If your house is uneven, you might need to consider using an underpinning, pier, and beam, or both. In the end, the choice depends on your budget and the level of damage to your house. Read on to learn how house leveling contractors killeen tx can improve your home’s foundation. Whether you need a new roof or a foundation repair, a house foundation inspection is essential to ensure your property is safe.
Underpinning
Homeowners who experience shifting foundations may need to consider underpinning for house leveling. This repair will strengthen the foundation and increase the house’s depth in many cases. Cracks in the basement or significant cracks around doors may indicate shifting foundations. Some factors can affect a home’s foundation, including poor drainage, tree roots, and significant changes in the water table. Underpinning is a permanent solution for these issues.
Underpinning is necessary when a house’s load is too heavy for the soil underneath. Special tools, called piers, transfer the load from the foundation to the soil beneath. These piers extend deep into the soil and go past weak soil layers to the load-bearing strata. Unfortunately, this process is disruptive and often results in a home’s foundation becoming subsided or dropped.
When determining whether underpinning for house leveling is necessary, homeowners should understand why their home is settling in the first place. A professional assessment is vital to determine if the foundation repair is the best option for their home. If the home’s foundation is settling, it will likely result in gaps between walls and floors, out-of-level concrete, and other structural problems. If left untreated, these conditions can be hazardous and need immediate repair.
Pier and beam
In addition to structural integrity, the quality of a pier and beam foundation is critical to a home’s stability. Moisture decays wood, and cedar resists this decay because it has been naturally preserved. The first step in pier and beam house leveling is to measure the sag on each girder beam. If it is several inches, you will need to raise the girder beams incrementally. To prevent further damage, you should raise each girder beam only a few inches at a time. If the sag is less than half an inch, you don’t need to raise the rafters. If they sag more, you may want to add shims or block the space between the girder and the post.
Whether the repairs are simple or complex, pier and beam house leveling requires careful inspection and a good understanding of the structural conditions of the home. While the work can be expensive, the amount you will pay will depend on how complicated the work is. Generally, 75 to 85 percent of the cost will come from labor. Getting a professional to perform these repairs can reduce the expense significantly. The best way to assess the cost of a pier and beam repair is to talk with a contractor in person.
Pier and base
House leveling specialists have developed a method for installing a pier and base under a home. This technique involves removing soil underneath the foundation to raise the structure. Unfortunately, this method increases the danger of water amassing underneath the house. It also undermines the original pier supports, meaning new ones will have to be installed. As a result, the process of building on a pier and base increases the overall costs of foundation repair.
A pier and base foundation is an alternative to a slab-on-grade foundation. A pier and base foundation can be more durable than a slab-on-grade foundation. Whether you live in a new or old house, a pier and base can help level it. Correctly installed piers can prevent problems with the structure’s foundation. Once installed, repairs are simpler and less expensive.
A pier and base are best for areas of higher flood risk, especially those with clay soil. The piers are lifted 18 inches above the ground, which helps keep your home from settling. The pier and beam foundation is also better for crawl spaces and easy access to utilities. Termite control is also easier with a pier and base foundation, and it doesn’t require the excavation of the yard to install it.
