Posted by Craig Milam on Fri, Mar 05, 2010 @ 07:00 AM
On March 4th the New York Times published an article about the foundation repair industry titled "Shifting Soil Threatens Homes' Foundations". The article points out that the foundation repair industry has grown even throughout the recession as more and more home owners have been faced with problems caused by expansive soil (read more about expansive soil in Central Texas).
The Article states:
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association indicates that since the 1990s there has been an accelerating trend nationwide toward more extended dry periods followed by downpours. Whether due to random climate patterns or global warming, the swings between hot and dry weather and severe rain or snow have profoundly affected soil underneath buildings.
Clay soils, like those beneath the houses of Mr. Derse and Ms. Wilson, shrink during droughts and swell during floods, causing structures to bob. And because sandier soil loses its adhesive properties in dry conditions, it pulls away from foundations. Heavy rains cause it to shift or just collapse beneath structures. With both kinds of soil, such sinking, called subsidence, usually happens gradually, said Randall Orndorff, a geologist with the United States Geologic Survey. But, he said, โswinging from very wet to extremely dry weather like weโve been seeing lately in many parts of the country may be accelerating the effect.โ
While the author questions whether foundation problems are caused by global warming (this of course is an entirely different debate which we will not elaborate upon), she does provide an excellent explanation of how foundation problems occur. The soils in Texas are especially subject to these characteristics, thus the large amount of foundation repair companies that can be found in Texas.
The article also discusses the cost of foundation repair to homeowners and estimates that around $4 billion dollars a year are spent repairing foundations, a much more conservative figure than the $12.5 billion purported by the Foundation Repair Association. Regardless, foundation repair is a multi-billion dollar industry which people often tend to ignore until they see the signs of foundation problems.
The author also points out, "Subsidence is not covered by most homeowners' insurance policies in the United States." This topic has already been covered by Superior Foundation Repair in a previous blog post and readers should be aware of this fact already (read about insurance and foundation repair).
Another aspect covered in the article is proper techniques for maintaining a healthy foundation.
Landscaping should, as a rule, be installed so that water slopes away from the house and gutters should discharge at least five feet from the house to avoid oversaturating the soil. (read more about landscaping and home foundations) During droughts, experts recommend placing soaker hoses around the perimeter of the house and turning them on for 30 minutes a day. โThe idea is to maintain a constant amount of moisture in the soil,โ said Tom Witherspoon, a foundation engineer in Dallas. โIf you can do that, your house will never move.โ (read more about maintaining a healthy foundation)
Among other things there are a few personal stories mixed in with the article which highlight the hardships endured by various families who have dealt with foundation problems.
The article makes some good points about the foundation repair industry and the severity of problems caused by expansive soil throughout the United States, even if the article is loosely based around the idea that climate change may be the cause of foundation problems. However, the author also brings into question whether or not poor construction habits, the increase in new homes, or the availability of good quality soil have contributed to the increase in foundation problems across America. In all the article is an excellent read for anyone interested in understanding foundation repair and how it affects families.
Posted by Craig Milam on Tue, Mar 02, 2010 @ 12:38 PM
First of all - Definitely use a steel pier foundation repair system instead of concrete piers. Steel piers are more stable in the long term and they don't settle like concrete piers do. Concrete piers are bigger and heavier and therefore naturally settle over time if not driven all the way to the bedrock. Concrete piers are also more invasive to your property. They are much bigger in diameter than steel piers, so they require a much bigger hole to be dug around your house or cut inside the slab of your house. Superior Foundation Repair in Austin uses quality steel piers and they drive them all the way to the bedrock!
As a residential remodeler and licensed Realtor here in Austin I have dealt with many of the local foundation companies and if you are looking for a reliable, Austin foundation repair company that stands by their word and takes pride and care in their work then Superior Foundation Repair is the one. I have worked with them on several houses and been satisfied every time. If you really want to find out why Superior Foundation Repair is the best then compare their honest, lifetime, transferrable warranty to those of other companies whose warranties are full of loopholes and pages of legal disclaimers.
