Rockwood MI – Foundation Repair with Helical Piers
This particular job was a foundation repair project that we did on Woodruff Rd. in Rockwood MI. The homeowner called us because the back of the home had begun to sink enough that it was causing some of the floors to noticeably slope, making it difficult for windows to open and close. When we came out to inspect the home it was apparent that there had been a couple of inches of settlement that occurred with the foundation.
This was going to require helical piers to lift and stabilize the home.
Joshua Stith is one of the industry’s leading experts in residential foundation repair. He has now spent over 30 years in the foundation and construction industry, combining field experience, engineering knowledge, and leadership to help homeowners protect and restore the structural integrity of their homes. More
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The main culprit of foundation damage, not just in Rockwood, but throughout southeast Michigan, is unstable soil caused by our crazy weather patterns. As the moisture content of the soil changes, so does the bearing capacity of the earth that your home rests on. Instability can also come from other causes such as slope stability when a home is built on a steep grade such as a hill, where gravity exerts constant pressure.
Additionally, there is the possibility of undermining/washout conditions near your foundation. This is caused by water moving through the soil underneath your home and causing it to wash away, compromising the once stable ground your home was built on. Regardless of the underlying cause, foundation instability is a serious problem that needs to be addressed as soon as possible to minimize repair costs.
Helical piers work by placing large steel screws strategically around the foundation of your home. These metal screws have round steel plates called a helix that attaches and acts as anchoring points. Once these piers have been screwed into the ground, the helixes wedge themselves into the surrounding stable strata and ensure that your home’s foundation won’t have any instability issues in the future. This provides your home with the stable foundation that it needs!
Click the above image for the full view.
Obvious signs of foundation problems:
- Doors or windows stick and are difficult to open
- Door or window frames have large gaps
- Interior walls cracking
- Nail pops/dents in ceilings or walls
- Walls or chimney leaning or tilting
- Visible cracks in the foundation or basement walls
- Foundation showing signs of sinking
- Floors sloped or unlevel
These problems are more common than people think, and the time to act is when you first start to notice it. Foundation problems will often get worse over time, leading to more expensive repairs down the road.
Very few foundation repair companies have in-house engineering to assess the problem and design the right solution for your home. This is one of the many things that sets us apart. For this home in Rockwood, within just two we were able to bring in heavy equipment and crew needed to safely and efficiently lift the home back to level, and secure it in place with helical piers.
In the end, the customer was happy that the floors were level and windows were functional again. But more importantly, they felt secure in knowing that their home was permanently secured in place with helical piers. If you think you may have an issue with the foundation of your home give us a call at 877-MAKE-DRY for a free estimate or fill out our contact form and we’ll come take a look at no charge to you.
