Foundation Repair – What You Need to Know
Foundation Repair Plano is a complex, time-consuming process. It requires the installation of supports underneath your home, which may take days or weeks depending on the method used.
The most effective methods include steel piers and bell-bottom piers, which can be driven deep into the soil until they reach stable rock or bedrock. Other options include mudjacking and concrete slab underpinning.
Cracks
If you spot a foundation crack in your home, it is important to understand the severity and cause before calling a professional. Cracks may not be a problem at all, or they could be an early warning sign of structural problems. It is best to hire a foundation contractor to evaluate your cracks and recommend any necessary repairs.
Foundation cracks range from hairline to horizontal, and they can appear in all types of materials. Thin uniform cracks that are less than 1/10 of an inch wide are often harmless and may result from concrete shrinking within a few months after being poured, or they could be the early stages of house settling.
Larger cracks may indicate that a significant amount of stress is being exerted on the walls, which can lead to structural damage and even sinking. Horizontal cracks in brick or block walls, which look like steps running the length of the wall, are also an indication that there is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Stair-step or stair-step cracks are common in homes built of brick, stone or concrete blocks. These cracks typically appear in the corners of your foundation walls on both sides of the house and form a stepped pattern. These cracks are caused by displaced soil, and they can be a sign of a serious issue.
If a crack is wider than a hairline and a quarter can fit into it, then it should be repaired immediately by a foundation repair specialist. This is a sign of serious instability and may be allowing groundwater to seep into your basement or crawlspace.
Non-structural cracks can be repaired by using a polyurethane, silicone or latex concrete caulking product that is applied with a caulking gun. This can fill the crack and keep water, dirt and radon gas from entering your home. If you plan on selling your home in the future, it is a good idea to get all cracks repaired as soon as possible. This will make your home more attractive to potential buyers. For long-lasting, permanent repair, a foundation specialist can install steel or bell-bottom piers under your home to stabilize it and prevent further movement.
Sediment
Depending on the location of your home and the ground conditions surrounding it, sediment can add pressure to the foundation and increase the chance of cracks. Whether or not sediment is the cause of your foundation problems, it’s important to identify it and have the proper repairs completed as soon as possible to reduce the risk of future damage.
A homeowner’s insurance policy may cover some or all of the cost of a professional foundation repair contractor. If not, it’s essential to find a reputable company that is experienced and knowledgeable in the field of foundation repair. Ask for references, photos of past projects and a written warranty before hiring. A reputable foundation specialist should be able to provide you with an estimate of the costs for the necessary repairs and be able to explain any unexpected expenses.
It is not uncommon for a house to have foundation issues caused by various factors like soil movement and water damage. These issues can lead to the need for costly repairs if they are not addressed quickly. By taking care of these issues early, you can help prevent further damage to your home and improve its resale value.
In addition, by sloping the soil away from your house and keeping your gutters clean, you can help prevent moisture damage that contributes to foundation problems. This will also reduce the likelihood of foundation cracks caused by expansive soils that swell with moisture and exert pressure on your foundation walls.
The type of repair method used can significantly affect the cost and duration of a foundation repair project. The pressed pile and bell-bottom pier methods are quicker and less expensive but are not as durable as the steel pier method.
Steel piers are able to be driven down as deep as 100 feet providing incredible stability. This makes them ideal for repairing a foundation that has been damaged by expansive clay soils.
The helical pile method is also a fast and effective solution for foundation repair. This process involves drilling holes into your foundation, then driving helix-shaped plates or anchors into the earth beneath your home. Helical piles are ideal for repairing lightweight concrete slab foundations and pier and beam foundations.
Soil Movement
The soil that surrounds your home is in constant movement. It expands during wet weather and shrinks in dry conditions causing movement of your foundation. This can cause cracks in the walls and separation from the above ground structures, like doors and windows. It can also cause damage to plumbing.
Expansive soils, such as clay, can cause this movement. They swell when they absorb moisture and push up on your foundation, causing your house to settle. This cycle of expansion and contraction is called heaving. This type of movement is common in Central Texas, especially around homes built on clay soils.
Soil changes can also be caused by clogged drainage systems. Heavy rains can clog the draining system and create hydrostatic pressure against your foundation. This is one of the most destructive forces on your foundation. Hydrostatic pressure can cause bowed walls, inward rotation of foundation walls, separation of chimneys and other aboveground structures and damaged or sticking doors and windows.
A foundation repair contractor will assess the problem and develop a plan for repairs. If the foundation has sunk, they will install support piers along the perimeter of the house to lift the structure back to its original elevation. This is done by digging and drilling into the ground and pouring concrete (for piers that are poured on site) or driving pre-formed pieces of steel into the ground under hydraulic pressure for pilings.
