All things in life start with a strong foundation. Your relationships, your businesses, and, of course, your house.
But when that foundation starts to fall apart, the consequences can be severe if you fail to repair it. At Perma Pier Foundation Repair, we understand the stress and hassle that homeowners feel when it comes time to replace their foundation. If you are trying to minimize that, you’ve likely spent many nights Googling “how to replace foundation without lifting house.”
Well, your search ends here! Today, we’ll be helping you to understand your options when it comes to foundation repairs and replacements, including:
- Different repair methods
- Foundation repair costs
- How to spot foundation damage
Signs You Need to Replace Your Foundation
A damaged foundation can be sneaky. If you don’t know what you are looking for, you can miss the signs until the damage becomes very serious.
Knowing what to watch for can help you to catch any foundation issues early on. Here are some key signs that your foundation may need professional attention:
- Cracks – If you live in an older home, it’s not unusual for your wall to develop cracks over time. However, some cracks are more serious than others. If you suspect that your wall cracks might be caused by your shifting foundation, you’ll want to look for diagonal cracks rather than horizontal ones.
- Shifting Counters and Cabinets – When you install your counters and cabinets on your kitchen wall, you expect them to stay there. However, if you’ve noticed gaps forming in the areas where they are anchored to the wall, it may be a sign that something is shifting below.
- Chimney Damage – Is your chimney looking a little crooked? Or perhaps you can see cracks forming, even from down on the ground. This is often caused by your foundation moving and requires a professional inspection.
- Window Gaps – One of the big dangers of your foundation shifting is that it causes your walls to pull away from your windows and doors. This can lead to gaps around your windows and doors, which can allow moisture and other pests to get in.
- Sinking Sensation – Have you ever stood up from your desk chair, only for it to continue rolling to another side of the room? When your foundation moves, you may begin to feel as if your rooms are sinking to one side. This is a clear sign that you are in need of a new foundation.
5 Foundation Replacement Methods
If you are like most people, your image of foundation replacement likely involves a house being lifted off the ground. It’s enough to make any homeowner shudder in fear of the cost and inconvenience.
What you may not know is that you have many different options when it comes to foundation replacement. Here are a few of the common ones.
1) Lifting the House
As we’ve mentioned, the most common way to deal with foundation settlement is to lift your home. This is typically accomplished through the use of hydraulic jacks, which allow foundation professionals to get underneath your home and properly address your foundation problems.
Many homeowners are wary of this method, as it is certainly the most invasive and expensive option. That being said, it is also the most thorough way to replace foundations and allows your professional to make the best repairs.
2) Pressed Piling
Pressed piling is a very common way to repair foundation walls. The process involves driving concrete cylinders into the soil. These are placed beneath your foundation, which helps to stabilize the surrounding soil and increase its load-bearing strata.
3) Foam Jacking
Foam jacking is a potential alternative for homeowners who do not wish to raise their existing house. Foam jacking works by helping to raise sunken concrete slab foundations.
Your foundation pro will start by drilling holes into the concrete slab before injecting it with polyurethane foam. As the foam expands, it will help to raise your sinking foundation.
4) Mud Jacking
Mud jacking uses a similar technique to foam jacking. However, instead of polyurethane foam, the holes that are drilled into the concrete are filled with water and solid material. This helps to stabilize the soil underneath your foundation. This technique only works with slab foundations.
5) Installing Piers
Most foundation repair solutions involve installing some form of piers. These piers can be made of a wide variety of materials, including steel. Some foundation professionals also like to use helical piers that are screwed into the ground.
All piers work like the concrete piers we talked about previously. They are designed to help stabilize the soil and help it handle the weight of your home.
Can You Replace the Foundation Without Lifting Your House?
So, what is the final verdict? Can you actually replace your home’s foundation without lifting it?
The answer is yes! However, it is hugely dependent on the style of foundation that your home has and the extent of the damage. We recommend consulting with a foundation professional in order to come up with a plan for your home.
Foundation Repair Costs
Foundation replacement is one of those home projects that can make any homeowner feel filled with fear at the thought of the price tag that will come with it. The good news is that while foundation replacement costs can be expensive, it doesn’t have to be that way.
If you can get by with some regular repairs, you will likely spend between $4,500-$8,000. However, for major foundation problems that compromise the structural integrity of your home, you are looking at closer to $15,000-$35,000.
Keep in mind, though, that this is money well spent. A damaged foundation will continue to cost you money and peace of mind if left untreated.
Get a Professional Consultation
Ready to tackle the problem head-on? You’ll want a team with all the answers. That’s exactly what you will get when you hire Perma Pier Foundation Repair of Texas. We will carefully assess your property and come up with a comprehensive plan to fix your problem at the source. Contact us today to set up your foundation evaluation.
