Tim Carter travels to Mt. Airy, MD to demonstrate to Lynn on a rainy day, how she'll repair her foundation. This is part two of a three-part video series. I'm back up on Lynn's front porch and it's raining. It's just crazy. Tomorrow is May 1st and I think I saw a glacier driving here. […]
How to Repair a Crumbling Foundation Part 1 of 3 Watch this video to discover the process to fix your crumbling foundation or concrete steps or wall. This is Video One in a Three-Part series, as mentioned in the June 6, 2014 AsktheBuilder Weekend Warrior. I'm outside here at Lynn's and it's raining. I'm under […]
Quick Column Summary: Concrete wall crumbling away from foundation Fix it for $15 or less Link to repair column Brandon Stone, who hails from Moncton in the great maritime province of New Brunswick, Canada, is desperate. Here's why: "I have a concrete wall on my 40-year-old foundation that is crumbling. I was told it was built […]
A foundation doesn't always have to sit on ground. A shorter poured concrete wall can provide support as long as there is proper steel rods connecting the foundation walls.
Footers are a very important structural component of a house. In most cases, the footer is the only part of the house that touches the earth. Footers are commonly called spread footers because they spread the weight of the house over a wider area than if you just poured the foundation walls allowing them to touch the ground.
Concrete piers are vertical structural elements that support the weight of a building or structure. Their design and installation must consider the weight being supported and the frost line in your area. There are preformed concrete pier forms that provide you with the properly shaped concrete pier foundation.
A crack in a concrete foundation can be a sign of serious structural issues, problems with the soil, or just a minor concrete crack. Hiring an structural engineer could actually save you money in the long run.
You can build a home in the middle of winter or during the rainy season. Some special procedures for cold weather construction must be followed. Keeping the ground from freezing and getting the shell completed as quickly as possible is paramount.
Frost heave can cause cracks in your foundation or even raise your floors several inches. Foundation footers need to be poured below the frost line in your area. The shape of your piers is also important in reducing frost heaves.