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  • Your crews were efficient & effective in their repair. Thank you, Superior, for a wonderful job. - J. Schwarz
  • Finally, we have found a foundation repair company that we can truly rely upon. - J. Honegger
  • I was impressed with the crew. They had great attention to detail and were very neat. - D. Pimentel
  • Their crew was fast & efficient. I recommend Superior to anyone needing foundation repair. - T. Johnson
  • I would highly recommend Superior Foundation Repair. - Clark T.
  • Superior Foundation Repair's service was outstanding. - R. Williamson
  • I couldn't have asked for a better experience. The quality of the work impressed me every step of the way. - S. Wallace
  • Superior Foundation Repair offers a better, more permanent solution to level foundations. - J. Daniels
  • A reliable local company that stands by their word and takes pride and care in their work. - D. Golding
  • Wow! I'm impressed with Superior... I would highly recommend this company to anybody. - Bonnie T.
  • From start to finish, my experience with Superior Foundation Repair was enjoyable and cost-effective. - Chris V.

Happy 4th of JulyAs usual, Superior Foundation Repair has been putting together a list of the top events for the upcoming holiday. In this post we will take a look at our picks for the 5 best festivals/events happening in Central Texas over the July 4th weekend. Following our list for the top 5, we will be listing links to other events and their locations. Superior Foundation Repair wishes you a safe holiday weekend, and please, don’t drink and drive.

  • Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic

  • If you haven’t heard about the opening of the new Backyard in Bee Cave, you’ve probably been living under a rock, or just moved here to Austin. One of Austin’s most loved venues has recently reopened and will be hosting Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic. This Texas Country Megafest starts at 10 a.m. on Sunday July 4th and features such notable artists as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Asleep at the Wheel, Jack Ingram, Ray Wiley Hubbard, David Allen Coe, and Kevin Fowler, just to name a few. Tickets are available online or at Waterloo Records for $55.

    The official event page for Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic

  • H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks

  • The Austin Symphony will be performing their annual concert at Auditorium Shores from 8:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. on Sunday July 4th. Led by Peter Bay, the symphony will perform an array of patriotic songs culminating with the 1812 overture accompanied by 75-millimeter Howitzer cannons. The performance will segue into a half hour fireworks show over Ladybird Lake. The event is free, and more than 100,000 people are expected to attend this celebration, so if you plan on attending get there early.

    The official event page for H-E-B Austin Symphony July 4th Concert & Fireworks

  • The Official San Antonio 4th of July Celebration

  • San Antonio’s official party takes place at Woodlawn Lake Park on July 4th. The festivities begin at 10 a.m. and include a parade at 11:30 a.m., a kids Zone with carnival rides and games, live music throughout the day, a special performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of the West at 7:30 p.m., and of course a fireworks show starting at 9 p.m. Much like the Austin Symphony performance, this event will be well attended, so get there early!

    The official event page for The Official San Antonio 4th of July Celebration

  • Luckenbach’s 4th of July Celebration

  • Luckenbach’s annual, FREE 4th of July Celebration will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday July 4th. The event is scheduled to last until 6 and will feature performances from 9 musical groups. Performers include: Walt & Tina Wilkins, The Mystiqueros, Jimmy Davis, Mike Blakely, Kevin Higgins and Barbara Malteze (of the Dust Devils), Brian Langlinais, Austin Mayse, Bill Worrell and Jason Eady. After the celebration a special July 4th edition of the Picker’s Circle will be held from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. for those who aren’t quite ready to go home.

    The official event page for Luckenbach’s 4th of July Celebration

  • 35th Annual Schertz Jubilee

  • The annual Shertz 4th of July Jubilee will take place from July 2nd-4th. The festivities kick off with a BBQ cookoff at noon on Friday, and feature live music in the evening down at Pickrell Park in Shertz, Texas. On Saturday there will be a Rib Cookoff (starting at 9 a.m.), parade, special guests, live music, and a special performance by the U.S. Air Force Band of the West at 2:30 p.m. Sunday will feature an Apple Pie Bakeoff (starting at 12 p.m.), YMCA Family Fun Time (with games and activities), live music and of course a fireworks show starting at 9:15 p.m.

