What Causes A Foundation To Sink?

If you live in a home where the foundation is not level, it is imperative that you repair the foundation as soon as possible. As your foundation begins to sink, the structure of your home can be compromised, leading to substantial repairs that can be very expensive. You will see both interior signs out the foundation sinking, as well as obvious problems on the exterior of your home as well.

​There are common signs of foundation damage that you can easily detect, most obviously noticed due to changes in the very structure of your household. In order to stabilize this, you will need to use what are called helical piers. Here is an overview of the interior and exterior signs that you should look for if you believe your foundation is sinking and why helical piers might be your best strategy for resolving this issue.

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What Causes A Foundation To Sink?

​There are two primary reasons that your foundation may begin to sink. First of all, the ground beneath the foundation is changing. This could be due to normal weathering, such as the percolation of water into the soil, leading to foundation heaving. This may cause the foundation to either move upwards or begin to sink, either of which will lead to structural integrity issues. Although this is not immediately noticeable when looking at your foundation directly, you will certainly see signs of this inside of your home.

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Interior Signs That Your Foundation Is Compromised

There are several signs that are easily noticeable if your house foundation is truly sinking. You will see diagonal cracks that will begin to appear on your walls. You may also notice that your doors are not closing, or you are not able to latch them properly, which are clear signs that your foundation is moving. Additional signs that your foundation is moving include interior fixtures that are no longer level. 

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Exterior Signs That Your Foundation Is Compromised

​On the exterior of your house foundation, you may notice that there are cracks in your exterior walls. Bricks may be moving that are adjacent to the bottom level of your home, and you may also see exterior trim beginning to separate. When you begin to notice the subtle changes, or if they are significant, these are issues caused by a foundation that is settling. If this is occurring, you will want to contact a professional that can help you. One of the best solutions is to use helical piers.

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What Are Helical Piers?

​Helical piers or helical piles are devices that are used to raise up your foundation in a specific manner. These are regarded as shafts, those that are equipped with helical plates, that will resemble enormous screws when you look at them laterally. It is the shape of the helical piers that allows them to be pushed first into the ground and subsequently screwed into the ground by turning them. A push pier system is similar except for the helical shape. This is done through some type of hydraulic apparatus that will easily push through several feet into the ground, all of which is monitored by a pressure gauge. Once they are far enough into the ground, they can then be bolted together with couplers. These can go as far down as 25 feet or more, depending upon the density of the soil beneath your foundation, which will allow them to be used to reposition your foundation.

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How Are Helical Piers Used?

​These can be used at virtually any location where a foundation is in need of repair. They are cost effective solutions for homes, patios, decks, and even in industrial settings. Each of these will be spaced about 6 feet apart, and once they are in place, will provide additional strength and support for the foundation. In most cases, these are made of very strong galvanized steel that will not rust when exposed to moisture. They require less labor compared to a push pier and will cause almost no disturbance to the surrounding area.

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Do Helical Peirs Remain In The Ground?

​To maintain support for your foundation, they must remain in the ground. Essentially, they are there to provide the support that is lacking in the soil. Depending upon the size of your home, or the structure under which they are placed, you could use up to 30 or more of these to get the desired result. Due to their construction, they can last for decades, plus they are much easier to install than concrete piers because of their design. If you have begun to notice changes in the interior of your home, or exterior cracks forming it will certainly time to contact us for a free inspection to evaluate the need for installation.

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Additional Benefits Of Using Helical Piers

​Aside from the obvious support that they will provide for your foundation, there are also other benefits to using them. First of all, they are eco-friendly due to the material that is used. They also have extremely good loadbearing capabilities. Versatility is much higher with these by comparison to push piers and concrete piers, and they are also less expensive than other possible solutions. Most importantly, you can very precisely place these at the exact areas where the foundation is sinking in order to provide support for your foundation where it is needed most. What you end up with is an immediate load transfer once they are installed, which is going to be below active soils. It will also help you avoid the very expensive cost of large excavations, which is why this system is most commonly used by  New Braunfels Foundation Repair.

​Foundation stabilization and repair solutions are numerous. Using helical piers represents one of the most cost-effective solutions that has existed for decades. If you have noticed that your foundation is sinking due to interior or exterior changes to your home, it may be time to give us a call to get the help that you need. In no time at all, your foundation will no longer be a problem for you using these innovative cylindrical pieces of metal. Get a free inspection today and get a quote on how much the installation of helical piers will be.