foundation repair in Trenton NJ

4 Reasons for Foundation Repair in Trenton NJ

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Foundation Repair in Trenton NJ

After the roofs, the foundations are probably the most heavy component of a house. They have to hold up the entire structure in a way that it lasts a lifetime.

Unlike other consumer goods, foundations are not engineered with, what in architectural terms is called a planned obsolescence built in. They are intended to last forever.

They can, however be damaged to the point of needing foundation repair. In severe cases, they might just fail. While such circumstances are rare, they are also, to a certain extent, avoidable and with proper maintenance, preventable. Here are a few reasons why a foundation may fail.

Soil type: There are many types of soil and depending on which region or locality you are from, it can either be stable or prone to wild movement. Clayey soil is the worst offender in that they expand and contract depending on how much water they soak up.

A particularly dry summer can cause the soil to shrink noticeably, while a flood can make it swell. If it happens enough times and you don’t notice, your foundation can fail.

Insufficient fill material: Most often, foundations are made and filled in with a number of different materials. If they are not mixed properly, or are the type that tend to settle in later, they can shift over the course of time. The issue can be reversed with simple foundation repair techniques.

Mass wasting: Mass wasting is a geographical term for the ground moving away. It is a serious issue in hilly regions and in places where the topography is not level. It is similar to a landslide, but takes months and sometimes years to slowly slip away.

A landslide is fast and happens within a matter of minutes, while mass wasting takes time and can be invisible till its too late.

Bad construction: Sometimes, your contractor may just do a shoddy job. Badly constructed buildings have to go through foundation repair procedures more than the well planned ones. If your home is not built well, repair it now and avert further damage easily.

Note that most of the above foundation repair causers can be reversed if caught early. A lot is happening in the ground under your home, most of it invisible. But if you have a keen enough eye, you catch it early and before there is any permanent damage.

foundation-repair

Little Known Foundation Repair Challenges Associated with Leakages

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

A leaky foundation is a threat to not only the building structure, but also the property inside. When a home is built, its foundation walls are clean and easily accessible. However, with time the structure may experience problems such as cracking, gaps, and holes. Water begins to take its toll on your home, and if nothing is done to stop it, soon you start counting losses. Leakages in a building are a matter of emergency and should be handled as soon as possible. A foundation repair, if conducted at the right time using effective restoration procedures, can save a homeowner from water damage.

Water seepage shouldn’t be confused with moisture infiltration

There is a difference between water entering the interior of a building and moisture infiltrating a foundation. Some repair procedures are meant to restore problems related with moisture infiltration and not water seepage.

For example, a waterproofing technique helps tackle issues of liquid water entering a basement through cracks, gaps, and holes, but moisture can infiltrate porous cement through pores. The right treatment for moisture infiltration, or migration, is through damp proofing and not waterproofing. These two procedures can offer different remedies in protecting a home. Damp proofing is meant to keep moisture away and may not address the problem of liquid water.

Foundation repair techniques

A number of techniques are applied when repairing foundations. Depending on the nature of the problem, a contractor may decide to use one or more repair techniques. Foundations tend to experience cracking. It is normal for foundations to crack because cement shrinks as it cures.

Shrinkage induces stress on concrete, and that way, cracks form to relieve the stress. This is okay because foundations are designed to handle cracks.

However, if there are external forces such as settlement of the ground acting on foundation walls, it makes cracks widen and grow deeper. Common areas where cracks occur are corners of windows or in the middle of an elongated wall.

Most cracks are vertical and can be corrected using urethane foam technique. In the event that cracks run horizontally, or the wall structure has deflected, cracks may be perceived as structural. In this case, the ergo, epoxy technique is deemed appropriate.

Concisely, before any foundation repair is undertaken, the cause of the problem should be identified. Foundation cracks develop because of shifting ground, improper compaction, too much moisture, and too little moisture. Other cracks may be caused by tree roots growing in close proximity to a building.

sinking-foundation

How to Deal with a Sinking Foundation Once and for All

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Drought is bad for your basement. Surprised? Many people are aware of the importance of keeping water away from their foundations. Very few are aware that moisture is also good for foundations. That’s right. The ground surrounding your foundation ought to have some moisture to support the weight of your home. Moisture gives the surrounding soil the strength to hold the house in a level position.

When there is prolonged drought, the moisture content of the ground is depleted. The soil surrounding the foundation of your home will therefore contract. When this happens, the foundation of your home will settle unevenly. This is known as differential settlement. The result is a sinking foundation.

