Have Your Walls Looking Good as New with Alpha Foundations!
Noticing cracks anywhere at your home is scary for all homeowners. After all, your home is your safe space. But if you spot cracks, or gaps, in the drywall of your home, especially above door and window frames, or cracks in the exterior foundation brickwork —you are not alone. The high humidity and persistent precipitation in Florida and Georgia make foundation problems, resulting in cracks relatively common. Mix in the area’s sandy soil, and wall cracks caused by a sinking foundation are likely to appear at some point.
However, just because cracks are common does not mean they are harmless. The moment cracks are noticed either outside or inside, you must contact a foundation expert. The sooner you act, the better, as this will save you money on both repairs and further damage to your home.
The trained professionals at Alpha Foundations have been repairing foundation cracks inside and outside your home in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville for two decades. Using cutting-edge, warrantied solutions, your cracks can not only be repaired but your home will be stabilized, ensuring cracks are a thing of the past.
For professional wall crack repair services, choose Alpha Foundations. Contact us online today!
Different Types of Foundation Wall Cracks
From a simple cosmetic issue to a substantial structural issue, wall cracks can be minor or a symptom of a larger foundation problem. In all cases, serious foundation problems are fixable if found early and addressed. There are 4 main types of foundation wall cracks:
This is common for concrete walls that use a block-by-block system instead of being one uniformed unit of wall. Cracking happens at the mortar joints between the blocks, creating a stair-step-like pattern.
These are due to heavy soil pressure against the wall from the outside. This eventually causes walls to bend and even cave in. Horizontal cracks need immediate attention.
These are caused by soil settlement. Settling soils puts on more pressure on the foundational wall which eventually leads to cracking. These walls typically emit water and therefore need immediate attention.
These cracks are noticed in the main living areas, above your basement or crawl space. They occur on drywall, plaster, and stucco walls. They typically appear around door and window frames first since these structures are not able to shift when the foundation sinks unevenly.
Unsure which foundation wall issue you’re experiencing? Schedule a free on-site inspection with Alpha Foundations today!
Repairing Foundation Wall Cracks with Our Pier Systems
No matter what kind of soil problem is affecting your foundation, Alpha Foundations has a way to fix it. Foundation push piers are the best solution for large and heavy structures where the soil below them lacks the capacity to support their weight. Alpha Foundations offers an array of pier system options to suit your problem:
Push Piers
Push piers are composed of straight steel piers that are connected by steel brackets to the foundation. To install a push pier system, the foundation footings must first be exposed. After that, a steel bracket is used to support the footing. A series of interlocking steel sections are then driven downwards via the bracket, using hydraulics. In the end, the weight of the home is transferred to the stable soil layer through the pier system, ensuring the home or office building is fully supported.
If installed correctly, the foundation push pier system will permanently fix foundation settlement problems. Once the installation is done, the contractor will level the foundation, repairing cracks and enhancing the aesthetics of your home or office building.
Helical Piers
The helical piers can support heavy and light structures, such as stoops, decks, and wing walls, without relying on their weight to advance. These piers are constructed of heavy-duty steel and attach to your foundation via a steel bracket. When the shaft is inserted into the ground, the first section of the pier is fitted with one or more bearing plates (or helical blades). Adding to the pier are longer sections without bearing plates.
Installing helical piers requires mechanical advancement (or “screwing”). After proper footing depths are reached, each pier is tethered to a steel foundation bracket beneath and against the footing.
Slab Piers
Slab piers are appropriate when concrete slabs settle due to compacted soils below that cannot support their weight. The slab pier supports the structure from underneath with a bracket, which is made of heavy-duty steel. There are push- and helical-type slab pier systems. Choosing the right type of foundation depends on both the site conditions and the contractor’s preference.
In addition to being simple to install, either type of slab pier can be installed by only using small tools in a tight area. The installation requirements of slab piers vary depending on the type being installed in your building. A slab pier system can be installed year-round, quickly, and with low disruption to your building and can be completed without extensive excavation.
Let our experts help choose the right solution for you, request your free estimate online.
Get Crack-Free Walls with Alpha Foundations!
At Alpha Foundations, our in-house foundation experts can assist with a wide range of foundation problems. Each day, we repair foundations all across Florida and Georgia. Let our foundation wall repair experts help you choose the right repair solution for your home with a free, no-obligation quote. We also offer on-site inspections!
Reach out to us online today for a free quote to get started on repairing your cracked walls.
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