Another thing is that when you use the biggest foundation companies in town then that company's marketing costs, advertising costs and office expenses have to be factored into the prices they quote you. I recommend spending your dollars more wisely.
If you want a quality, pier house leveling system that is expertly installed by a company that stands behind its warranty then call Superior Foundation Repair.
-----
Dan Golding is a Certified, GREEN Designated Realtor & Residential Remodeler working for Casa Grande Realty.
Contact Dan via email: DanGolding.Realtor@gmail.com
or phone: (512) 590-2786
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Feb 08, 2010 @ 06:30 AM
Drilled bell concrete piers are a common method of foundation repair, but are actually best suited for newly constructed homes and structures. The installation of bell bottom piers in previously existing structures presents a myriad of problems.
First, let's take a look at how Drilled Bell piers are installed in a house. Shafts are dug diagonally underneath a home's foundation from the exterior of the structure. Once they reach the appropriate depth, either stable soil or bedrock, the bottom of the shaft is widened using special bits to create a bell shaped "foot". The shaft is often reinforced with steel rebar before concrete is poured into it (further reading). Once the shaft is filled with concrete, the concrete must cure for 1-2 weeks. Upon completion of curing, the house is lifted and placed on top of the Drilled Bell piers.
Now that we understand the process let's take a look at the numerous disadvantages of this method:
- First, an enormous amount of excavation is required and the excavated soil must be redistributed somewhere.
- In order to drill underneath the house heavy equipment will be placed next to the home causing considerable disturbance to adjacent landscaping.
- Also the vibrations of the drills, depending on their intensity, can cause foundations to crack further.
- Water may seep into the shafts before the concrete is poured causing the bell foot (the support) to be compromised. Any water seepage must be addressed before the concrete can be poured.
- The presence of toxic or flammable gasses may prevent thorough inspection of the shafts (book: Design of Foundation Systems).
- Upon curing of the concrete, pressure is applied, usually using bottle jacks, to the outter edges of the foundation to lift the structure up onto the piers.
- It is not possible to install interior bell piers on existing structures.
- The process takes 2-3 weeks before it is completed
So it is easy to see that drilled bell concrete piers installed in existing structures are not a viable option of foundation repair. If your home or business was built on top of belled piers, you will have adequate support.
In comparison, Superior's Steel Pier foundation leveling process requires minimal excavation, no curing time for concrete, the installation usually lasts no longer than 3 days, can be installed in the interior of the house, does not depend on soil for support, and causes minimal distubance to landscaping around the house. Because our steel piers reach all the way to solid bedrock, your home is protected against the effects of expanisve soils prevalent in our area of Central Texas, thus effectively counteracting the most common cause of foundation problems in our area.
Further Reading on Drilled Bell Concrete Piers:
myfoundationrepair.com
foundationdoctor.info
theconstructor.org
Posted by Craig Milam on Tue, Jan 26, 2010 @ 06:00 AM
Superior Foundation Repair will be examining
disadvantages of various foundation repair methods, over the coming weeks, with an in depth look at why these methods are inferior to Steel Piers. The first type of foundation repair we will expose is the often used method of concrete pressed pilings.
Disadvantages of Concrete Pressed Pilings
In homes with Simple Pressed Concrete Piling Foundation Repair, concrete cylinders are driven underneath the home's foundation one on top of the other using the weight of the slab to press them down until they cannot go any further (known as the point of resistance). Unfortunately, it is impossible to tell what this point of resistance is, it could be bedrock, stable soil or unstable soil. Most engineers agree this method of Foundation Repair is not the correct solution for foundation problems because expansive soil will continue affecting pilings after installation. When the soil expands it can work it's way in between pilings and completely nullify the support this method is intended to provide (see picture above for example of piling displacement).
