Foundation settlements usually occur early in the life of a structure. Evidence of settlement may be cracking in exterior masonry, interior walls, jammed doors or windows, excessive basement wall cracks, and in extreme cases, visual displacement of the structure.

Causes may be soil related, poor foundation design or poor construction practices. Migration of footing support due to defective drainage systems either in original construction or improperly designed dewatering repair systems are also common.

Foundation settlement is a serious condition and if excessive, should be investigated by a professional engineer. EBS employs professional engineers who can provide a cost effective solution to your foundation settlement problems utilizing state of the art proven technology.

Indications of foundation settling problems include:

• Foundation walls that are buckled or bowed
• Doors and windows that stick or don’t open properly
• Cracks in foundation walls
• Cracks in exterior walls
• Cracks in interior walls and ceilings
• Sunken or buckled interior concrete floors

Stabilizing Foundations

Wall cracks usually occur within the first year after construction. Three main causes are:

1. CONCRETE SHRINKAGE o   This is a normal occurrence in concrete. Good concrete design and placement techniques can reduce its incidence.
2. DISPLACEMENT DURING BACKFILLING o   Careless backfilling practices on a new foundation often cause cracking
3. SETTLEMENT DUE TO LOADING o   As the load of the new structure is applied on its foundation some settlement will occur. Differential settlements will generally result in cracking of the foundation. Poor foundation design may lead to unacceptably large movements.

Other common causes are frost action, soil swelling or shrinking, and hydrostatic pressure caused by inadequate subsoil drainage.

Cracks less than the thickness of a dime are not usually considered structurally significant and can be ignored if not leaking or causing structural movements.

Leaking or abnormal cracking should receive the attention of a specialist.

The solution to your foundation problems comes from the world leader in screw anchor development. Chance® Helical pier and anchoring systems, widely used since 1907 in thousands of construction projects, brings the finest in materials, service and quality to your foundation. All installing contractors are thoroughly trained and certified in installation procedures and are supported by the extensive technical-support services of Chance.

Sinking foundations, cracked and buckled walls, and uneven floors are problems commonly faced annually by some quarter-million homeowners. Homes and other structures situated on unstable soils settle when their foundations are subjected to extreme moisture conditions or lack proper drainage. A shifting foundation may result in structural damage to your home and a loss of your investment.

EBS Engineering and Construction specializes in stabilizing foundations. Review the following link for further information.

Stabilizing Foundations