Foundation Repair Terminology Homeowners Need To Know
Amarillo Homeowners Should Be Well-Versed In These Foundation Repair Terms
Because of the cycles of rain and drought in Amarillo, the soil is constantly in a state of swelling and shrinking. This can wreak havoc on your foundation. Knowing what issues are plaguing your foundation can be very helpful when trying to find a solution.
Knowing the important terminology associated with foundation repair will allow you to identify the specific problem causing your foundation failure. It will also allow you to decide what the best solution is when discussing the matter with a professional.
1. Helical Piers
Helical pier installation is a great way to raise sunken foundations in the Amarillo area. At Childers Brothers, our helical piers are state-of-the-art. They offer a long-term solution to repairing your sunken foundation.
We use special equipment to hydraulically screw the helical piers into the earth until they reach the solid soil strata below your home. We then attach our proprietary brackets to the foundation and lift it with a special jack. Once lifted into the correct position, it is secured to the brackets, permanently transferring your home’s load to the stable strata.
There are five main reasons why our helical piers are so great.
Our Piers Go Deep
Other solutions like shoring pads and concrete piles can only go down into the soil so far. They cannot get out of the active soil and down to the stable strata, which will cause your home to shift over time.
Helical piers, on the other hand, can go down as deep as they are needed to. They do not rely on the structure to push them down as they are hydraulically driven into the earth. They also do not shift over time.
Our Helical Piers Are Precise
Our high-tech digital equipment tells us how much torque is required to turn a helical pier into the ground. This allows us to pinpoint exactly how deep we need to drive the pier to reach the correct soil and exactly how much weight that soil can bear.
Our Helical Piers Are Strong
One of our piers can hold up to 70,000 pounds! With this kind of potential we can design your foundation repair to any safety factor to ensure a lasting repair. A 2-to-1 safety factor is our minimum target.
Our Helical Piers Are Clean
We use a precision installation process and equipment to install our helical piers. This ensures that any mess will be kept to a minimum. Additionally, because the piers thread into the ground, minimal excavation is needed.
Unlike concrete installations, bad weather won’t hold us back from installing your helical piers. We can drill them even in the rain.
Our Helical Piers Cause Your Home Zero Stress
Concrete piles and shoring pads require the weight of your home to drive them into the ground. This can actually cause stress on your home, leading to structural damage.
Because our helical piers are twisted down into the ground with excavation equipment, they do not rely one ounce on your home to drive them into the earth. This means there is absolutely zero stress on your home from our helical piers.
2. Soil Stabilization
A huge problem for foundations in the Amarillo area is soil expansion. This occurs whenever the soil retains moisture. The soil swells, causing foundation upheaval. This places your foundation under very large amounts of stress, eventually causing issues like floor cracks, sticking windows and doors, and uneven surfaces on your property.
Soil expansion is such a vast issue in Texas because of our extreme and unpredictable cycles of rain and drought. What this boils down to is that it’s not a matter of if your soil will cause foundation problems but rather when it will cause problems.
At Childers Brothers, we use the only scientifically-based soil stabilizer, EcSS 3000. We are the only company that offers this exceptional product.
3. Basement Stabilization
There are several signs that your basement walls could be failing or having foundation-related issues. These include cracks in the walls that widen at the top, uneven floors, cracks in the drywall upstairs, and leaning of chimneys or porches.
If these issues are caused by buckling or bowing basement walls, it’s best to respond quickly and get a basement stabilization completed. At Childers Brothers, we feature a variety of validated basement-stabilization solutions. We will match the perfect solution to your unique situation. Regardless of which solution is right for your home, we will stand by what we call the 3 S’s.
Strengthen
We can make your basement walls more fortified than they were before the problem set in. It will be like the problem never existed.
Stabilize
We provide long-term solutions to help your walls maintain their structural integrity. Our repairs are meant to last and you will not be let down.
Straighten
Our solutions can correct your bowing or bent basement walls. They are done in conjunction with the proper excavation, which provides the best possible solution.
4. H-Beams
H-beams are used in basement stabilization. They require no outside excavation and cause minimal disruption to your home. Additionally, they provide a neat and clean appearance.
Our H-beams are made of high-grade steel that is also paintable. They are rust-resistant while offering maximum support. We ensure they are custom fit to your basement walls and can even tighten them regularly over time to further improve your walls’ structural integrity.
5. Carbon Fiber Sheets
Carbon fiber sheets are a non-invasive method for shoring up your basement walls. These sheets have been found to be stronger than steel. They work by adhering to your basement walls over cracks, permanently preventing more damage from occurring.
They are light-weight, maintenance free, and can be painted. Taking up much less space than H-beams, carbon fiber sheets are a great alternative. They are a cost effective and non-invasive way to reinforce your basement walls.
6. Pier And Beam Adjustment
Many older homes feature crawl space foundations. Many problems can affect your crawl space, including deflected grade beams, sunken supports, and rotted sill plates, among others.
Depending on whether your foundation has settled or heaved, we can adjust the piers and beams to correct the issue. Pier and beam adjustment should be done at least every two to four years. This preventative maintenance will save you a significant amount of money in the long run.
7. Foundation Upheaval
Central North America has a vast abundance of expansive clay soil. This soil goes through cycles of swelling and shrinking as it retains and loses moisture. As it retains moisture, it expands, lifting upward. This, in turn, causes foundation upheaval. As the foundation lifts up, it takes portions of your wall frame with it.
Most of the time, foundation upheaval can be fixed through soil stabilization. It’s important to remember that not all methods are created equally and that some contractors do not even perform this technique.
Get Professional Help For All Your Foundation Needs
At Childers Brothers, we strive to expertly take care of all of our customers’ needs. We use a 27-Point Analysis to determine the exact cause of your problems. Our goal is to make sure your foundation is as good as if not better than new. If you think you have foundation problems, don’t hesitate to reach out to us.