Signs that you have a sinking foundation

Do you suspect that your foundation is sinking? Are you unsure? You can check for the following signs to find out if you are dealing with a sinking foundation or a different problem.

  • Sloping floors: Does water drain off your floors in a particular direction? If your floor was level before, check to ensure that it is not sloping.
  • Your windows and doors are sticking. If your windows and doors closed and opened smoothly before but are now sticking, your foundation may be sinking.
  • The formation of cracks in the basement, or foundation, is a sure sign of a structural problem with your basement.

If you notice any or a combination of the above signs, contact a contractor to have your foundation checked. This is the best way to confirm what type of problem you are dealing with.

Dealing with a sinking foundation

The sinking of a foundation is nothing new. There is therefore nothing to be worried about. This type of foundation problem has been plaguing home owners from the time that foundations were first used in houses. There are therefore several different repair methods that have been devised over the years.

The most common methods used for repairing these troubled foundations include:

  • The replacement of the foundation
  • The installation of concrete pilings
  • Installation of helical piers

All these methods are still in use today. However, the replacement of a foundation is the most expensive solution.

A foundation that is sinking cannot be fixed without the assistance of a professional contractor. It is therefore important to contact one as soon as you notice any changes in the slope of your floor, the jamming of your doors and windows or cracks in basement walls.

Foundation Repair | Trenton, NJ | Select Basement Waterproofing

Are you in Need of Foundation Repair New Jersey?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

As a homeowner, maintenance and repair of your home is an expected expense. Your home’s foundation is the most important part of your home. Ensuring that you carry out foundation repair New Jersey in good time will ensure that you avoid serious problems that can result in your using thousands of dollars to fix an even worse situation. It is therefore important to learn how to identify these problems as soon as possible.

Warning signs

Houses are designed to be dynamic. They move and settle over a period of time. This is natural. However, when the settling occurs unevenly, then there is need for concern. It is therefore important to stay alert and keep track of any dramatic changes or early warning signs including:

  • A door in your house begins to ham or the latch fails to fit. This may be a sign that the foundation is shifting.
  • The appearance of cracks on the walls. Cracks on walls when there is a foundation problem cracks usually occur over windows, doorways and where the wall meets the ceiling.
  • The appearance of cracks in your floor tiles or on your concrete floors
  • When windows in your home that used to open or close easily begin sticking or can’t close completely. 

Checking for foundation problems

Foundation repair New Jersey can cost you thousands of dollars if the problems are not identified early enough and are allowed to develop into serious problems. It is therefore important to develop a routine of checking your home for signs of foundation problems.

It is important to retain the services of a professional contractor to carry out maintenance and repair on your foundation at least once a year. However, it is also important to carry out your own personal checks every so often. This will ensure that any problems with your foundation are identified early. 

Here’s how to check foundation problems:

  • Check the perimeter

Carry out a visual check of the outside of your foundation. Walk along the length of the foundation and check the walls from corner to corner. The walls should be straight from side to side as well as from up to down.

If there is any sign of leaning, bulging or curving then the foundation may have shifted. It may be that the soil around your foundation is expanding, contracting or placing some pressure on the walls of your foundation.

  • Check the concrete

If you have a poured concrete foundation, check to see if there is chipping of flaking. You can do this by poking it with a study screwdriver. A good concrete foundation should be very hard. It shouldn’t get damaged when poked by the screwdriver.

If you manage to break of chip at the surface, then the concrete may be deteriorating. It may have been mixed with too much water, salty or dirty sand. Contact a contractor as soon as possible to fix this problem.

  • Check the structure

There are various aspects of the foundation aside from the perimeter wall. If you have a crawl space of basement, be sure to check the concrete supports, posts or piers used to support the home. These should be standing firmly and straight. They should be firmly planted on the concrete piers beneath.

Cracks in foundations

Foundational cracks are the most important sign of a problem with the foundation. It is therefore important to identify what type of crack you’re dealing with.  Different types of cracks include:

  • Hairline cracks indicate minor problems and shouldn’t be a cause for worry
  • Stair step cracks occurring in masonry joints indicate bulging of walls or moisture problems
  • Horizontal cracks are the most serious. They are indicative of serious damage to the foundation. You may need a completely new foundation.
foundation repair in new jersey

Foundation Repair in New Jersey: 4 Key Misconceptions

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Foundation Repair in New Jersey

Fixing a broken foundation is a hard concept to understand as it is. Then the world adds myths and misconceptions about foundation repair in New Jersey. Here are a four misconceptions debunked.

Misconception #1: You don’t need foundation repair because concrete cracks.