    The official event page for 35th Annual Schertz Jubilee

Other Central Texas 4th of July Fests

Of course there are many other festivities to be found throughout Central Texas on the Fourth of July Holiday Weekend. Following is a list of links to other festivals and where they are located.

If you have links to any other events going on around Central Texas during the 4th of July weekend, please leave them in the comments section below. Superior Foundation Repair wishes you a happy and safe holiday. For all of your Austin Foundation Repair or San Antonio Foundation Repair needs, please contact us for a free foundation repair estimate.

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Courtesy of wikipedia.orgCentral Texas Memorial Day Festivals and Events

While searching for things to do this Memorial Day weekend, I realized there’s hardly any good content out there aggregating the events and festivals going on during Memorial Day. One of our nation’s biggest holidays, and no easy place to find out what’s going on around town? Well after a bit of research I was able to track down the 5 most interesting festivals going on around Central Texas, and I’ve listed them here.

  • Austin Wine & Music Festival

  • A self-proclaimed festival of the 5 senses. The Austin Wine & Music Festival features live music, local food, arts & crafts, and award winning wine. The festival will last for 3 days, from May 29-31. Tickets are available here at $29.99 for 1-day passes and $79.99 for 3-day passes, ages 16-21 are significantly discounted, and children 15 and under are free. According to the section on Music at their site there will be 5 bands each on Saturday and Sunday, and 3 bands on Monday.
  • San Antonio River Walk – Arts & Crafts Festival

  • There is not much information on this event. From May 29-31 there will be a variety of vendors set up on the River Extension near the Chamber of Commerce selling handmade Arts & Crafts. Visit the official website of the San Antonio River Walk for more information. This event is free to attend.
  • Luckenbach 160th Anniversary Celebration

  • Celebrate Luckenbach’s 160th Anniversary all weekend with live music in typical Luckenbach, country style. The big party will happen on Saturday May 29th, when Roger Creager, Reckless Kelly, and Weldon Henson take the stage for the celebration. There will be more festivities on Sunday and Monday, however from the website it is unclear who will be playing. Tickets for Saturday night are $22 on the Luckenbach, Texas website.
  • Fredricksburg Crawfish Festival

  • On Friday from 6 p.m. to Midnight and Saturday from 11 a.m. to Midnight, Fredricksburg will be hosting its annual Crawfish Festival at the Fredricksburg Marktplatz. Admission is $6 for adults per day or $10 for a two day pass. Children 12 and under are $1. The event features, music, arts & crafts, crawfish, cajun food, German sausage, and children’s activities.
  • Kerrville Folk Festival

  • The annual Kerrville Music Festival starts on Thursday May 27 and lasts through June 13th, however Friday, Saturday and Sunday provide a lot of quality entertainment for a reasonable price. Tickets to the Kerrvile Music Festival range from $35-$40 Friday-Monday. Highlights include: Randy Rogers (Friday), porterdavis & Jimmy Lafave (Saturday), and Terri Hendrix & Indigo Girls (Sunday).

Superior Foundation Repair salutes our veterans and wishes you a safe Memorial Day weekend.

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Behavior and Effects of Expansive Soil, Copyright Prentice HallWith the Onset of Summer, Comes Contracting Soil

After a fall and winter of higher than average rainfall in Central Texas, thanks to El Nino, a dry summer has the potential to wreak havoc on building foundations across the region.

Soil in Central Texas has Expanded
Due to Recent Rainfall

The soil composition here in Central Texas is comprised of moderate to highly expansive soils, see our post on expansive soils. What this means is that in wet periods our soils absorb water and expand, and during dry periods they lose moisture and contract.