There is no factor of safety built into Concrete pressed pilings
The factor of safety is defined as "the structural capacity of a system beyond the applied loads or actual loads" by Wikipedia. Because the weight of the structure is used to press the pilings down until they can go no further, simple concrete pressed pilings have a factor of safety ratio of 1:1 which means any significant weight additions, have a great potential to cause foundation instability. According to Wikipedia: "Buildings commonly use a factor of safety of 2.0 for each structural member." This means foundation piers should be able to support the sturcture's weight times 2 at the least. Superior's Steel Pier Method supports a structure's weight comfortably with a safety factor significantly greater than 2 by anchoring the structure to solid bedrock, which prevents future additions in weight to a house, i.e. add-ons, new furniture, etc, from causing any negative affect on a home's foundation. Superior's Steel Piers are Engineer certified.
Pressed Pilings installed in dry or unstable soil may sink upon the introduction of moisture.
Because Texas experiences long periods of dry weather followed by wet weather, the soil moisture content is continuosly changing, causing expansion/contraction of soil (further reading: Article from Geology.com, Blog post on Expansive Soils in Texas, Article from USinspect.com). Therefore pressed pilings inserted into dry soil are unstable from the start. If the point of resistance is on unstable soil, increased moisture can cause the piers to sink further into the ground, or, if the soil is stable, expansion will cause the piers to move.
Oftentimes companies will pre-soak the soil to drive the pressed pilings as deep as possible. This is to prevent the pilings from sinking in times of increased rainfall. Introducing large amounts of water into soil is not good for any home at any time, under any circumstances. Superior's Galvanized Steel Piers are driven through the soil until they reach the bedrock up to 100 feet below the surface, effectively securing a home's foundation to a solid rock, which is unaffected by shrinking and swelling.
Further Reading:
An excellent article on the disadvantages of Simple Pressed Concrete Piers from myfoundationrepairs.com
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 @ 11:10 AM
This blog post will examine some of the factors that contribute to how foundation repair estimates are priced and educate homeowners about how foundation repair estimates are formulated.
- The extent of deviation
Deviation refers to the extent that a structure is unlevel. If the home is experiencing severe signs of foundation problems, such as bowed walls, large cracks in the ceiling or walls, or doors that will not open or close properly in a majority of the house, it is feasible that the foundation will need to be stablised with interior piers to a greater extent than houses with a lesser deviation. The more stabilization a house needs, the more the repairs will cost.
- The stability of the soil
In Texas, houses situated atop a great amount of unstable soil tend to need more interior piers to counteract the shrink-swell characteristics of soils. Each house sits on a unique mixture of soils and some soils have greater shrink-swell potential than others (read our article about soil types in Central Texas). Another factor that contributes to the stability of the soil is proper drainage. Improper drainage can cause erosion underneath a stucture which will adversely affect the foundation, and cause it to sink. Naturally if the drainage prblem is affecting the entire structure. More interior piers will be needed to counteract the erosion.
- The size and weight of the structure
Other major factors in determining the cost of foundation repair are the size and weight of the structure. Heavier structures will need more piering closer together to adequately support the weight of the structure. The size of the ground floor of a structure also contributes to the amount of piering that will be needed to adequately solve foundation problems. Larger homes will need more piers to provide support over a wider area.
Contact Superior Foundation Repair today for a free estimate on repairs. Superior's Steel Piers are engineer certified and all foundation repair work is back by a lifetime transferable warranty.
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Jan 04, 2010 @ 06:30 AM
A list of 5 resolutions Central Texas Homeowners should take to heart to help protect their home investment and insure a healthy foundation:
- Know the signs of Foundation Problems
There are many telltale signs of Foundation problems, which homeowners may not be aware of. Early signs of foundation problems may be chalked up to faulty construction, poor materials, or general wear and tear. But left unchecked may lead to major structural damage in the future. Read Superior Foundation Repair's Top 10 signs of Foundation problems and check your home to see if it is starting to show any signs of these problems. Most foundation problems begin to manifest themselves within 3-4 years of construction, and when ignored can adversely affect the price of a house.
