A sinking slab foundation can turn into a serious problem, so repairs should be a top priority. Talk to a foundation contractor about the type of work that needs to be done. Here's a look at what might be involved in fixing your foundation.
Consider Plumbing Repairs That Might Be Needed
You might be surprised to learn your foundation is sinking if you have a French drain installed to prevent such a problem. However, a broken water pipe can contribute to foundation problems too. Your home probably has drinking water lines and sewer drains that run under your house. A slow leak or a burst pipe can saturate the soil and lead to the sinking of the concrete slab.
When this happens, repairing the plumbing problem is an essential part of repairing your foundation. It may be necessary to bust up the slab to reach the leaking pipes. Another consideration is the effect of lifting a sunken slab has on your water pipes. Movement of the slab could cause a pipe to break or be damaged. Because of these problems, a plumber might need to test the lines before and after foundation repairs are done.
Decide on the Right Foundation Repair Method
Your foundation contractor takes a lot of things into consideration when choosing the best way to lift the sunken part of your foundation. They might drill holes in the slab and inject expanding polyfoam to lift the concrete. The contractor might decide to put in piers and rest your foundation on them so the foundation is level and has support under it.
Your foundation might also have cracks, and in some cases, your walls might bow due to foundation damage. Your contractor might also need to put in braces or anchors for the walls if needed. Cracks will be filled too so water doesn't seep through and cause water damage in your home.
Finish Up After the Slab Is Level
The interior of your home might be affected as well as your yard when you have foundation repairs. Polyjacking or mudjacking isn't too disruptive. This method of foundation repair involves drilling holes in the slab, and the contractor fills those when completing the job. However, this could involve disrupting your flooring, and if so, you may need to replace carpet, tile, or planks if your slab is built on grade and topped with flooring.
If your foundation contractor uses piers, all the work might be done outside. In that case, you may need to replace grass and plants that were moved out of the way. Foundation repair can be a big job, but it's a job you can't put off or the structure of your home could be in peril. Check out the site to learn more about this process.
Share9 November 2020
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.