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Warning Signs of Foundation Shifts
Why You Need Foundation Repair & Restoration
Foundation Repair Options
Why Choose Van Matre Construction For Foundation Restoration
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Active soils do more property damage in the U.S. than natural disasters. This is especially true for homes that lie in Denver’s Front Range and Eastern Plains, where the clay-rich soil actively expands and contracts with weather and temperature changes.

The seasonal expansion and contraction of the soil, along with unpredictable weather, frequent storms and the occasional earthquake, means extreme variations of pressure. These pressure variations put tremendous stress on your home’s foundation, which can eventually lead to major structural issues. There may also be settlement and horizontal movement of the soil where your home sits.

Even if you can’t see it, your home may already be experiencing shifts in its foundation from these erratic pressure changes and soil movements. If you suspect that your home needs foundation repairs, have a contractor inspect it immediately. Once you find out which repairs or restoration you need, you must lose no time to have it fixed.

The Warning Signs

You may not feel the shifting of your home’s foundation, but there will be noticeable signs. Be on the lookout for these signs:

Cracks in the drywall
Nails coming off drywall
Cracks or gaps in walls
Cracks on floors
Cracks on the foundation itself
Settling or sinking foundation
Rising foundation
Damp crawl spaces
Water pooled in the basement
Sagging, sloping, or uneven floors
Sticking doors and windows that are hard to open or close
Gaps between the garage door and the pavement on either side
Diagonal cracks on walls, extending to the corners of windows and doors
Leaks and cracks in and around the fireplace

If any cracks you see are hairline cracks, they may not require immediate action. But if they appear to be growing and are bigger than 1/8 of an inch, contact Van Matre Construction, LLC for a free assessment.

When You Need Foundation Repair and Restoration

There are different situations that cause foundation damage, and these should not be ignored. For most of these situations, water is the usual suspect. Changes in moisture may cause the soil beneath your home to swell or shrink, which in turn leads to shifts in the foundation.

The foundation of your home may need repair and restoration in these cases:

It was built on expansive, clay-rich soil (a good chance of that here in Denver)
It was built on poorly-compacted fill soils
The area surrounding the foundation has poor drainage
Your area has extreme seasonal changes or weather patterns
There was a plumbing leak beneath your home
Tree roots are growing too close to your home
A natural disaster such as flood, drought, or earthquake compromised the foundation

Foundation Repair Options

Van Matre Construction LLC offers a range of repair options for your foundation. These are applied depending on the severity of the damage, soil conditions, and other factors.

Helical Piers

Also known as screw piles, these piers are literally screwed into the ground. They’re used to stabilize slopes or serve as underpinning for a home’s foundation. Once they’re screwed past unstable soils and attached to a retaining wall, they can stabilize a slope. In underpinning structures, the failed footings are exposed to allow placement of the helical piers under them, which are raised to the desired height. The footings, piers, and the building are secured together with a bracket, and the foundation is covered.

Carbon Fiber Repairs

These are applied to bowing or tilting walls. Carbon fiber strips are used like wall anchors, without the digging. They can be glued onto walls with an epoxy resin, creating a buffer to absorb pressure from expansive soils. These can be pre-laminated strips or wide pieces of fabric. Both types have the benefit of being quick and easy to install, but they can’t bring bowed walls to their original position. Carbon-fiber repairs may also be used to encapsulate crawl spaces.

Wall Anchors

This repair system is applicable to more serious wall-bowing or buckling. When applied properly, wall anchors can put bowing to a halt, restore the walls to their original state, and permanently stabilize them. Our wall anchors consist of heavy-duty, galvanized anchors latched onto stable soils outside foundation walls. Each anchor has a threaded steel rod attached to each wall plate, and clamped on the inside of the bowing or cracked foundation wall. The wall anchors are then gradually tightened to undo the bowing and reinforce the walls. Wall anchors are ideal, as they can fix issues and do away with the costly and time-consuming process of replacing the entire foundation.

Foundation Crack Repair

Once repairs are done, our foundation repair specialists will decide on a restoration measure based on several factors. The size of your structure, the strength of the surrounding soil, and the extent of the foundation damage will all be considered. Foundation crack repair can be done relatively quickly, as it entails the injection of sand or cement at high or low pressure.

Foundation Wall Restoration

Depending on the extent of bowing or damage to your foundation walls, one or more restoration methods can be used. Carbon fiber strips or fabric may be installed to push against outside forces, I-beams may be installed, and a waterproofing treatment may be applied to your foundation walls. Our foundation repair specialists will recommend the best combination of measures to restore and reinforce your foundation walls.

Pressure Grouting

If the underlying soil was too weak to support your foundation, we recommend pressure grouting. Also called permeation grouting, this process can strengthen soil that has weakened or broken apart with the passage of time. This is done by directly injecting grout to fill spaces in between soil particles. The grout consists of a special concrete mixture without rocks, and once it hardens, it makes the soil compact and strong enough to support the foundation.

Why Choose Us as Your Foundation Restoration Service Provider

Since we started Van Matre Construction, LLC in 2001, we have become experts in foundation repairs and restoration. Assessing foundation issues, and recommending and performing the necessary repairs is our specialty. We know all about the particular soil conditions in Denver, how it impacts your home’s foundation, and how to fix these issues.

With our years of experience, we know which repair methods and equipment suit your situation. We are also known for our client-focused service. We quickly determine the root of your foundation problems and recommend services you can afford.

For cost-effective foundation repair and restoration, contact us today.

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