- Find out what type of soil your house is built on
Austin is home to many expansive soil types. Expansive soils wreak havoc on home foundations, as they expand during wet periods, and contract during dry periods. All this expansion and contraction leads to major stress on home foundations, and over years can seriously damage a buildings structural integrity. Read Superior Foundation Repair's blog post about expansive soils in Central Texas, and contact your builder or a certified geologist to determine what type of soil your house is sitting on. If you know you are in a potential danger zone, Superior Foundation Repair's Steel Piers can counteract the effects of expansive soils on your home by anchoring your home's foundation to bedrock.
- Learn how to avoid causing foundation problems
Oftentimes Home Owners undertake remodeling or landscaping projects at home which adversely affect their foundations. Read Superior's blog post about how home owners cause foundation problems, before making additions to a home or property. Well planned projects can save a lot of money and headaches for the future. Use certified contractors to complete any additions and do not opt for the cheapest option. Check the contractor's standing with the BBB before agreeing upon any contract, and ask for a list of references.
- Maintain a healthy foundation
As homeowners, there are steps that can be taken to ensure that minimal stress is put on a home's foundation. Superior Foundation Repair's Foundation maintenance tips are a good start for learning how to care for a home's foundation. Follow these steps to counteract typical causes of foundation problems and to protect your home investment. Even if a home has previously had foundation repair (Spread Footer, Drilled Bell Concrete Pier, Simple Pressed Pilings, Concrete Pressed Pilings, etc.) these are not permanent fixes, and the home will most likely need foundation repair again in the future. Superior Foundation Repair's Steel Pier House Leveling Process is the only solution for permanent foundation repair. By lifting a home's foundation and anchoring it to bedrock, the home will have a secure foundation for a lifetime.
- Check your landscaping and remedy potential problems
Check existing landscaping at home to avoid potential structural damage caused by poorly designed installation. Read Superior's tips about Landscaping and Foundations to learn how to properly install landscaping additions to a home or remedy current problems a home may be experiencing. Inattention to Landscaping problems can seriously affect a home's foundation, while proper care can help homeowners avoid headaches in the future.
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Dec 28, 2009 @ 06:30 AM
The Holidays are wrapping up and 2009 is coming to a close. New Years Eve is one of the most popular nights to get out and about in Austin. The easy choice is 6th street, but if you don't want to fight the hundreds of thousands of people roaming the streets, here's a list of 8 alternatives to 6th street for New Years Eve celebrations:
- First Night Austin 2010
- An inter-generational, family friendly, alchohol-free celebration taking place at different location around Austin, download the complete Austin First Night program
- Festivities start at 4 and include art, music, theater performances, workshops, and a parade among other things.
- First Night Austin New Year's Eve Run
- In conjunction with the First Night festivities, a 2 mile run starting at Auditorium Shores at 10 p.m. should get you in the mood for a fun and fit 2010
- Registration
- The Eggmen at Jovita's Mexican Restaurant
- The Eggmen are an Austin Beatles cover band
- They will be performing 2 shows at Jovita's Mexican Restaurant on New Year's Eve:
- a family friendly show from 4:15-6:00 p.m. to commemorate the New Years in London. Price: $8 Adults/$5 Kids - available at te door
- a New Year's Eve bash featuring Ouch! (on at 8:15) & the Eggmen (on from 9 p.m.-1 a.m.) - Prizes, giveaways & food - price: $25
- Jovita's Mexican Restaurant
1619 South First St.
Austin, TX 78704
512-447-7825
- FINO Restaurant, Patio & Bar New Year's Eve Dinner
- A New Year's Eve Dinner featuring Paella and New Year's Eve Cocktails
- Call for reservations, prices & more info
- FINO
2905 San Gabriel Street
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 474-2905
- Flying Saucer's Annual New Year's Eve Party
- The Flying Saucer Draught House will be hosting a New Year's Eve celebration with Free admission, a Free champagne toast, and party favors. Doors open at 11 a.m.
