As is the case with most foundation issues, the answer to how to repair the issues isn’t always the technique and materials that will be used. Will we use steel piers? Will the repair involve lifting the foundation? Will the soil be injected?
All those questions are important, but none will matter until we understand what’s causing the problem with the foundation in the first place. Only when we have a clear idea of what’s causing the issue will we have a possible solution to correct it and affect the needed repairs to restore your biggest investment to the place it needs to be in both stability and protection.
If you have concerns about a crumbling foundation, that helps us focus on the possible causes. Once we have a firm grasp on the causes, we’ll be able to put together a solution tailored to your specific property and a cost estimate, all for free.
First, let’s take a quick look at the warning signs of a crumbling foundation, the common causes, and some of the home foundation repair solutions we at Bluebird CFW employ for such repair work.
Crumbling Foundation: The Warning Signs
It’s common to think that the only sign of a crumbling foundation is seeing crumbles of concrete in and around the foundation of your house or building. Yes, that is often confirmation of concrete that’s crumbling. However, the foundation itself may not be crumbling yet.
Those pieces you’re finding are potential warning signs that should be investigated further. But that’s not the only sign you may have that your foundation is having crumbling issues. There are signs that might be present that you wouldn’t even consider having to do with a crumbling foundation.
If you’re finding crumbles around your foundation, you might have spots routinely exposed to water. This is called scaling and can be due to freezing and thawing effects. Or it could be an area of the foundation that gets a lot of water running around it during storms. Or it may be in an area where water collects and sits or doesn’t evaporate quickly. Or the foundation may be old, and the crumbles result from aging.
That doesn’t mean your foundation is in trouble yet.
However, if you notice other things on your property, you may have a crumbling foundation that’s not visible yet. Those warning signs include:
- A chimney out of alignment or pulling away from the house
- Sagging floors
- Cracks in walls, inside and outside
- Cracks in floors, especially in a basement or if you’re on a slab foundation
- Misaligned doors or windows that haven’t had problems before
If you notice any of the above, you should schedule a foundation inspection.
Crumbling Foundation: Causes
A crumbling foundation is almost always due to water. How that water is affecting your foundation could be due to:
- Poor drainage
- Soil issues
- Land grading
The problem could be one of those issues or all three. Only with an inspection by one of our professionals will we be able to accurately determine the cause and severity of your crumbling foundation. That’s why we recommend scheduling a free consultation and estimating with us as soon as possible if a crumbling foundation is a concern.
Crumbling Foundation: How to Fix It?
Even though a crumbling foundation may be somewhat easy to identify, every issue needing repair is still unique. Once we thoroughly inspect your property and have a clear idea of the cause, we’ll be able to recommend a clear and concise solution that will solve your foundation problem for years to come. Corrective actions may include:
- Correcting and cleaning downspouts and gutters
- Regarding your land
- Installing a drainage system
- Installation of helical piers
Many homeowners think that dirty and clogged gutters and downspouts only affect roofs and drip edges, but the truth is, if rainwater isn’t being directed away from your roof correctly, it’s not being directed away from your foundation correctly, either.
Again, if water is allowed to settle and collect around your foundation, it won’t only cause flaking and crumbling concrete; it’ll start to cause the soil around your property to shift at shallow and deeper depths. That’s why your land should also be graded properly to direct water away from your home. Also, a good drainage system may need to be installed.
Lastly, once your water and drainage issues are addressed, we’ll also install helical piers to shore up your foundation to ensure water and shifting soil don’t cause the same problem down the road.
If you suspect an issue with your foundation, contact us for a free inspection and price quote. We also offer basement waterproofing services in Michigan.