You are not alone. Below are more of the most Common Foundation Problems in Houston page 5. These images of emails from Houston area homeowners illustrate the many foundation issues they are confronting. We have added our comments where we thought it might be beneficial. Many homeowners in other Texas cities are experiencing similar foundation problems.
This is an excellent example of the multiple warning signs of foundation damage.
The pumping of ground water has and will continue to create land subsidence, and Houston homeowners will suffer the consequences. Raising houses and their slab foundations above the floodplain only makes sense for higher value homes.
Yes, we can remove dirt. We service Pier & Beam foundations also.
Something is not quite right here. Home builders do NOT build homes with “rafters have pulled away from the center beam.” We believe this happened sometime after construction and given the age of the home our initial guess is that the foundation has settled over the years.
If this is a small leak on a linear section of drain pipe then plumbers can “repair” it with the insertion of an epoxy type of inner sleeve. It is an excellent repair method for straight linear sections of pipe. Small leaks usually don’t cause major problems and the structural engineer seems to have confirmed this. Unless there are visible signs of foundation damage, or large differences in elevation readings, it is likely that this home is in acceptable / good condition.
If there are no visible signs of foundation damage and the house is level then we can perform the tunneling for an under slab plumbing repair.
This is a very common development when a slab foundation has been cracked due to tensions and pressures of soil movement.
The “drop down” probably refers to sloping floors and that is a warning sign of settlement of the slab foundation.
This is NOT good. The primary suspect is a water leak in the master bath. First the foundation should be supported with piers and then leveled. Once that is completed the plumbing repairs can begin.
Roof Line is Sagging – The “sink” spot in the roof line of the house strongly suggests that the interior of the house is experiencing settlement. This is a major problem and must be corrected. There are multiple possible causes from improper soil compaction by the home builder, to under slab water leaks, to common soil movement under the foundation.
This is a common foundation problem because the corners of a house are most susceptible to evaporation and moisture loss. When the clay soils lose significant moisture content they shrink dramatically in volume, pulling away from the bottom of the foundation. Since the corner of the foundation now has nothing supporting it (a void), it will eventually crack and fall (settle) until it can reach something to support it (the shrunken soil). The solution is to install permanent Bell Bottom Piers.
Hotels are large residential structures that are subject to the same forces of soil movement. Usually builders will build a thicker and stronger foundation for commercial structures than single family residences.
This Houston house is displaying textbook examples of problems created by foundation movement.
First, we can raise the house out of the floodplain. Second, we have no confidence in our competitor’s pushed piles because they have inherent disadvantages and limitations. Please read some of our engineering information from independent structural engineers regarding pushed piles. And do a Google search with our competitor’s “name + complaints” or “name + reviews”.
This is a warning sign of foundation damage. The house should have a foundation inspection performed.
These are warning signs of foundation damage. The home should have a free foundation inspection in the near future.
Heavy rains following by a hot, dry summer is a prescription for foundation damage. The clay soils become saturated with water and expand dramatically in volume, putting great stresses (upheaval) on the slab foundation. The the hot, dry summer creates a condition of gradual and continual moisture loss and the clay soils shrink dramatically in volume. The shrunken soils often shrink so much they leave voids under the foundation beams and parts of the foundation, resulting in foundation cracking and failure (settlement).
Time for a free foundation inspection from Dawson Foundation Repair.
We offer foundation services for Pier & Beam foundations.
This is a warning sign of a foundation issue. Time for a free foundation inspection from Dawson Foundation Repair.