When foundation damage occurs, often the soil conditions are blamed useful site. Cracked foundation walls, settled foundation slabs, or foundation walls that buckle inwards can all be attributed to soil conditions. No doubt, soil conditions may cause this type of damage. There are times when mistakes during the construction process weaken footings, slabs or walls. These can make these elements more susceptible to later soil pressure. These are the most common issues in construction that can lead foundation problems to occur later on. Wet weather. The contractor prepares the footing forms and digs a large hole for a concrete basement foundation. Then the rain started. The soil becomes muddy. It is even possible for some to wash out of the forms. In some cases, footings can be weak if excavations remain wet. After the weight of a house falls on them, the footings may be more likely to settle or crack.
Missing rebar. Reinforcing rods (rebar) provide additional strength to concrete walls and feet. Building codes have minimum standards in place for steel reinforcement. This includes the size, location and spacing of rebar. A foundation engineered to meet specific requirements will contain even more steel. In the event that concrete is not reinforced, it can crack and move when pressure or soil settlement occurs. Void in concrete walls. When concrete is poured onto wall forms, the concrete must be vibrated by special power equipment. It is important to ensure that the dense liquid mix flows into all parts of the formwork. The air pockets that are created by incomplete coverage will crack in the future.
Too-fast curing slabs. In warm weather it’s necessary to spray a freshly-poured concrete slab with water, and cover it. This will prevent the floor from drying too quickly. This will weaken the slab and make it more likely to crack if the contractor doesn’t take these precautions. Freezing. In freezing temperatures, you must use aerated specialized concrete. Otherwise, the expansion of the frozen water will cause the concrete to crack and weaken. Backfilling before the concrete has cured. The excavation should not backfilled until after the first floor frame is complete and the strength of the concrete to support soil has been tested. Backfilling a foundation wall too soon can lead to it cracking and bowing inward. If you hire the right contractor, foundation problems can easily be corrected. No one can tell you how or why the damage happened. But if you seek the assistance of a professional foundation repairer, they can help you fix it permanently. These professionals are well-equipped with the right tools, materials, engineering and training to deal effectively with all types of foundation damages. It is unlikely that your problem will be too abstract, since they have likely dealt with similar problems before.