foundation repair methods

How Does Poor Soil Affect Your North Carolina Home?

foundation crack concept-- house at the edge of massive crackIf you live in North Carolina, then you may be familiar with the term “centipede grass.” This term frequently comes up when discussing North Carolina’s soil problems. Upon first glance, centipede grass appears to be the same as any other grass: it’s green, coarse, and always looks relatively healthy. However, what makes it different from other grasses is the environment it thrives in – highly acidic soils with a pH value of 5 or above. North Carolina is known for an abundance centipede grass, meaning it is also known for having very acidic soil. North Carolina residents love centipede grass because it is very easy to maintain. It does not have to be mowed very frequently, and it doesn’t grow too fast. However, the acidic soil it thrives in causes many problems, particularly around your home, and especially if you live near the coastline.

Having highly acidic soil can cause the grass around your home to turn yellow, which is anything but attractive. North Carolina homes near the coast are most prone to this problem since the soil also contains traces of shells, which are made of calcium carbonate and have many of the same properties as limestone. The calcium carbonate reacts with the acids in the soil to turn it basic – and basic soil turns centipede grass yellow because it causes iron deficiency.

Another problem that North Carolina homeowners experience is cracks in their foundation. It may seem strange, but the highly acidic soil in North Carolina may actually be contributing to problems with your home’s foundation. The reason is this: highly acidic soil is more prone to expanding than soil that has a lower pH value. Soil contains clay that expands in acidic environments, especially when it rains. If your home rests on this soil, the expansion can cause damage to your home.

Many North Carolina residents have expressed their concerns over the issue of centipede grass and acidic soil over the years. While it may be a wise idea for the state to regulate the growth of centipede grass and work to eliminate the amount of acidic soil, this notion could take many years to come to fruition. Chances are good that your home will be susceptible to damage long before any issues with the soil are completely resolved. Fortunately, there are options available should your home become damaged. Powerlift Foundation repair offers some of the best foundation repair methods, including the use of steel piers, helical piers, pre-construction piers, and more! We call it our own special PowerLift System! Call us today at 800-562-5438 or fill out our contact form today for a free estimate!

How Does Poor Soil Affect Your North Carolina Home?2015-03-09T15:31:05+00:00

Which Foundation Repair Method Gets Results?

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!

 

Which Foundation Repair Method Gets Results?2015-01-07T15:50:16+00:00
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