Construction Mistakes that Lead to Foundation Problems
/One of the worst things a Niagara homeowner can hear is that they have problems with their foundation. The foundation of a home is crucial to its structure, so when there are issues with the foundation, it can lead to other long-term problems with the house.
A few mistakes can happen during the construction process that will lead to these problems, and here’s what you need to know about them.
Uneven Slabs
As much as it would make things easier, not all land is flat – even when a construction company develops it. When the slab is placed on the ground, it has to be completely level with the grade of the property. If it isn’t, then it can lead to issues with how the house settles over time.
Loose Soil
When the land is developed, the soil underneath the slab needs to be packed down so it’s not loose and moving around as you pour the concrete for the slab. This is because when the ground gets wet, loose soil can behave in unpredictable ways, which can cause the slab to shift. A home shifting is at considerable risk for significant damage to the home, even cracks or separating.
Curing Concrete too Quickly
Concrete slabs are made of cement, and cement has to stay sufficiently wet during the process so that it doesn’t cure too fast. If it dries too fast, the concrete can become very brittle. With brittle concrete, it can flake away with the weight of a home built on top of it.
On the other side, if there’s too much moisture in the concrete during the process for your specific environment, it can cause it to crack during the colder months. It’s important to make sure the concrete cures at the right pace to make sure it will last long term.
Voids
As the concrete is poured, it can form hollow spots – or voids – in the slab. If there are voids in the slab, they create weak spots in the foundation as the concrete cures. When you have these weak spots, it’s just a problem waiting to happen – it could be five years or twenty years, but eventually, that void will cause issues and create shifts in the house.
If any of these mistakes were made during the building of your Niagara home, there isn’t much that can be done now about it except for try to make the necessary repairs. The foundation of your home cannot be poured again, as your house is on top of it now, but there are some things you can do to repair it and stop the damage from getting worse.
Contact Foundation Fix today!
If you have concerns about the foundation of your Niagara home or noticed that parts of your home are shifting, contact the experts at Foundation Fix today to arrange for a foundation inspection. If there are issues, they should be identified and corrected to prevent the problem from getting worse.