- Inside the Triangle
815 W. 47th St.
Austin, TX 78751
- New Years Eve with Jimmy LaFave at Threadgill's North
- Join Texas music legend Jimmy LaFave at Threadgill's North for a special New Years Eve concert and a delicious 4 course meal
- Dinner from 7:30-9:30 p.m. download the menu (PDF)
- Opening act: Jess Klein
- Main act: Jimmy LaFave
- Price: $75
Music Starts at 9 p.m.
call for reservations
- Threadgill's North
6416 North Lamar
Austin, Texas 78752
(512) 451-5440
- Guy Forsyth and Sideshow Tragedy at the Saxon Pub
- Legendary Austin Singer/Songwriter Guy Forsyth will be performing a special New Year's Eve show at the Saxon Pub
- Doors open at 8 p.m. & the show starts at 9
- Tickets: $20 (advance)/$25 at the door
- The Saxon Pub
1320 South Lamar
Austin, Texas 78704
512-448-2552
- New Years Eve Dinner at Lakeway Resort & Spa
Superior Foundation Repair would like to wish you and your family a prosperous 2010 and would like to thank all of our customers for helping make us one of the top foundation repair companies in Austin, Texas this year. We look forward to repairing foundations and leveling houses in the Austin and San Antonio area for many more years to come.
Happy New Year!
Technorati Tags: tips, Austin New Year's Eve, Austin, New Year's Eve, things to do list, events
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Dec 14, 2009 @ 06:28 AM
Christmas time is upon us. A time for family, shopping, and lots of food. This year, Christmas day falls on a Friday, and, typical for Austin, there will be things to do on Friday the 25th. Whether it's a theater production, live music, or a movie, there is something for everyone. Especially those that enjoy the long Christmas day, but are usually antsy to get out and about by the evening. Following is a list of 5 interesting things to do on Christmas day:
- Antone's Christmas show:
- Carolyn Wonderland with Shelley King & Blues Mafia
- "Blues-rocker Carolyn Wonderland is a singer/songwriter/pianist/ trumpeteer/guitarist from Texas. She began performing solo as a teen and then later with her band the Imperial Monkeys. While firmly entrenched in blues-rock, Wonderland and her group sport a diverse range of other influences, from country to zydeco to surf to Latin to boogie, and even jazz." source: Austin 360
- Doors: 8 p.m. - Show: 9 p.m. - Tickets
- 'Rockin Christmas Party' @ZACH Theatre's Kleberg Stage
- "Austin's rock-n-soul holiday spectacle, Rockin' Christmas Party, celebrates a sweet sixteen years reigning as one of our town's longest-running traditions!" (description from website)
- Showtime: 8 p.m. - Tickets
- 'The Santaland Diaries' @ZACH Theatre's Whisenhunt Stage
- A comedy which tells the story of an actual Macy's elf, Crumpet, and the difficulties of dealing with the demands of Christmas.
- Showtime: 8 p.m. - Tickets
- 'Sherlock Holmes' - Opening day
- Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.), Dr. Watson (Jude Law), Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong)
- Theaters showing 'Sherlock Holmes'
- 'It's Complicated' - Opening Day
- With: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin
- Theaters showing 'It's Complicated'
Superior Foundation Repair wishes you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Holiday Season.
Sign up for our RSS Feed and visit
our blog again on December 28th for our recommendations for New Year's Eve!
Technorati Tags: tips,5 events,Austin Christmas,Austin,Christmas,things to do list,events
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Dec 07, 2009 @ 07:53 AM
Overwatering
Overwatering a lawn is a common cause of foundation problems in areas with Vertisols (Expansive Soils).