It is true that concrete cracks. It is not a matter of if but when. The concrete sidewalk or your concrete patio is not as important. However, when it comes to your concrete foundation, when it cracks it needs to be fixed. Cracks in your foundation ultimately weaken the structure and need to be fixed. Even nonstructural cracks can cause problems with water infiltration, mold growth, and pests.

Misconception #2: Small cracks are no big deal.

Even small hairline cracks can cause problems with your foundation. The most common problem with hairline cracks is water. Water doesn’t need a large opening to enter your home. Those small cracks can be letting in water and causing an array of issues including mold and mildew, or letting in bugs, rodents, or soil gases like radon. If you look at it that way, small cracks are a big deal.

Small cracks also can be a sign of future problems. If ignored, small cracks can become big cracks and lead to even bigger foundation issues. Foundation cracks may seems as if they are staying the same but over the years the nonstructural cracks can become structural cracks if the soil outside the foundation changes.

Misconception #3: Foundation Repair doesn’t really fix the problem.

This misconception is referring to a common scenario. A foundation repair contractor will come to assess the basement situation. There will be a problem zone on one side of the foundation. Even though the problem area is only on one side of the foundation, the foundation repair contractor suggests an entire foundation solution. The homeowner will choose to only do one side of the foundation where the problem currently exists. The foundation repair contractor can only do what the homeowner authorizes him to do. They try to educate the homeowner as much as possible about the potential of a return visit to fix the rest of the foundation in the future. The homeowner sometimes misses the big picture and thinks that the work that was done didn’t really fix the problem. But the truth is he chose to only fix one portion of the problem.

If a homeowner hires a reputable and knowledgeable foundation repair contractor and follows his advice to provide the proper solution to repair the foundation, it will work. Contractors guarantee their work. And if you do partial work on the foundation, only the area where the work was done will be on warranty.

Misconception #4: Foundation Repair is too expensive.

While many homeowners think they can’t afford foundation repair work, the truth is they can’t afford not to. If your home needs foundation repair work, and you choose to ignore it, it will get worse before it gets better. If you fix the problems when they are small, it will cost much less. If you wait until the problem is massive and dyer and your home on the verge of collapse, then it will be expensive.

If you ever want to sell your house, you will have a hard time selling with foundation repair issues. You will have to fix them before you sell.

Honestly, the best practice is to inspect your basement and keep it in good health throughout the lifetime of your house. The basement environment impacts the environment of the rest of the house. The foundation is the most important part of the house. If it is not sound, the whole structure of the house is in danger.

Contact us for a FREE Estimate!

buying a home in new jersey

Structural Problems to Look For When Buying a Home in New Jersey

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Buying a Home in New Jersey

When you are house shopping, it is easy to forget to about the foundation. However, making sure the foundation is in good shape and structurally sound may be one of the most important steps when buying a home in New Jersey.

Inspect the foundation

First look at the foundation, and watch for any cracks inside or out. Small vertical cracks may be nonstructural but could potentially cause water infiltration. You can watch for mold or water stains to show the crack does leak. These nonstructural cracks should be fixed prior to moving in just to save you from dealing with major water issues come winter.

The horizontal cracks in a foundation wall are signs of structural damage. Also stair step cracks in block wall foundations or bulging or bowed walls are also signs of structural foundation problems.

Watch for signs upstairs

You can also watch for signs of settlement issues upstairs. If the doors and windows stick or if there are cracks in the sheetrock upstairs in the walls or the ceiling, you may have a foundation problem. Cracks can also be in the trim around the windows and doors. That is a sign the foundation is moving.

Look into the history of the site

Even newer houses can run into potential structural problems if the house was built on unstable ground. Do your research to see what the property was used for in the past. Past gravel pits, old landfills and dumps can be the cause of major foundation problems. Most developers will know not to build over past pits, but sometimes they don’t. There have been issues where developers will bury large tree stumps or garbage on the building site creating massive problems when those decompose. It will create holes in the ground and create an unstable ground.

Watch for water issues and signs of water build-up

Water issues in the basement should never be left alone. Always fix the leaks and other water issues in the basement because not only does it cause mold, mildew, and poor indoor air quality inside the home, but it also is the culprit of foundation damage. Leaving a basement leak or a leaky crack in the foundation will eventually start to deteriorate the foundation wall making it weak and fragile. Water damage to the foundation wall can result in spalling where the concrete starts to break off the foundation wall. Water infiltrating the basement is also a sign there is water build up on the outside wall. If there is water building up in the soil outside, then it is creating hydrostatic pressure, a common cause of structural damage in foundation walls. Basement waterproofing and proper outside drainage systems will relieve hydrostatic pressure and potential structural problems.

