Extreme Examples of Soil Settlement and Foundation Failure
Soil settlement can have dramatic and devastating effects on foundations. A few famous examples illustrate the importance of repairing your residential foundation in Nashville if it begins settle.
- The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Probably the most famous example of foundation failure is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The structure is leaning because its shallow, inadequate foundation is set on top of unstable soil. In fact, it’s believed that the tower would have already fallen over if construction had not been interrupted by a period war between Italian cities, during which time the weight of the tower compressed the ground below. It stands today as an illustration of why foundations need to be solid and secure enough to withstand weak and unstable soil. - The Leaning Tower of Suurhusen
Although not as famous as its cousin in Pisa, the Leaning Tower of Suurhusen in Germany is actually the most tilted historical tower in the world. Built in the middle ages on weak, marshy ground, the tower began to tilt when the roots of oak trees under its foundation rotted away.
Vertical settlement and leaning cause cracks throughout the settling building as the building begins to warp and buckle. Basement walls and other areas under the extra stress of shifting weight can be badly damaged. By using drilled piers, helical piers, or steel pressure piers, a foundation suffering from vertical settlement can often be stabilized and supported.
Contact United Structural Systems at (615) 800-2058 before your home becomes the leaning tower of Nashville. We also provide services for crawlspace repair, waterproofing, basement wall repair, and repair of cracked bricks on the exterior of a house. You can visit our website for more about our residential foundation expertise, and for details on the foundation repair process.
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