A frequent source of damage is the differential swelling caused by pockets of moist soil adjacent to dry soil. For example, lawn and garden watering creates a moist zone on the exterior of a foundation, whereas the interior is dry; this creates differential swelling pressure on foundation elements.
source: Damage to Foundation from Expansive Soils (pdf)
Texans tend to overwater due to the unpredictability of the weather patterns. However, maintining a constant moisture level in the soil surrounding your foundation is imperative for home owners. Overwatering exerts added pressure on foundation walls which can cause them to swell upwards, thus causing the infamous, unsightly cracks to appear in walls.
Watering - Year-round watering should be planned to avoid too much moisture in the rainy season and too little in the dry season. Automatic watering systems may help, but they can require a seasonal adjustment and attention to maintenance. If the valve accidentally sticks open, major damage could result.
source: Living with Expansive Soils (pdf)
Installing Landscaping too Close to a Foundation
When considering landscaping for your house, it is important to keep plants a safe distance from the foundation, usually 5 feet or more. Landscaping planted too close to a foundation can cause the soil to expand through overwatering, deprive the plants of moisture (when the roots reach under the foundation), or in cases of trees cause foundation problems because of their roots.
How Close to the House Should You Place Foundation Shrubs?
Having shrubbery right up against your house isn't good for the house, the shrubbery, or for you! So keep the following guidelines in mind when planning a foundation planting:
Locate good-sized shrubs (6 feet tall or higher at maturity) in such a way that their mature foliage will remain at least 5 feet away from the house. You can get away with planting shrubs that stay shorter a bit closer to the house. Where you live also makes some difference. In hot, humid climates, you'll want more air circulating between the house and the foundation shrubs, to discourage rot. Adequate spacing between the plants themselves, too, is important, to reduce disease and maintenance.
source: David Beaulieu - About.com:Landscaping
Improper Installation of Swimming Pools
Swimming pools installed improperly can lead to water seepage into the soil. In Central Texas, the expansive soils will absorb this water and put increased pressure on your home's foundation. Insure that proper waterproofing has been installed when purchasing a home with a swimming pool
As swimming pools are always in direct contact with water and the hydrostatic head is very high, the waterproofing of swimming pools has to be considered very seriously from beginning and adequate steps are to be taken to ensure their water tightness.
source: Swimming Pool Protection System (pdf)
Pool shells always leak some amount of water from natural percolation through the structural gunite skin. If the pool is close enough to adjacent foundations, the entire building can be lifted differentially.
source: Damage to Foundation from Expansive Soils (pdf)
Improper drainage
Proper drainage is an essential part of any home design. Included in this are gutters which deposit the water far enough away from the foundation to prevent it from influencing the foundation. Also a proper grade in which the land around the house gradually slopes downward, away from the house and deposits runoff water on the streets.
The foundation should always be provided with adequate drainage, and the soil properly prepared to minimize changes in soil moisture and differential movement.
source: US Department of Defense: Foundations in Expansive Soils (PDF) section: 7-1
Superior Foundation Repair recommends depositing water from gutters and downspouts 10 feet (or further) from home foundations located in areas with expansive soils. Superior also recommends a grade of 3-5% sloping away from the foundation.
Interior Remodeling
When remodeling your home, it is important to understand why your home was designed the way it was in the first place. A major remodeling project which shifts the load of the house significantly, can adversely affect the original design of a foundation. Removal of supporting walls can wreak havoc. Also installing add-ons to a house situated on expansive soil can have the reverse effect intended, if not properly desinged for expansive soils. Make sure your contractor uses a design which will not be adversely affected by shrinking and swelling.
