If you have foundation problems, you need them stopped in a hurry. In Memphis, foundation slab settling is common and can lead to cracked walls, sloped floors and doors, and windows that won’t open or close. But to correct this, you don’t just need a fast repair, you need one that will last—and not all foundation repair methods will do that. And at PowerLift Foundation Repair, we know that better than anyone.
Here are the three most common foundation repair methods and the long-term results of each one:
1. Patch ‘n’ go – Some homeowners don’t know how deep their foundation problems run; others don’t even realize that it’s a foundation problem when brick or masonry separates or concrete cracks. Unfortunately, this is when repairmen offer to “patch” the problem, either because they just don’t know any better or are taking advantage of the situation with a solution they know won’t work. Patching up cracks will never last when there is a foundation problem because the settling will continue, reopening the cracks and making them worse quickly.
2. Concrete shoring pads or “cable locking” – Foundation experts recognize that the way to fix settling is to lift up the home and shore up the foundation. Unfortunately, many foundation repair companies will do this simply by inserting concrete “shoring pads” which are no different from paver stones. The problem? These sit on top of the soft earth just like the foundation slab once did and they, too, are going to settle over time. One solution to this is the “cable lock” method, which locks together a stack of concrete blocks for a deeper foundation pier. The deeper reach still rarely makes it down past the clay layer to anything solid, meaning this approach may slow or stop settling, but will often allow problems to continue sooner or later.
3. The PowerLift Foundation Repair System utilizing steel piers – This is the deepest approach to shoring up a house and correcting a foundation and it is the most permanent. The PowerLift device will gently raise the house high enough for workers to bore holes underneath it for steel piers (pictured right). These steel piers reach all the way down to the bedrock layer. Once in place, the house is lowered back onto them—and the settling generally stops once and for all, because it finally rests on something solid. This is the method that professionals recommend and, compared to repeated foundation lifts every 2-5 years, it is often the most cost-effective as well.
Have you ever had to repair your foundation? What method did you use and what was the result? If you are a Memphis homeowner and think that you may need foundation repair, call or contact us at PowerLift Foundation Repair today!