Foundation Repair Products
Heaving Concrete
CHANGES IN WEATHER CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE CONCRETE TO HEAVE
Foundations are probably the strongest parts of your home, but they can be impacted by forces that don’t seem to be very destructive. One of the biggest causes of foundation problems is something called foundation heave. Foundation heave can cause your walls to crack, doors to stick, and floors to become uneven. Matthews Wall Anchor & Waterproofing Services has the tools and expertise to help you with foundation heave.
Foundation heave can exert enough pressure to lift your whole house, but in most cases, it only pushes against a portion of the slab or foundation. This uneven pressure can cause cracks and other damage to occur.
WHAT CAUSES HEAVING CONCRETE IN SLABS AND FOUNDATIONS?
Although all foundation heave is caused by the soil under the property expanding, there are several things that can cause this to happen. Excess moisture and freezing temperatures are the biggest culprits and here are some behind-the-scenes causes for this:
Heavy Rains or Snowmelts: If there is a large amount of rain or snow melting in a short amount of time, the soil can become oversaturated. Inadequate drainage will allow the soil to soak in the water, expanding against the foundation and exerting great amounts of pressure on the floors and walls.
Expansive Soils: According to Penn State, there are 12 different kinds of soils in the state of Pennsylvania. Depending on where you live, your home could be built on expansive soil. This soil has a high clay content and will swell when exposed to rain or snowmelt. When this soil gets wet, it can cause foundation heave and damage your foundation.
Plumbing Leaks: If you have leaking pipes either inside or outside of your foundation, you may have some problems with foundation heave. Water can come from water coming in or going out of your home. In addition to oversaturating your surrounding soil, you may be paying for water that is literally pouring into the ground, adding insult to injury.
Frost Heave: According to the Department of Physics at the University of Illinois, the volume of water increases by almost 10% when frozen. If the soil is already wet, it will increase in size if it freezes and the colder it is, the deeper the soil will freeze. Frost heave can move a foundation several inches, causing all kinds of damage.
FOUNDATION & CONCRETE HEAVE REPAIR
If you find any of the warning signs of foundation heave, give Matthews Wall Anchor & Waterproofing Services a call as soon as you can. Some things to look for are wall cracks, sticking doors or windows, or uneven floors. Once we come to your home and inspect your property, we can determine the cause of your foundation damage. If we find that water is accumulating under and around your foundation, we will try to find out the source of the water. Once we do that, we will work to remedy the situation.
Some of the solutions we can provide for foundation repair include helical piers, push piers, and wall anchors. Our foundation repair experts will implement the best solution for your particular situation. We know that different problems require different solutions. Other repair products we offer include:
Our inspector will determine the cause of the foundation heave and implement the best solution, giving you a strong foundation, and letting you have peace of mind that the situation is taken care of.
Call us today and let us show you how to deal with foundation heave and other foundation problems. The professionals at Matthews Wall Anchor & Waterproofing Services look forward to hearing from you.
