9 Essential Foundation Products for Repairs

Discover what products your contractor may recommend to repair the foundation of your Richmond, VA, home.

Whenever the foundation gets damaged, it’s natural to ask yourself what kind of repairs your local contractor will undertake and what products they will use. After all, this is an area that supports everything above the ground. So any kind of repairs or products they will use must firm up the foundation.

Depending on the kind of repairs your foundation requires, your local foundation repair contractor in Richmond, VA, will likely use any of these solutions.

1) Push Piers

Push piers are underpinning products that are pushed into the soil hydraulically using the weight of the structure above and available soil loads. Driven to deep, stable soil, push piers help stabilize homes from sinking, and can help lift the structure back to its original position. These are the most commonly used types of piers

2) Helical Piers

These piers are comprised of a screw anchor and a helix pier fabricated from steel. In foundation repairs, they’re hydraulically inserted or “screwed” into the soil. Brackets are then installed to allow load transfer from existing structures to the helical. These piers typically are used in specialty foundation settlement applications and for lighter structures.

3) Slab Piers

Another kind of pier also can be used for a different foundation type. Push piers and helical piers have brackets that attach to the foundation footing. If your home rests on a slab foundation, these specialty slab piers will then be installed to stabilize and potentially lift your settling home.

4) Crawl Space Stabilizers

Wooden and metal supports can fall victim to water and moisture in a vented crawl space, leading to soft and sagging floors. Along with encapsulating your crawl space, you need to shore up the floors and floor joists with durable supports. At five times stronger than builder’s grade support jacks, the IntelliJack™ system is the best option to stabilize and help lift sagging floors above crawl spaces and basements.

5) Wall Anchors

Also known as plate anchors, these devices help stabilize the basement and the basement walls. Often, they’re used to straighten the basement walls over a period. Anchors consist of a tough galvanized steel wall plate and thread rods as well as a cross-shaped anchor embedded in more stable foil away from the home. When installed, they provide a lateral force that helps stabilize a bowing or cracking wall.

6) IntelliBrace™ Beams

While the wall anchor system relies on exterior digging to install the anchor plates, the IntelliBrace™ system is best-used when exterior installation options are limited. Like wall anchors, these beams permanently stabilize the cracking, tilting walls, and can be tightened at intervals to help improve the walls’ condition.

7) Carbon Fiber Supports

Another option for cracking and bowing foundation walls is the installation of carbon fiber wall supports. This is an advanced wall reinforcement system that’s 10 times stronger than steel. Installation is easy and it creates a smooth finish that can be repainted. Carbon fiber creates an unbreakable bond that will hold up your walls for many years.

8) PolyRenewal™ Concrete Repair

For cracking, sinking concrete, the PolyRenewal™ concrete lifting and leveling system is your best option. Similar to mudjacking, this installation is far less invasive, faster, and more reliable. High-density polyurethane foam is injected under concrete through very small holes to precisely lift and level the slabs. This method is typically used for exterior applications – such as on sidewalks and driveways – but it also can be used indoors on slab floors and garage floors.

9) Foundation Flood Vents

Flood damage is a nightmare for any home. During hurricane season, Richmond, VA, can receive up to 60 inches of rain. Surface waters sometimes reach five feet. Without foundation flood vents, floodwater will enter your foundation and exert extreme pressure on the walls. Your walls may cave in and collapse. When this happens, your home becomes susceptible to even more damage. Flood vents provide a path through foundation walls so water pressure can equalize inside and outside the foundation.

Why Hire a Foundation Repair Contractor in Richmond, VA

Let’s say your home was hit by a deadly storm or tremor and your foundation got damaged. You should hire a competent foundation repair contractor to carry out the necessary repairs ASAP. Some people attempt DIY thinking they can resolve serious structural issues on their own. The truth is that foundation repair is hard work. Any attempt to fix the foundation without the right tools or an understanding of the problems can end up hurting your home and its foundation.

Foundation repairs consist of many steps and involve many tools. Depending on the severity of the damage, your contractor may perform simple fixes or complex repairs that require sophisticated tools that the typical homeowner may not have access to. However, your local foundation repair contractor is well-equipped with a range of tools and expertise.

Whether your foundation wall has cracks or settled, JES Foundation Repair can help you carry out the necessary repairs to prevent further damage. Schedule a free foundation repair inspection and get solid advice plus recommendations.