Problem: Displaced Foundations/Load Bearing Walls
Settling foundations are very common in Georgia homes. Foundation issues are typically due to bad drainage, ground movement, subsidence and poor construction, all of which can cause your foundation to shift and settle. If this occurs, you may notice doors and windows that will no longer open or close and drywall cracks. You can count on the pros at Atlas Piers for solutions to your settling foundation problems.
Be on the lookout for these signs of foundation settlement in your home:
- Windows and doors becoming stuck or misaligned
- Cracks in your basement
- Cracks in your slab
- Gaps and spaces in walls and floors
- Beam and post problems
- Cracks in ceiling
- Cracks on sheet rock
- Floors that are uneven or on a slope
- Pooling of water that forms around the base of your home
- Porch or patio damage
The soils around your home, typically 6 to 8 feet below ground level, go through wet and dry cycles due to seasonal moisture and temperature changes. When you have a drastic atmospheric change, like heavy rainfall right after a drought, water moves through the soil at a greater rate than normal. The water always looks for the path of least resistance, if this path is leading the water through or under your foundation, settlement, and cracks will start to appear. Soils with heavy concentrations of water can double in weight causing hydrostatic pressure to push against your foundation, or consolidate soils. This consolidation can cause your home’s foundation to sink due to the lack of support.
Solution: Resistance or Helical Underpinning
Helical Piles and Steel Resistance Piers are two common forms of underpinning that may be used to remedy a settling foundation. There are many advantages to underpinning.
