• More About Crack Repair
• Basement Wall Damage
• Expansive Soil Movements

Indicators of Expansive Soil Movements

Listed below are indicators you can look for to determine possible expansive soil related movement and / or structural damage. The probability that your foundation has experienced some movement increases with the number of indicators observed, their frequency, and location in the structure.

Exterior Indicators:

• Diagonal (stair stepping) Cracks in brick walls. Cracks may go through brick or mortar and vary in width
• Sagging brick lines when sighting along a wall
• Bowed or non-vertical walls
• Separation of wood trim joints at corner
• Separation of concrete driveway, patio, or sidewalk from foundation
• Tilting of landscaping/retaining walls

Interior Indicators:

• Cracks in sheetrock walls or ceilings
• Bowed or non-vertical walls
• Bottom of wall separating from the floor
• Cracks at wall corners
• Cracks above doors
• Sticking doors. (warped door frames)
• Sticking windows
• Sloping floor surface
• Cracks in ceramic or vinyl tile
• Cracks in concrete floor  

Cause

Soil Moisture Changes

Observing soil moisture changes around your foundation is possible, but what about under it? Moisture can move from outside to under your foundation through a property of soils known as suction or capillary action. Soil suction is similar to placing just a corner of a dry, compressed sponge in contact with a puddle of water. In a short time, the sponge has drawn water throughout itself and grown in volume. While a water source is present, the sponge will continue to absorb water until it is saturated. If the water source is cut-off, then water already in the sponge will distribute itself evenly, but the sponge will not reach saturation.

Water can move horizontally and vertically through the soils under your foundation in a similar manner. As clay soils draw water to themselves, they too grow in volume (swell or heave) causing your foundation to move. Drying outside your foundation reverses the process. The moist soils will lose volume (shrink) as soil moisture moves out from under your foundation, the clay will crumble and settle into the voids left by the moisture, creating voids under the footing, causing the foundation to settle. Shrinking and swelling soil motions can lead to damaging your foundation and structure.

Excavation

Structural problems, wall rebuilds, stairwell installations, egress window installations, outside dig and sealing of cracks - all of these may require excavation. Waterproofing in its purest form is outside excavation, sealing the wall with a waterproof and vapor proof material, installing a proper drain mat for the wall, and installing a proper drain tile system to alleviate any hydrostatic pressure build up against the wall. Then, backfilling with aggregate. Apex can handle any size project. Allow us to resolve your foundation and structural problems with experience, quality, and a cost-effective approach.

Be Sure, Be Safe, Call Apex Today! (800) 656-4604
for a foundation inspection!

 

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