Diagram of Expansive Soil, Copyright Prentice Hall In the example at right, taken from a Prentice Hall textbook, we can easily see the amount of moisture present in an expansive soil multiplies when moisture is introduced causing a phenomenon known as soil heave. As the name suggests soil heave causes the soil to lift upward and can either put added pressure on your exterior walls, if the soil under your house remains dry, or on the center of your foundation, if the soil under your home is affected by leaks or other sources of moisture.

Large Cracks in a Foundation or Walls
are Usually a Sign of Foundation Problems

If your home is experiencing any foundation problems, you will most likely either want to have a structural engineer take a look, or call a foundation repair company out to examine your home.

Superior has years of experience with San Antonio and Austin Foundation Repair. We also offer coupons to our web customers at our Google Maps pages, if you are in the Austin area visit our Superior Foundation Repair Austin – Google Maps page to see our specials. If you are in the San Antonio area visit our Superior Foundation Repair San Antonio – Google Maps page for our specials.

Call 877-302-5111 or follow this link to request a free foundation repair estimate.

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Council on At-Risk Youth in AustinThe Crawfish & Croquet Benefit for the Council on At Risk Youth, will be held at Zilker Park on May 15th from 1-6 p.m. The benefit, hosted by Outlaw Real Estate Group, will feature croquet, live music, and, of course, crawfish!

Location: Zilker Park

Time: May 15th 2010, 1-6 p.m.

The Council on At Risk Youth (CARY), is a local “not for profit organization dedicated to helping youth prevent violence, drug abuse and delinquency through public information, training, and management of youth violence prevention programs. ” Superior Foundation Repair is proud to be a part of this year’s sponsors for the event which works to give youth a good foundation to build their lives upon.

Live Music performers include Southern Rockers Ouachita and Acoustic Country Perfomer Wynn Taylor.

Tickets must be purchased before May 15th, and are $25 apiece. Ticket price includes Crawfish & fixins, St. Arnold’s Beer, Croquet and Live Music and can be purchased via Paypal from the Outlaw Real Estate Group’s website.

Come join Superior Foundation Repair and help at risk youth in our community.

For more information visit the official page of the Crawfish & Croquet Event.

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Simple pressed concrete pilings graphic

Simply put, this method of foundation repair is the cheapest (in price AND quality) leveling system available, and that for a reason. Time and again Concrete Pressed Pilings have been shown to be an inadequate solution to foundation problems. This method relies on pre-casted concrete cylinders to be stacked on top of each other and driven to a point of resistance, oftentimes, within the active zone of expansive soils.

Many contractors promote this method as better than steel piers, because Steel Piers rust (a shameful scare tactic, which is negated by their own used of steel piers or cables to straighten their piers once the have been installed). In addition, galvanized steel piers, like the ones used by Superior Foundation Repair, are desigged to last and withstand elements which cause steel to rust, while contractors using concrete pressed pilings often use steel products which are not galvanized and tend to rust.

A few limitations of concrete pilings can be found in this report from foundationperformance.org

Precast concrete segmental piles are not able to resist significant bending moments due to lateral loads.

Depending upon the soil uplift forces, interconnected precast concrete segmental piles that are connected to the existing foundation system may not be able to provide resistance against foundation uplift if the soil is in contact with the existing foundation system.

If the pile cannot attain sufficient penetration into stable soils, then it may not be anchored against potential movements that occur due to swelling or shrinking of the soils in the moisture active zone.

Oftentimes contractors offering to install concrete pressed pilings will offer to lubricate the soil through water-jetting, in order to push the piers further down. If any contractor offers to introduce water underneath your foundation, run as far as you can. Under no circumstances should water be introduced underneath a foundation, as water is the main cause of foundation problems. This blog post states it clearly:

Another method used to overcome shallow depths is to use high pressure water jetting to lubricate (soften) the soil below the concrete cylinder. A high pressure line is forced down the center of the concrete piles blasting water into the soil making the piles install easier. Common sense tells us that if your home was built on expanding clay soils and you are having foundation issues, the introduction of more water into these soils is not a good solution. Good for the contractor yes, good for your home – No!

