Common Pier and Beam Foundation Problem

‘Pier and beam’ foundation is a common one for many houses in Oklahoma City. This foundation is all about placing piers on the concrete footings. Then, these are spaced underneath the structure evenly so that the load is balanced. The structure’s weight is then transferred to the beam and then to the piers and so on.

The pier and beam design include a crawl space. It is an open area situated below the floor. Pier and foundation repair may be needed if any problem in the crawl space arises. As the pier and beam foundation/crawl space is made up of wood, therefore, it can deteriorate over time. The supports that are provided with this design are also very shallow due to the substantial soil movements.

Front of a modern home with wooden yard. The roof is held by strong beams with brick and stone pillar. The house has at least four windows in the view. Walls are a gray color. shadows can be seen

What Problems Can Take Place?

Soil movement is a crucial issue in pier and beam foundation. As the soil moves with time, the basic structure becomes distorted and unlevel. This movement can be very fast and create problem in the foundation. At that time, pier and beam foundation repair is required to avoid any further damage.

Common Problems That Occur:

  • Damaged Wooden Beams- Woods that decay overtime create problems within the foundation. Due to excessive moisture or termites the woods decay over time and a repair is required.

  • Water-Induced Inside the Piers- Water movement in the interior piers gets into the basic structure of the beam. As the foundation gets decay with time due to the water-induced movement in the interior of the piers.

  • Shim Failure Issues- Shim failure occurs due to the poor materials used in the plywood. The structure can break from inside and create a risk inside your home. The best solution is to get the inferior materials replaced.

  • Poor Drainage System- If the drainage system is not proper and excess moisture is created inside the crawlspace, then it can get damaged. To control the drainage system, a repair process should be done. Apart from that, if the moisture leads to any damage, then it is important to call pier and beam foundation repair service without delay.

If you are from Oklahoma City and looking for foundation repair, call Ram Jack to seek immediate help.