The foundation company will remove the old soil from the foundation area and replace it with fresh, stable soil. They will then compact the new soil and use a backhoe to level it out. After the job is complete, they will clean up the work area and plant grass where necessary. They may need to move plants or trees, but they will do everything possible to keep them safe from further damage.
It is important to act quickly if you think your foundation is moving. Moisture ingress, cracked walls and other problems will continue to worsen if they are not fixed. A qualified and experienced foundation contractor can help prevent these problems by addressing the source of the movement, rather than just repairing the results.
Piers
Foundation piers offer a permanent solution to issues like shifting soil. Your Innovative Basement Authority inspector can recommend a type of foundation pier based on the specific needs of your home, the soil conditions, and the extent of the damage.
Helical piers look like giant screws and are twisted into the ground to lift the weight of your home off the foundation and stabilize it. These piers are less disruptive than other methods of foundation repair and can be installed in tight areas where access is limited. They are a great option for homes with slab foundations, concrete additions, and pier and beam foundations that need additional support.
These piers are augered into the ground to weathered shale or bedrock, where they are connected to the foundation with steel brackets. These piers can be installed in a much shorter time than other types of foundation piers, and are also preferred for homes with slab or pier-and-beam foundations that have weakened beams.
Push piers are similar to helical piers in that they are driven into the ground by a hydraulic ram until they reach a load-bearing stratum. They are preferred by experts because they can be installed in a shorter amount of time, and are also a great choice for areas where there may not be sufficient depth to install helical piers.
If your pier and beam foundation is experiencing some minor shifts, you can prevent these problems from worsening with a method called reshimming. This is a relatively easy process that involves making small adjustments to the position of the beams. Your foundation repair contractor can use small pieces of wood called shims to fill any gaps between the piers and wooden sill beams.
If your home is showing signs of sinking or shifting, you should act quickly to prevent further damage to your foundation and home.
Using the Right Fasteners for Drywall Installation
Drywall, also known as wallboard and gypsum board, is one of the most common construction materials. It is easy to use but can be challenging to hang correctly.
Drywall comes in many different sizes and types to meet specific construction needs. Its fire rating, mold, moisture resistance, and installation guides are important considerations when choosing drywall for your project. Contact Jamaica Works LLC now!
Gypsum is a naturally occurring calcium sulfate mined worldwide. Its main use is in the construction industry, where it makes drywall, plaster, and building blocks. It is also used to produce writing chalk as a food additive and, in its fine-grained alabaster variety, to create ornamental sculptures.
In the United States, drywall became a popular alternative to traditional wet plaster during the post-World War II construction boom. It allows buildings to be constructed in one-tenth the time of a conventional brick and mortar structure. Drywall is made of a gypsum core sandwiched between two layers of special paper. It is fire-resistant in most cases, and contains glass fibers in the core for added strength and stiffness.
The most common gypsum board is produced by the USG Corporation, which invented it in 1902 as an alternative to wet plaster. It is now the most commonly used wall finish in the world. In fact, a large part of the global gypsum market is controlled by USG. Drywall is often referred to by other names, including plasterboard, wallboard and sheetrock. While all of these names refer to gypsum panels, they are not interchangeable. The name that is most familiar to people is sheetrock, which is a brand name of USG’s product. Just like Kleenex, Xerox or ChapStick, this brand name has become synonymous with the product itself.
Many researchers have found that incorporating gypsum in a drywall matrix improves its thermal performance. The amount of gypsum in the wallboard affects how much heat it absorbs or releases, and how quickly the material dissipates heat from a room.
Gypsum incorporated into drywall is also a good soil amendment. It adds a valuable supply of calcium and sulfur to the soil. This helps plants to absorb nutrients and reduces the acidity of heavy clay soils.
While gypsum is non-toxic and environmentally friendly, some environmental groups have raised concerns about the use of gypsum in construction. Ecology Action, a nonprofit environmental consultancy, says that the biggest environmental impacts associated with gypsum are habitat disruption from mining, energy use and emissions in processing and shipping, as well as solid waste from disposal. However, gypsum is increasingly being made from recycled materials such as waste paper and the byproducts of coal-fired power plants. This reduces the impact on the environment significantly.
Paper
Drywall is a construction material that is a versatile and efficient building product. It has several important properties, including tensile strength, compressive strength, bending stiffness, and tear and burst resistance. These mechanical properties are evaluated by applying a controlled force to the edge of a sheet or by testing it using specialized equipment. The results from this testing are used to determine the quality of the drywall.
