What Are the Contributing Factors to Foundation Problem?
Foundation problems are quite common and there could be a few contributing factors to it. Let’s discuss the factors to influence foundation repair in Oklahoma City area.
Soil Shifting
There is large expansive soil area in OKC. The poor soils are the main cause of foundation problems. Some areas are worse than others, but the entire area contains clay soils.
Age of Home
An older home has less engineering. The size and frequency of the beams are a major factor for foundation strength. More new slabs will have larger and more frequent beams, while smaller and less frequent slabs will have smaller. The less rigid slab means the less it would have foundation problems.
Dirt Fill
Most homesites have fill dirt to some extent. The majorities of the buildings on which homes are constructed are not leveled and must be graded. The high areas have been reduced and the low areas (fill dirt) are created. If the lots are sloping enough, the retaining walls are required to hold the fill contamination. As Mother Nature does, the dirt areas are generally not compacted. This not compacted fill dirt can be settled over time.
Maintenance
Maintenance improperly increases the chance of foundation issues. When you bought a building (without a foundation problem), then develop a problem while living in the house you might not have maintained the moisture content.
Soil Erosion
The bridge piers and abutments must be placed on a depth so that the erosion and scouring does not undermine soil and cause a failure.
Protection against Corrosion
Foundation can get corrosion problems in the polluted ground areas like the sanitary landfills, near the sewer lines, industrial plants, and backwater areas or where the water stands on the dead vegetation. Concrete foundation generally resists corrosion when there is no sulfate content.
Fluctuating Water Level
A lowered water table increases the pressure and can result in further settlement. A raised water table can cause the owner the following problems:
Floating structure
Less effective pressure
A wet basement
See us at Ram Jack by American Leveling for any foundation problems in OKC. See us for foundation repair when it is settled, shifted or cracked.