You can negotiate in the contract to have the seller solve these foundation issues before you buy the house. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the house because most of these issues can be fixed. With a professional foundation repair contractor and/or basement waterproofer, you won’t have to worry. Just make sure it gets in the final agreement to either have them fix the issue or drop the price of the house so you can fix the issue after you buy it. It is a good idea to elicit the help of a foundation repair contractor if you suspect foundation issues. They will be able to provide an inspection and quote to help you negotiate and understand what you are really getting into. This information will help you make your decision.

If you’d like a FREE Estimate for foundation repair when buying a home in New Jersey, then please contact us!

flood in new jersey

Replacing Sheet Rock After a Flood in New Jersey

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

A Flood in New Jersey Can Cause Problems for Your Home

A basement flood in New Jersey is bad enough in an unfinished basement. However, if you have a finished or partially finished basement with any sheetrock as wall board then you will need to replace the sheetrock.

Flooding can lead to wet sheetrock

Sheetrock absorbs water. If it comes into contact with any amount of water (or even moisture for that matter) you have a problem. Sometimes you will only need to replace part of the sheetrock on a wall. You can cut out the wet portion and replace it with new sheetrock. Sheetrock will not dry out on its own before you will have a problem with mold behind the walls. If you leave wet sheetrock, mold will grow behind the wall because mold is using the material in the sheetrock for food. Add the water and the dark, damp spots behind the wall and a serious mold problem could start to grow in no time.

How to deal with wet sheetrock

If you are trying to save part of the wall, you will need to determine how high the water has traveled up the wall. The longer the sheetrock sits in the standing water, the higher the water problem will be. Typically, water travels up the sheetrock 3-6 inches a day. If it is left for a few days, the water could be halfway up the wall.

One way to check for water damage in sheetrock is to slice the wall with a razor. It will cut easier if the wall is wet. You will notice the blade slide quicker and easier through the wet wall compared to the dry sheetrock. Find where the wall is dry, and cut a straight line there to remove the wet sheetrock.

Like we mentioned above, it is important to remove all wet sheetrock to avoid a potential mold problem. Never leave wet sheetrock after a basement flood in New Jersey or discovered water problem.

Have a professional contractor help fix the problem

A professional basement waterproofing contractor can help you in this process. He can remove the damaged sheetrock after a basement flood in New Jersey and help you install a basement waterproofing system to help avoid any future problems.

The other option is to replace all the sheetrock in the basement with waterproof wallboard. So, if there is another basement flood in New Jersey, you won’t have to replace the walls again. The EPA says basements should be finished with waterproof and water resistant materials. Think tile instead of carpet; plastic waterproof wallboard instead of sheetrock. The basement is inherently wetter and should not be finished like the upstairs even if you have a basement waterproofing system installed.

Contact us for more information about basement waterproofing!

hydrostatic pressure

The Foundation-Crushing Power of Hydrostatic Pressure

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

The Power of Hydrostatic Pressure

In science, engineers study hydrostatic pressure as the natural occurring pressure that standing water creates in relation to an object or barrier. Basically, it is the taller the body of wet material, the greater the force, especially at the bottom. Hydrostatic pressure is what destroys dams, buckles retaining walls, and collapses foundation walls. It is the force behind landslides, moving earth and rocks, and anything else in its path.

Our homes and our basements are really no match for hydrostatic pressure.

Structural damage and leaks

While hydrostatic pressure can cause serious structural damage, it can also be the culprit behind basement leaks. The water buildup in the soil outside of a foundation actually reacts with the concrete. Capillary action naturally pulls the water in through any voids, gaps or cracks in the concrete wall. It can even pull water through the concrete slab or through solid concrete walls. This is known as seepage or weeping. If water weeps through a solid concrete wall, then the best way is to relieve the pressure.

Using drains to stop hydrostatic pressure

The way to stop hydrostatic pressure build-up is through water diversion and drainage tactics. A French Drain installed on the exterior side of the foundation wall will relieve this hydrostatic pressure and allow a place for the water to go. By trenching behind the problem area, you can allow water to find its way to a place that will do no harm. Channel the water to flow downhill away from the foundation.

When you relieve the hydrostatic pressure build up, the job of keeping the basement dry is actually a much simpler job. If those drainage systems are in place, then your basement waterproofing system won’t have to work so hard.

