The most obvious indicators of foundation movement are:
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Cracks in floors and walls |
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Doors bind or do not open or close properly |
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Floors are not level. Windows bind or do not open or close properly. |
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Water intrusion into the home. |
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Mold growth |
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Cracks in exterior brick |
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Cracks in beams and joists |
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Separations of wood trim at the exterior corners of your home above brick |
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Separations of the brick and the adjacent wood surfaces at the sides of the chimney |
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Cracks in interior wall finishes at the corners of doors and windows. Cracks may also occur at the intersection of walls and ceilings, and at the intersection of wall surfaces. |
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Sinking walls of sections of the home |
Causes of Foundation Movement
Your home’s foundation is designed to transfer the weight of the structure and contents to the underlying soil or rock. Sometimes this process can be altered when a foundation is under stress. Stress can come from soil changes, broken drainage, improper building techniques as well as other factors.
Swelling and shrinking of expansive soils around your home’s foundation are the primary causes of foundation movement throughout Pennsylvania. Expansive clay soils swell when soil moisture levels increase and shrink when moisture levels decrease resulting in pressure around your home's foundation.
The second most frequent cause of foundation movement is consolidation of improperly compacted soil or rock fill, which can cause portions of the foundation to settle or move. This situation can be made worse with age and abnormal water levels around a home.
Because your home’s foundation transfers the weight of the structure and contents to the underlying soil, your foundation moves when the soils move. If the foundation moves uniformly the foundation is performing as designed. If some parts of the foundation move more than others then the foundation is undergoing differential movement. It is this differential movement that damages your foundation and the cosmetic finishes throughout your home.
Foundation Repair Procedures
Minimizing foundation movement normally involves supplemental reinforcement of some kind. Only a skilled engineer with experience in foundation repair should provide a repair plan for your home as many factors and variables need to be considered. Keystone’s engineers will be able to provide you with the correct repair plan for the specific needs of your home.
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