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How to Prevent Foundation Problems

Foundation problems may go undetected until it's already too late. Foundation settlements can cause interior damage as well as off-set the structural soundness in your home. When comes the time to sell your home, it may be impossible without proper foundation repair.

This video gives great pointers and tips as to how to check the status of your foundation before serious damage can occur. You can also call the foundation repair experts at United Structural Systems of Nashville. We guarantee industry expertise and skilled workmanship, enveloped in honesty and integrity.  Give us a call today (615) 800-2058.

Common Areas of the Home that Can be Affected by Soil Settlement

Although your foundation may be well built and totally solid, many environmental factors around your home can cause your foundation to fail over time. One of these factors is the quality of the soil that your foundation is built upon. Soil settlement can lead to serious foundation damage, as well as damage to other areas of the home. Let’s take a look at how soil settlement occurs, and what parts of the home are most heavily affected by it.

Soil Composition

Soil is typically made from a variety of different organic materials including minerals, water, and air. Many people are surprised to learn that water and air can make up as much as 50% of the soil beneath your home. The high moisture or air content of soil is the primary factor in determining the amount of settlement that occurs. Well compacted soil, or soil that has very little moisture or air density, will be less likely to settle because it is tightly packed. Soil that is not properly compacted before foundation construction will continue to settle over the life of the home, causing settling and shifting to occur.

Settlment Damage

Soil settlement can cause damage throughout the entire home, particularly in the areas of the home that place the heaviest load on the soil below. Brittle materials such as drywall, plaster, and masonry are typically the first building components to be affected. With time, your concrete foundation or paved outdoor surfaces will also begin to shift and settle with the soil. The composition of the soil around your home affects the type of foundation damage. Foundations built on clay or highly expansive soil will experience greater soil settling than foundations built above more stable soil.

If you’re noticing signs of foundation damage and soil settling, contact Nashville’s foundation experts at United Structural Systems. We provide professional foundation repair, crawlspace repair, waterproofing, cracked brick repair, and basement wall repair. Call (615) 800-2058.

What are the Different Costs of Getting Foundation Repair?

Some of the most common foundation repair questions deal with the cost of specific types of foundation repair services. Unfortunately, the truth is that there’s no way to determine how much foundation repair services will cost until the foundation damage in question is inspected by a foundation contractor. However, you can typically estimate the cost of repairs based on the severity of the foundation damage—the more severe the damage, the more expensive the repairs. Let’s take a look at what constitutes minor, moderate, and severe foundation damage.

Minor Foundation Damage

While extensive basement wall cracking and slab leaks may draw your attention immediately, minor foundation problems are typically barely noticeable and have no immediate visible repercussions. Vertical step, lateral, or slab cracks less than 1/8” are typically not issues unless they are growing, leaking, or extend through the entire foundation. Take note of minor foundation cracks and monitor their condition. If they seem to worsen, hire a foundation repair specialist right away.

Moderate Foundation Damage

Other signs of moderate foundation damage include slight bulging or leaning of less than 1.5”. Old cracks that seem substantial but have not progressed may also be considered “moderate.” Moderate foundation damage should be inspected by a foundation repair expert, but may not require immediate repair. 

Severe Foundation Damage

Active or recurrent movement or exacerbation of the problems described above is characterized as severe foundation damage. A once-minor crack that quickly grows over a few weeks or months should be considered severe and taken care of quickly. Cracks larger than 1/4” and bulges and leaning greater than 1.5” should be inspected as soon as possible.

To have your foundation damage inspected by a professional, contact United Structural Systems. Call (615) 800-2058 for foundation repair in the Nashville area.

Like the United Structural Systems Blog? Click Through the Resources Below to Learn More!

Want to learn more about waterproofing and foundation repair? Click on the links below, then call United Structural Systems for professional service in the Nashville area at (615) 800-2058.

• You may have heard that excess water can cause foundation damage, but did you know that too little water can also cause damage? Read this article from ABC 13 in Houston to learn more.

• Are your gutters the source of your foundation problems? Find out with this article from HGTV.

• For information on foundation damage caused by surface and subsurface water, visit this page from StateFarm.com.

• To learn more about the severity of different foundation cracks, visit Inspectapedia.com.

• Is your home suffering from soil settlement? Read this page from the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors to find out.