Types of House Foundation Repair and Common Issues
Cracks in drywall, stuck and poorly performing doors and windows, sloping floors, water penetration, and moisture damage such as wood rot and mildew can all occur in a house constructed on an unstable foundation. Foundation issues can be among the most complex and expensive to address.
All foundations aim to transmit the load (weight) of the home, residents, and their possessions to the earth beneath the foundation. Basements and crawlspaces, for example, must withstand lateral (horizontal) loads produced by soil deposited against the walls. Foundations must also tolerate environmental loads such as snow, wind, and earthquakes. Over the home’s life, foundations must execute these responsibilities without shifting, breaking, degrading, or admitting water.
Soil may either help or harm a foundation.
The entire load-bearing system that supports the home is the substance beneath the foundation (typically earth). Some soils, such as sand and gravel, can be used to support a house. Loose-fill, for example, cannot invest huge weights. Furthermore, clay-rich soil can expand and contract in response to variations in moisture levels, causing a foundation to sink or walls to break from inward pressure. Although imperfect, unstable soil may exist almost anywhere, it is more widespread in the Midwest and Western areas of the United States.
House Foundation Designs
The following are the most popular foundation types:
-Slab of concrete
-Crawlspace
-Basement
-Pile (raised)
There is no finer foundation than another. Each kind has benefits and drawbacks. In many situations, the type of foundation utilized in residential buildings is determined by regional preferences, which are selected by significant aspects such as climate, topography, and even construction practices passed down from one generation to the next.
Slab of Concrete
Slab foundations may be found almost anywhere and are the most common in various markets. These foundations are best suited for flat or slightly sloping terrain. Concrete slab foundations have the major advantage of being the least expensive to build.
Basement
Basement foundations are reasonably common in houses developed in the Northeast. Basements are not suitable for locations with a high water table, and they are costly to construct in areas where bedrock must be removed by blasting or excavation.
Basement foundations are more expensive to construct than concrete slabs and crawlspace foundations and are more susceptible to water infiltration.
Crawlspace
These foundations are almost ubiquitous and are the main foundation in several markets. A crawl space can serve as the primary foundation for an entire house. It may also be readily added to an existing basement foundation, a common choice for expanding a home with a basement.
Pile
This building option, also known as a pier or pole foundation, is a wise choice where weak or unstable soil conditions may pose issues for other foundation types. Of course, these foundations are standard in coastal locations where dwellings must be lifted above storm waves.
Most of us do not consider our home’s foundation. That is exactly as it should be. Water will stay away from well-built foundations for decades if kept dry. For Foundation Repair Hermosa Beach, contact RLM Retrofit Foundation and have them assess the foundation.
