Carver Communications - Index

Carver Communications - 4.1.09 - Index

Vol.XXVIII, No.7 © Carver Communications, Inc. April 1, 2009
What’s the Deal with Foundations Now?
By Kenny Kincannon
First we have the longest
drought in recent times, and then we
have the wonderful rain. But what
does that mean for San Antonio foundations?
It means that our foundations
are moving up and down. Ooooo,
that’s not to good! So we had better
pay attention to that foundation!
The first warning can appear like
a route on a road map, a squiggly line
inching from the corner of the door
toward the ceiling, a door that won’t
open at all. It is a sure sign of foundation
failure or a sign of a long dry
spell? It all depends, and so does the
action that’s taken.
CONCRETE SLAB
• What’s under the slab? If it’s
limestone, rest easy. If not, investigate
further.
• Clay soil is often the culprit in
shifting foundations because of its
plasticity. Like a sponge that plumps
up when it’s full of water and shrinks
P.O. Box 33862
San Antonio, Texas 78265
and curls when it dries. When this happens
to the ground under a house, it can
cause the foundation to heave or sink.
Signs of trouble
• Cracks that are 1/8 inch wide or
wider.
• Floors that are out of level at
least 1 inch per 10 feet.
• A crack in a wall or a sticky
door indicates settling, not a cracked
foundation. Of more concern: a combination
of cracks inside and outside or
cracks and jammed doors.
• If there are wide cracks in the
walls or a door that won’t open, it’s
time to consult an engineer. An expert’s
opinion will cost about $500 +.
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
San Antonio, Texas
Paid Permit #1957
To water or not to water?
• Watering around the perimeter
of the foundation can help, but first use
a carpenter’s level to check the floors
inside the house. If the floor is fairly
level, watering around the foundation
can help keep it that way.
• To water, line the perimeter of
the foundation with soaker hoses. The
hose should touch the foundation. Turn
on a quarter turn and water two to three
times a week for two to three hours,
keeping soil consistently moist, not
muddy.
• Water the side of the house that
is lower than the rest.
• Monitor progress using a level
on the floor, and be patient. It likely
will take months to see results.
Repairs
• A foundation company will dig
under the edge of the slab and install
concrete piers 10 to 15 feet deep, leveling
the foundation and isolating it from
the problem soil near the surface. If
work is needed under the middle of the
foundation, workers will tunnel under
the slab or install piers from inside the
house.
• Foundation repairs average
about $12,000, and typically have a
lifetime guarantee.
PIER AND BEAM
Different underpinnings, same
symptoms. Cracks and sticky doors
still might indicate a faltering foundation.
Different care
• Standing water is the enemy,
causing soil to expand or rotting cedar
piers.
• Monitor the perimeter to make
sure water drains away from the foundation.
• Pier and beam foundations
don’t need to be watered because the
crawl space under the house keeps
moisture uniform.
Repairs
• Repairs, which usually consist
of replacing piers, average about
$8,000.
• Drywall can buckle in the leveling
process. Doors might not fit, and
windows might not open when the
work is done.
• Repairs typically have a lifetime
guarantee.
We have no idea what, if any rain
we’ll be getting this summer.
Pay attention to your own foundation
and those that you will be listing
as we move into sprig and summer. If
there’s any question, don’t hesitate to
call a professional as soon as possible.
And NEVER do it yourself.
For more information Call Kenny
Kincannon at G.L. Hunt Company