Field drains are also a good option to help keep surface water away from the foundation. They are usually small, round drainage points to control the water and relieve hydrostatic pressure.

Another technique is channel drains. Channel drains are a grill-covered drainage system material commonly placed at the bottom of a driveway recessed into the ground. These capture flowing water and redirect it.

Interior basement waterproofing systems including drain tiles and sump pumps also deal with hydrostatic pressure by capturing the excess water below the concrete slab and carrying it away before it enters the basement.

If you are having water seeping through your basement floor you probably have hydrostatic pressure.

Depending on the situation, a waterproofing contractor may suggest an exterior or interior system or a combination of the two.

Don’t ever ignore hydrostatic pressure. Leaving it alone will only make the problems worse and could lead to even more serious problems. Contact us for a FREE Estimate for basement waterproofing.

foundation repair

Foundation Repair and House Lifting

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Foundation Repair

If your house is sinking, moving, or settling, it can mean serious damage to the foundation and may compromise the whole structural integrity of the building. If the soil around the house is not supporting the footing, you may need to consider a foundation repair work or underpinning. While the layman term is house lifting, the process is actually called underpinning or piering. The pier is also called a piling. There are several different types of piers to stabilize a home’s foundation. However, like waterproofing, there isn’t just one way that will solve the problem. The different underpinning methods all work to solve a foundation problem, but it is just a matter of figuring out which one is right for you.

There are four major systems commonly used for poured wall foundations with basements or crawlspaces:

1. Drilled Piers:

For this system, a deep hole is drilled and set with reinforced steel. Then the contractor fills the hole with concrete and ties the piers to the home or foundation. In a sense these piers work as a new concrete foundation.

2. Push Pier:

The Push Pier (Steel Pipe Piling) method uses the weight of the structure to push the piers into the ground until they hit a load-bearing level of the soil or bedrock. The pier is then capped off and permanently attached to the bottom of the foundation. This method is a simpler method in way of knowing it is successful just by installation. When the weight of the house is insufficient to drive the piers deeper, that’s evident they can support the home. They are typically used for heavier structures but also work well for single story homes.

3. Steel Helical Pier:

Helical piers are typically used to support a structure and not to lift it. Helical piers are turned into the ground like a corkscrew. Each pier has “flights,” or wings, which work to pull the pier into the soil. These flights also keep the pile in place after it is installed. Because helical piers don’t use the weight of the structure like push piers you can use them on very light structures, like a porch.

4. Segmented Concrete Pier:

This method uses precast concrete segments, usually manufactured cylinders, which are installed one by one on top of one another and pressed into the ground by hydraulically jacking against the underside of the existing structure. Like, push piers, the weight of the structure is used to create the reactive force that allows the pile segments to be driven into the soil. 
The segmented piles can be interconnected by steel bar(s), threaded rod, or a cable that runs through the center of each of the concrete segments. Other systems use epoxy or another adhesive to bond the segments together. The differences are determined by the manufacturers of the specific pier.

These four main systems can all be installed outside or inside the basement. If the system and equipment will fit inside the basement, it usually will save a day or two of labor to go through the basement floor instead of installing the system outside. Exterior piering typically means digging an eight- or nine-foot trench.

Contact us if you have any questions about foundation repair or house lifting.

foundation floor cracks

Foundation Floor Cracks, What Next?

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Does Your Home Have Foundation Floor Cracks?

Foundation floor cracks can be found in the majority of homes across New Jersey. The trick is knowing when to take action.

If your home wasn’t built last week, and we’re willing to bet it wasn’t, you’ve probably noticed a few cracks in the foundation floor by now. These are caused by a variety of factors ranging from increased moisture and water pressure, to settlement and structural deficiency. Luckily more serious foundation issues can be identified and prevented if you catch them early enough.

So what can you do about your foundation floor cracks? Let’s take a look at the facts.

1. How large is the crack? Are we talking hairline, 1/4″? Larger?

Larger foundation floor cracks can signify a bigger structural issue, especially if both sides of the crack are shifting and moving away from one another. Give your local foundation repair company a call, to be on the safe side.

2. Have you noticed mold, mildew, fungi, weeds, or insects?

Okay, sounds gross––we know. But it can happen. Cracks in your foundation floor expose your home to the elements, allowing for a variety of potential intruders. Save the weed killer for your driveway, not your basement.

3. Any dark staining or moisture? During a rain storm, do you notice water coming up out of the cracks?

If so, ensure your primary sump pump is working. Don’t have one? You may need to consider installing an interior french drain/pump system. Check for dark staining as well, this can be a sign of moisture.