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Preventative Measures
Stop foundation problems before they begin!
Existing Homes
Foundation settlement occurs because of 4 main reasons:
- Fluctuations in the moisture content of the soil.
Prevention - Install and rigorously maintain Soaker Hoses around the perimeter of your home.
- Tree roots growing under your slab and absorbing the moisture found there.
Prevention - Install root barriers.
- Sewer leaks that wash out and erode the soil under your home.
Prevention - Test sewer system regularly and repair any leaks immediately.
- Water standing adjacent to, or up against the foundation.
Prevention - Install French drains or yard drains.
When you begin to experience foundation problems in one particular area of your home, other areas may not have been affected yet. By allowing the experts at Dura Pier to evaluate your property, we will not only determine what foundation repair solution is best for your current situation, we will also inspect to see if any preventative measures could be implemented now.
During our inspection, we can advise you on the correct placement and watering schedule for soaker hoses. When necessary, we can install root barriers and French / Lawn drain systems, and our master plumber and his staff provide full-service sewer testing and repair.
By taking a few simple cost-effective steps now, you may be able to save potentially thousands of dollars in repairs later.
New Homes
Strange as it may seem, new homes are not immune to foundation problems.
Dura Pier has repaired quite a number of homes that are less than 10 yrs old, some as new as 2 yrs old. It is possible for these new homes to exhibit more signs of foundation movement than homes 30+ years old.
There are several prudent steps that could have been taken before construction began, that would have prevented this untimely expense. Also, before buying a new home from a builder, be sure to review your copy of the full set of blue prints, to investigate and identify some of these potential problems.
Before Building
Improper Site Preperation - This is especially true if old homes, or mature trees were removed, or if ditches were filled in. Without careful compaction of the fill material, voids can be created, and in extreme cases, sink holes. This can lead to a "Caving-In" effect under the weight of your new home.
- The average cost to repair - $40,000
- Prevention
- Completely remove old foundations, sewer systems, and tree roots.
- Pack and re-pack soil over 4-6 month period, adding sand or stabilized soil as needed.
- Carefully inspect soil grade after heavy rains for sink holes, which will require special attention.
- Remove trees too close to new foundation.
- Install root barriers for other trees before landscaping.
Builder's Piers - Drilled and poured bell bottom footings, installed by the builder in an attempt to prevent the settlement problems that they themselves often cause. There are many reasons why builder's piers fail, but connecting them to your foundations, which is a common practice, ensures that if they fail, they will pull your foundation down with them.
- The average cost to repair - $75,000
- Prevention
- Don't install builder's piers, which normally only carry a one year warranty, and especially never connect them to your foundation.
- Instead, install Dura Lock Lifetime Pilings around the entire perimeter of your foundation, after construction is completed.
- Add extra thickness and steel reinforcement to inner slab.
Improperly Connected Sewer Lines - Leaks can begin to wash-out and erode soil immediately.
- The average cost to repair - Sewer $8,000 Foundation $20,000
- Prevention
- Have sewer lines inspected by an independent plumber prior to pouring the slab, and hydrostatically tested after building is completed.
Inadequate Drainage - Once landscaping is installed, you discover that the minimum requirement of four inches of exposed slab is not possible, and / or water won't drain away from slab. If it is possible to repair...
- The average cost to repair - New Drains $7,000 Foundation $12,000
- Prevention
- Have form boards inspected in relation to final grade, before pouring new slab.
- Consult with landscape architect.
If you suspect that your new home is experienceing any of these symptoms, including foundation settlement, immediate action is required. By correcting problems while they are relatively minor, or possibly just preventative in nature, you may save yourself from losing all of the equity, and peace of mind, that your new home was intended to provide.
Dura Pier provides solutions to all of these potential, and sometimes realized problems. Allow one of our experts to evaluate your specific situation, and recommend the preventative and / or corrective measures that will best suit your needs.
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Houston's "Best Full Service Foundation Repair" For Three Generations.
Call today for a free, no obligation evaluation of your home.
(713)721-8888 | (713)721-8883 | Fax:(713)721-3787 | Toll Free:(800)856-3872
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