Interior finishing. One of the most costly mistakes a homeowner or careless contractor can make is to defeat the design purpose of a floating floor slab. A floating garage or basement floor slab is designed to move freely. Therefore, any furring, paneling, dry wall, or interior partitions added to a basement or garage must maintain this freedom of vertical movement. Any added walls or wall coverings should be suspended from the existing walls or ceiling, and should not be attached to the floor slab. A minimum void space of 3 in. should then be provided just above the floor slab. This void space may be covered with flexible molding, or inflexible molding attached to the floor rather than the wall. Although these recommendations provide for 3 in. of upward swell of the soil beneath the floor slab, more void space may be necessary in areas of highly swelling clay. source: Colorado Geological Survey: Mitigation and Land Use (Swelling Soil)
Should your house experience foundation problems due to improper maintenance. Contact Superior Foundation Repair immediately for a Free Foundation Repair Estimate on the extent of damage done to your home.
Read our Foundation Maintenance tips for more information on maintaining a healthy home foundation
Posted by Craig Milam on Mon, Nov 30, 2009 @ 08:39 AM
Cracks in walls allow water to seep in to sunken areas & basements
- can ruin furniture in sunken areas
- can also damage carpeting and flooring
- can cause mold to form, leading to health problems
- As a child our house outside of Houston, Texas, had a sunken living room which was built about 3 feet below ground level. Every time we had considerable rain (several times per year in Houston), our sunken living room filled with dirty water, saturating our furniture. The problems worsened year after year, until we hired a foundation repair company to come out and repair our foundation. After the repairs, water seepage was effectively stopped.
The condition of your foundation directly affects the price of your home and oftentimes affects the status of your home's eligibility for a loan from potenial home buyers.
"Foundation cracks and settlement problems are viewed as serious defect to a home. Most homeowners realize this and simply will not purchase a home unless proper repairs are made. In addition, many lending venues (FHA,VA,Conventional) simply will not lend on a home with these defects." source: www.repairfoundation.net
- The FHA may categorize your house as a "Fixer-Upper" requiring the purchaser to get a special type of loan, subsequently lowering the value of the house.
- The VA has special guidelines pertaining to foundation repair this example details guidelines for a loan term of 30 years on a manufactured home:
"To be eligible for a VA loan term of 30 years, a manufactured home must be
classified and taxed as real property
properly affixed to a permanent foundation (Section 12.10)
substantially conform with VA MPRs (Chapter 12), and
conform with applicable building code and zoning requirements for real estate."
For more information on the VA and foundations download this PDF (over 600 pages) and search for the term foundation
The longer one waits to repair a foundation, the more repair will be needed in the future
- Logically, the more a foundation shifts the larger the cracks in walls and flooring become, thus the more the costs of repairing your house increase. Stop foundation problems early to avoid future headaches.
- Typical repair costs for repairing cracks
25% of homes across the United States will experience foundation shifting, a higher percentage can be expected in Texas due to the high concentration of expansive soil
"Expansive soils are present throughout the world and are known in every US state. Every year they cause billions of dollars in damage. The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that 1/4 of all homes in the United States have some damage caused by expansive soils. In a typical year in the United States they cause a greater financial loss to property owners than earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.
Even though expansive soils cause enormous amounts of damage most people have never heard of them. This is because their damage is done slowly and can not be attributed to a specific event. The damage done by expansive soils is then attributed to poor construction practices or a misconception that all buildings experience this type of damage as they age."
source - geology.com
Repairing your foundation and the damage associated with it can help you lower energy costs.
After reading Superior's 10 signs of Foundation Problems it is easy to see how repairing shifted windows and cracks in a structure can affect energy costs.- Percentage of energy lost from different areas of a home:
"Heat is lost to infiltration and air loss by over 3 times the amount it is lost due to ceilings. These categories generally stack up this way in terms of % heat loss in a home:
Infiltration / Air Leakage: 35%
Windows and Doors: 18%-20%
Floors and Below Grade Space: 15%-18%
Walls: 12%-14%
Ceilings: 10%"
source: About.com
- Perform an Energy Audit on your home to determine how much energy you are wasting
If you think your house is experiencing
foundation problems then contact Superior Foundation Repair today for a
free foundation repair estimate, if any are needed.
Further reading: article about how to properly
maintain a foundation