarely uniform, the foundation is subjected to
a differential or upheaval. The problem shows up in both, slab as well
as pier and beam type foundations. There would be no problem if the soil
below the foundation swells evenly or uniformly. The problems start when
only part of the slab settles. Tripping hazards, rough floors, poor drainage
system may also result from concrete slab settlement.
Liquid Concrete Repair (LCR)
Liquid concrete repair system is an epoxy injection system used to permanently
repair basement water leaks as a result of concrete foundation leaks
and cracks. LCR kit contains epoxy injection cartridges, two tubs of
epoxy crack sealer and injection ports. LCR kit includes enough material
to repair an eight-foot long foundation crack
Techniques to repair sunken concrete
Past techniques for repair of sunken concrete proved to be futile. However,
today, you can do the repairs without having to disrupt the family or
business using that building. Today there are not only trained experts
but also technology to solve the problem of sunken concrete. The most
common methods used to repair are slab-jacking - where the grout is pumped
beneath a slab or a beam to produce a lifting force that restores the
slab to its original elevation. The other technique is known as hydraulic
jacking or piering - this method is applied according to the type of
distress being treated. In piering method, steel posts are driven through
unstable soil and hydraulic jacks are used to stabilize concrete slabs
affected by changes in the underlying soil.
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