2 Foundation Repair Methods For A Crack Between A Wall And The Floor Of Your Basement

Construction & Contractors Blog

House foundations can sustain various types of damage. The problem might be with the basement floor or walls. Sometimes, a problem might be as simple as filling cracks in walls, but other times, more extensive foundation repairs are needed.

For instance, if there's a crack between the basement floor and the bottom of the wall, a foundation contractor has to assess the situation and recommend the best repairs. Here are two repair options for this type of foundation crack.

1. Install Piers To Lift The Foundation Floor

If the contractor determines the crack formed because the floor is sinking, they may recommend installing piers to lift the foundation. There are a few types of piers to consider. Steel push piers may be chosen since these can be installed without having to tear up your yard too much. Plus, they can be installed in areas where there isn't a lot of room to maneuver.

When piers are used for foundation repair, they're driven deep into the soil until they hit a stable area, such as rock. The contractor has to jack up your home and then transfer the weight of it from the soil to the piers. Piers are a good choice for a sinking foundation since they bypass issues with the soil and provide a solid and sturdy base for your home to rest on.

2. Install Wall Anchors To Straighten A Wall

If the contractor determines the foundation problem is caused by pressure on a wall instead of the floor sinking, they might install wall anchors to fix the problem. Other options are using carbon steel straps or helical tie-backs. All of these methods work to stabilize the wall so the bowing doesn't get worse and the wall straightens as much as possible.

A wall anchor system involves mounting a steel plate on the wall of your basement. Then the contractor needs to dig a trench in your yard so they can bury another steel plate under the ground that's level with the plate in the basement.

The two plates are attached to a steel shaft. The shaft is tightened to put pressure on the wall that pulls the wall back into place and then holds it there. Depending on the size of your basement, you could need multiple plates installed to stabilize the wall.

Once the foundation repairs are complete, the contractor will also fill the crack where the wall and floor meet so bugs and water can't get through. Since your foundation is shifted a little during the foundation repair process, you might see new minor cracks once the repairs are done. These don't usually require repairs and are common. However, there may be old cracks in the wall from the damage that need to be filled so your basement is secure and dry.  

For more information about foundation repair, contact a local company. 

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20 January 2023

A Great Build

A lot of contracting work takes time — sometimes weeks, sometimes months, and sometimes years. As such, when contractors finally get finished with a project, they often like to step back and take a good look at what they've created. This is their time to be proud, and they certainly deserve to be. When we step back and take a similar look at the work of contractors, we feel awe. We may not have built the thing, but we understand the work that went into it. After you read some articles on this website, you'll have a good understanding of the work, too.