While uniform foundation settling is nothing to worry about, differential foundation settlement requires immediate repair. The challenge is that sometimes it’s difficult to tell the difference between uniform settlement and differential settlement, which causes foundation problems. As a homeowner, you must know these distinctions to determine if repairs are necessary for your home. Read on to learn how.
What is Uniform Foundation Settlement?
To understand uniform foundation settlement, you must know how a foundation provides and receives support. While your entire home depends on the foundation for strength, the foundation depends on the soil below for its stability.
When the soil below a foundation shifts or sinks, the foundation will move as well. This process is known as foundation settlement. A small amount of uniform foundation settlement after construction is pretty common and usually nothing to worry about. At times, minimal amounts of uniform foundation settlement result in tiny hairline cracks in a foundation. However, these cracks are often benign. In other words, uniform foundation settlement doesn’t usually result in foundation damage. This is not the case for differential foundation settlement, as you’ll see.
Common Causes of Foundation Damage
Now that you understand the difference between uniform and differential settlement, let’s consider some of the many ways a foundation can receive damage. All of the factors below can compromise your foundation and lead to repair or replacement:
- Differential foundation settlement: Unlike uniform settlement, differential foundation settlement involves uneven foundation shifts. Sometimes, these shifts can be significant. Differential foundation settlement often causes wall cracks and other structural concerns throughout a home.
- Hydrostatic pressure: This scientific term refers to the force that water exerts on surfaces it touches. When groundwater saturates the soil surrounding a foundation, it can place immense pressure on the foundation walls. This pressure can result in cracks, bowing, and other structural concerns.
- Drainage problems: Foundation drainage systems collect and convey water away from your home. However, in many cases, these systems may break or experience a clog, which results in water problems for your foundation. Additionally, many homes lack a proper drainage system, leading to similar water-related issues.
Signs of a Foundation Problem
Below is a quick list of some signs your foundation needs a repair:
- Cracked walls: When damage occurs, cracks can form in your foundation walls and extend upward into the other levels of your home.
- Bowing walls: Does your foundation wall bend inward rather than being entirely vertical? If so, there is an excellent chance your foundation struggles with hydrostatic pressure or another issue.
- Standing water and excessive moisture: Anytime you see standing water in your basement or crawl space, you can assume there is an issue with your foundation drainage system. Additionally, high humidity levels in the air are a sign that your foundation requires intervention to prevent this unwanted humidity.
- Sloping floors: Damage to your foundation can cause the floors above it to slope in one direction. While this can indicate an issue with the floor, inspecting your foundation is an excellent idea.
- Jammed doors and windows: When windows and doors in your home are difficult to open and close, foundation damage is often the cause. Differential foundation settlement is often the culprit.
Top Foundation Repair Options
While there are many causes and signs of foundation failure, the good news is that there are viable repair options as well. The list below will introduce you to some of the most common services a professional will offer when you have a foundation concern:
- Foundation pier installation: The most common types of foundation piers are helical and push piers. While these piers are different, they serve a similar purpose. Both piers are inserted into the earth until they reach firm strata and connect to your foundation. This connection allows a foundation team to remedy differential foundation settlement and level the home as much as possible.
- Relieving hydrostatic pressure: When your home struggles with hydrostatic pressure, your repair team will take several actions to remedy the problem. First, this team will need to excavate around the home, remove the water, and repair or replace any drainage structures to prevent future hydrostatic pressure issues. They will also reinforce the wall to restore its strength.
- Drainage improvements: When water is an issue for your home, install a complete foundation drainage system. This system can include drain tiles, sump pumps, dehumidification, waterproofing, and more. All of these structures help ensure standing water and moisture do not affect your home’s foundation.
- Structural repairs: When deterioration causes your foundation’s structures to fail, the best approach can be to perform direct maintenance. For example, it may become necessary to repair or replace damaged wooden structures in a crawl space. Similarly, crawl space joists may require additional support to maintain their structural integrity.
Get Help Recognizing Foundation Problems vs. Settling
Knowing the difference between foundation problems vs. normal settling is essential for anyone who owns a building with a foundation. Recognizing this difference alerts you to the need for repairs and helps you prevent extensive damage.
For anyone struggling to know if their foundation requires repairs, reach out to Atlas Master Companies 911. Our team serves Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, and the surrounding areas in Virginia with top-of-the-line foundation services. We are confident we have the skills and experience necessary to diagnose foundation problems and find the ideal solution for you.
