Foundation Repair is a delicate and complex process. It requires careful analysis of your home and recommendations from a professional.

A variety of symptoms can indicate a home’s need for foundation repair. Stair-step cracks, buckling walls, and leaking basements are just some of the warning signs that should prompt you to seek out repairs.

Concrete piles are essential support structures for foundations, bridges, piers, and other marine construction projects. However, they can be damaged by corrosion, aging, marine environments, or other factors that affect their load-bearing capacity. Pile repair techniques are designed to restore the structural integrity of damaged piles and minimize future movement.

Depending on the type of home you have in Central Texas, there are many different methods of pile repair that may be used to stabilize your foundation. One of the most popular methods used for foundation repair is to use pressed concrete piles. This method involves digging holes for each of the piles, which are about the size of a door mat and reach down about 2 feet below your foundation. A concrete cylinder is placed in the hole and then a high power hydraulic ram is situated on top of the cylinder; this is activated to press the cylinder into the soil.

This type of pile is often used in residential foundation repair because it’s relatively cheap and can be installed quickly. However, it’s important to note that this method does not address the issues that caused your foundation to shift in the first place. It only lifts your foundation, which can cause further problems.

Another option is to use a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) pile jacket. This method has gained popularity in recent years because it’s less expensive than other repair methods and is just as effective. Unlike a concrete pile, a GFRP pier will not crack over time.

However, if you’re looking for a permanent solution to your foundation issue, it’s better to go with a drilled bell-bottom pier method of pile repair. This is a much more cost-effective and long-term solution that will help you avoid foundation issues in the future. Plus, this is a method of piling repair that is backed by a lifetime transferable warranty. So if you’re ready to take the next step in repairing your foundation, contact Anchor Foundation Repair today! We can provide you with a free, no obligation consultation and estimate.

Poured Concrete Piers

Concrete piers are a popular choice when repairing a pier and beam foundation. They’re inexpensive and durable, making them a good option for resolving a variety of foundation issues. However, they require proper installation to ensure that the piers support the home’s load and remain stable over time. The most important factor in determining if a concrete pier is the right solution for your foundation repair is the soil condition under your house. Soil with poor load-bearing capacity may sink over time, leading to shifting or settling of the foundation.

When paired with an excellent drainage system, concrete piers can also help reduce problems caused by water seepage. Water that seeps into the soil around a foundation or crawl space can cause severe water damage to the setup. This is particularly true if the moisture penetrates the foundation and causes rusting of the rebar or concrete spalling. To prevent this, make sure that your yard has a proper slope to direct water away from the foundation and crawl space.

Using poured concrete piers requires contractors to dig a hole beneath the foundation for each pier. The holes must be at the correct depth to ensure that the piers will reach the load-bearing soil. Once the holes are dug, concrete is poured into them and allowed to cure before the foundation is attached to it.

This method of foundation repair is effective for a wide range of soil conditions. Poured concrete piers are also a cost-effective solution for repairing a settled foundation. They may resemble simple cylinders or have a bell shape at the bottom to increase their load-bearing capacity.

Slabjacking and high-density polyurethane foam are two methods used for repairing slab foundations that haven’t yet suffered severe damage or shifting. These methods require drilling holes in the slab and injecting either a concrete slurry or a slurry of high-density foam to lift and stabilize it. However, these methods aren’t suitable for all types of slabs or soil conditions. If you’re unsure which type of repair is best for your foundation, consult a professional.

Steel Piers

As the name suggests, steel piers are made from metal. Unlike concrete piers, which are poured into the soil, steel piers are installed by driving them through the soil to load-bearing bedrock or strata. This process is ideal when the soil beneath a building is unstable and needs more support than what a poured foundation can provide.

Like concrete piers, steel piers can be used in a wide variety of situations. They offer a strong and stable solution, which can last for upwards of 100 years with minimal maintenance. Steel piers are also able to handle heavier loads, making them suitable for larger structures like commercial buildings and residential homes.

The primary disadvantage of steel piers is their higher cost. Compared to concrete, they’re more expensive to manufacture and require specialized equipment to install. This adds to the overall cost of the project, which is often passed on to home and business owners.

Another disadvantage of steel piers is their vulnerability to moisture swelling. This is a common problem for pier and beam foundations that are located on clay soils. The moisture swelling can cause the piers to shift, which can lead to serious structural problems in the future.

Despite these drawbacks, steel piers are a great option for many situations. If a contractor recommends steel piers for your foundation repair, it’s likely because they are the best choice to meet your unique situation.

The installation process of steel piers is typically much faster and less labor intensive than a concrete pier repair. The crew begins the process by digging a series of small holes around your foundation. If necessary, the crew may install temporary brackets before drilling through the soil to reach the existing piers and remove them. Next, the crew will use a hydraulic lifting jack to lift or stabilize your home. Once the work is complete, the crew will backfill and restore the area with the original soil or crushed stone. This minimizes disruption to the property and its occupants.

Slabjacking

Slabjacking is a quick and affordable concrete repair method that lifts an uneven or sinking slab from below without replacing it. It involves injecting a cement mixture or, in newer methods, polyurethane foam injection, under the concrete to support and re-level it.

Uneven concrete is not just an eyesore, but it can also cause structural damage to your home. Water in crawl spaces can rot floor joists, basements and foundations; and hydrostatic pressure against the basement or foundation can cause bowing walls and cracks. Slabjacking can correct these issues, restoring stability to your concrete foundations, floors, driveways, patios and sidewalks.

There are two main methods for lifting sunken concrete, mudjacking and polyurethane foam concrete leveling or “polyjacking.” While both of these methods involve drilling holes, pumping a leveling compound underneath the slab to lift it and then patching the drill holes, they differ in the type of material used as void filler. Mudjacking raises concrete slabs by injecting a mix of sand, soil and water underneath the slab; this creates pressure that raises the sunken concrete. Polyurethane foam concrete leveling uses a chemical solution that expands to lift the slab, creating a stronger and more stable solution.

Both methods are fast and effective, saving you time and money over replacement of the concrete slab. They are less disruptive than traditional slab replacement, requiring no demolition and fewer heavy construction machinery movements on your property. Surrounding landscaping and grass is not disturbed, which saves you the cost of reseeding and waiting for it to grow.

It is important to note that slabjacking will not work in all situations, particularly if there are deep soil voids beneath the sunken concrete, or if the slabs touch each other and rub together; this can result in them resisting the void filler and failing to lift. It is also not a suitable option for raised, damaged or deteriorating concrete slabs; this requires a different repair method.

Slabjacking should only be considered a temporary solution to raise and stabilize concrete. It is not a permanent fix, and the sunken slab will eventually need to be replaced with a new one. However, if your concrete is sagging or sinking due to shifting soils, slabjacking can help prevent damage by stabilizing the area and preventing it from further movement.