If you suspect your home has foundation damage, it's best to call a contractor to verify if there is damage present and determine how bad it is. This is important because you need to know if your home is safe to live in until repairs are made. Since foundation damage can escalate, repairs should be done as quickly as possible. Here are some types of foundation repair and an overview of when they might be needed.
Fill Cracks With Epoxy
Filling cracks is one of the easiest types of foundation repair, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should fill cracks yourself without consulting a contractor. Cracks in foundations are fairly common and aren't necessarily serious.
However, there's a possibility a crack could be a sign of a foundation problem that needs more than simple crack filling to repair, so you don't want to fill a crack and think the problem is solved when it isn't.
Even if the problem isn't serious, cracks should be filled to keep water, termites, and other bugs out of your basement. Filling cracks usually involves injecting epoxy into the crack to fill it all the way along the crack completely to the back so the crack is full of filler and stabilized when the epoxy cures.
Support The Foundation On Piers
Putting piers under the foundation is a common way to make foundation repairs. There are a few ways to install piers and a few different types of piers to use. Your contractor uses the best approach based on your situation and how much room there is to maneuver in your yard.
They might use concrete or steel piers, and they might need to work inside your house and sink a pier through the floor, or they might do all the work outside.
Brace Or Anchor A Wall
A sure sign of a foundation problem is when a wall bows in. Wall movement is a serious problem that needs to be repaired. The contractor might put braces against the wall to keep it from shifting further. They might use straps or steel beams on an interior wall or use an anchor system that pulls the wall toward the outside of your house to pull the wall back in place and keep it from bowing again.
Fix The Cause When Possible
The foundation repair contractor may figure out what caused the foundation to shift and fix the underlying cause when possible. The problem could be poor drainage around your house. In that case, the contractor might recommend putting in an exterior drain that moves water away before it reaches your foundation.