Other factors that determine a drywall’s performance include chemical, biological and physical characteristics. The chemical composition of the gypsum core is determined by its chemistry, and it may be formulated to achieve certain goals such as fire resistance or abrasion resistance. Physical characteristics such as permeability, porosity, and hardness are also important. The physical strength of a drywall is measured using a durometer or other testing equipment.
A drywall can also be made to perform differently depending on its use. For example, a type of drywall known as blue board is designed for wet areas like bathrooms and has superior mold and water resistant qualities. This drywall is not designed for tape, mud or paint. Other specialty drywall products include fiberglass-mesh tape and textured surfaces, which offer different levels of acoustical performance and resistance to fire.
The manufacturing of a drywall involves placing the gypsum core between two layers of paper and drying the product into panels of standard size. During this process, additional additives are mixed with the gypsum to improve its properties. For example, starch is used to help the paper facings adhere to the core, and organic additives such as wood pulp or unexpanded vermiculite are added for fire-resistant drywall.
When working with drywall, it is essential to use the proper tools and supplies to ensure a professional-quality finish. Paper drywall tape, which is used to cover the seams where two sheets of drywall meet, can be difficult to work with for beginners, as it requires a high level of skill to achieve a smooth finish. However, mesh drywall tape is self-adhesive and more flexible than paper, which makes it easier to handle.
Fasteners
Whether you’re a professional contractor or doing a DIY project, using the right fasteners for your drywall installation ensures that it is held securely to the framing. This reduces sagging, loose panels and other common problems associated with incorrect fastener usage. There are a number of different types of fasteners available, including screw anchors, molly bolts, and toggle bolts.
These mechanical fasteners come in a variety of shapes and sizes, with each designed to be used for different materials and applications. For example, wood screws are specifically designed for use in wood and offer coarse threads to secure them to the material more securely than other types of metal screws. They are also often coated in black phosphate to resist corrosion, making them suitable for use in damp areas.
Other types of screw-in anchors include plastic expansion anchors and metal corkscrew anchors. Plastic expansion anchors look like a jacket with ribs for your screw and are typically packaged with the screw inside. To install them, simply predrill a hole that is slightly smaller than the anchor and tap it in with a hammer. The sleeve then expands into the drywall, holding your screw. To remove them, you can either pull on the head of the anchor or cut it off with a drill.
Metal corkscrew anchors are long bolts with a hook on one end and a sleeve on the other. They’re designed to be screwed into a wall stud, using the same process as a toggle bolt. They can also be used to hang lightweight items from the stud, such as paintings or picture frames. Toggle bolts, however, are best for supporting heavy objects because they distribute the weight across a large area of the stud rather than just at the point where it attaches to the wall.
There are also non-mechanical fasteners, such as drywall adhesives and washers. Glue is an excellent choice for putting up a new drywall, but it isn’t ideal for patching and repairing old drywall. Drywall adhesive is a water-resistant adhesive that bonds with drywall and can be applied in layers to patch holes or reattach any loose edges. It’s important to apply a thick layer of the adhesive to the area before screwing in the fasteners, and make sure the surface is completely flat before hanging anything on it.
Installation
Installing drywall is a relatively quick process compared to plastering. The boards are cut to size, secured to the rough framing, and covered with paper or fiberglass-mesh tape. Inside corners are covered with corner bead, which is a metal strip that has paper flanges attached to it. Typically, three layers of joint compound are applied, and after each one dries, it is sanded down to a smooth finish. Depending on how large the project is, this can take from 3 to 5 days.
Once the drywall is installed, the builders can start the final stages of construction. This includes installing windows and doors, as well as any other millwork. It is also time to paint the walls and ceilings. In addition, the builders can install wood flooring or carpet, and install appliances and fixtures. Once this work is done, the home can be turned over to the homeowner for a move-in date.
During the installation of drywall, the builders need to be careful not to damage the sheets. It is also important to ensure that all the seams and edges are properly taped and sanded before painting. This will protect the gypsum core and provide a finished surface that is ready for paint.
It is also essential to monitor the site to ensure that drying occurs under ideal conditions. It is often difficult to control moisture levels with building HVAC systems alone, so the experts at Polygon can provide an engineered solution that combines dehumidifiers, heaters, and air conditioning to keep the environment stable for drywall installation.
Drywall can be used in new home construction, but it is also a great option for renovation projects. Its strength and durability make it a good choice for rooms that will see a lot of traffic, such as bedrooms and living areas. It is less expensive than plaster and can withstand heavy loads, such as kitchen cabinets.
It is important to hire a skilled contractor to perform the drywall installation. These professionals will be able to give you the best results and ensure that your new home is safe and sound. In addition, they will be able to recommend the right drywall materials for your home.