In addition to inadequate depth, and cheap materials, the fact that the pilings are stacked on top of one another introduces another problem. Expansive soils can push them out of alignment, thus seriously damaging the integrity of the pilings. Homes that have been “leveled” with concrete piers will need annual adjustments, and the cracking in walls and displaced doors will continue. In other words, your foundation will neither be repaired nor leveled. You will have paid for someone to do work, but that’s really about it.

For a foundation repair system that works, contact Superior Foundation Repair in Austin and San Antonio to level your foundation. Read about our steel pier house leveling process, and 11 reasons to use steel piers to level your home.

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Spreader Footing Foundation Repair graphicSpread Footers are another common method of foundation repair which many foundation repair companies employ. Much like Drilled Bell concrete piers, though, Spread Footers are better suited for new foundation construction, and are typically better suited for areas with stable soil. A simple google search for spread footing foundation yields a variety of topics related to new construction, bridge construction, and commercial construction.

The Wikipedia definition of Spread Footers is:

Spread footing foundations consists of strips or pads of concrete (or other materials) which transfer the loads from walls and columns to the soil or bedrock. Embedment of spread footings is controlled by several factors, including development of lateral capacity, penetration of soft near-surface layers, and penetration through near-surface layers likely to change volume due to frost heave or shrink-swell. (wikipedia:Shallow Foundation)

Spread Footers are designed to act as extra support for a foundation and to distribute the load of the foundation equally among stable soil. However, in order to work properly they involve extensive geo-technical and/or structural engineering design to account for a multitude of variables. Most foundation repair contractors will not have the technical know how to properly design Spread Footers.

Major Disadvantages Related to Installing Post-Construction Spread Footers include:

  1. Spread footers being installed too shallow, oftentimes just 2-3 feet below a foundation, which does not eliminate the effects of expansive soils.
  2. Because they are resting on expansive soils, they will need to be adjusted annually, while cracks and cosmetic damage will continue to form in the house, of which, the costs of repair will be the responsibility of the homeowner.
  3. Many contractors will use inadequate concrete for repair which is not designed to support the weight of the structure.
  4. Foundation Repair will last longer than a week as the excavations are made and the concrete will have to cure before the holes can be refilled.

Many independent engineers recommend Steel Piers for foundation repair because they offer the greatest support. By specializing in steel piers anchored to bedrock, Superior Foundation Repair understands the effects of expansive soils found in Central Texas and the best way to counteract them, while securely stabilizing a home. If you have had an engineer evaluate your foundation contact us for a free estimate on the cost of foundation repair for your home.

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The New York Times

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, “swinging from very wet to extremely dry weather like we’ve been seeing lately in many parts of the country may be accelerating the effect.”

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. “The idea is to maintain a constant amount of moisture in the soil,” said Tom Witherspoon, a foundation engineer in Dallas. “If you can do that, your house will never move.” (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.

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Dan Golding - Austin RealtorFirst 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

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Drilled Bell concrete pier image

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.

Installing Drilled Bell Piers

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.

The numerous Disadvantages of this Method as it Relates to Foundation Repair:

  1. First, an enormous amount of excavation is required and the excavated soil must be redistributed somewhere.
  2. In order to drill underneath the house heavy equipment will be placed next to the home causing considerable disturbance to adjacent landscaping.
  3. Also the vibrations of the drills, depending on their intensity, can cause foundations to crack further.
  4. 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.
  5. The presence of toxic or flammable gasses may prevent thorough inspection of the shafts (book: Design of Foundation Systems).
  6. 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.
  7. It is not possible to install interior bell piers on existing structures.
  8. 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.

Steel Piers compared to Drilled Bell Piers

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 disturbance 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

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Simple Pressed Pilings - Foundation RepairSuperior 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 certified by Independent Engineer Consultants.

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 on Simple Pressed Concrete Pilings:

An excellent article on the disadvantages of Simple Pressed Concrete Piers from myfoundationrepairs.com

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