Foundation Repair Blog (Pics, Lots)

[Frankenklein]

Explain to me like I'm five.  What caused all that to happen in the first place?

1st off, the basement is made of cinder blocks.  One of the worst basement types in areas with expansive soils.  Ask anybody in Prairie Village, Ks that has owned a house built in the 60's with cinder block walls.  They have all had some type of repair done to them over the years.

2nd, and probably most important based upon the walls being cinder block, look at the 3rd picture in the original post.  See where the bush at the corner of the house looks like it is in a low spot.  That low spot looks like it wraps around that corner from the front porch all the way around to that basement window where the land falls off to the back of the house.  Anytime it rains, all the run-off from that area and the downspouts coming off the roof, drains around that corner right up next to the basement walls.  This water soaks into the ground next to the basement further down than just the surface causing it to expand and contract as it get wet and dries out.  That soil movement plays hell on any type of basement wall, especially cinder block. If the slope of the land just 3 feet from the foundation out was sloped downward so that run-off stayed at least 3 feet from the basement wall, this repair work probably wouldn't have had to be done.

I bet that magnetic sign on the truck in your avatar says House Inspector

[KSUBrian]

Nope that is Wierd Robert's truck entering Arrowhead Stadium parking lot for the 2nd farmageddon

[The_Wippuh]

The crew actually worked the morning of the snow "storm".  Left at 11:30, didn't get home until the next day at 7pm!?!?  I offered to let them stay with us, free beer and everything but they just partied in their truck, stuck on the interstate.  I guess I'm not hip :(


Styrofoam over the waterproofing, so that the gravel does not hurt it.




The finish line is in sight!!!

[Emo EMAW]

What kind of grass/sod is popular down there?

[The_Wippuh]

For my backyard?  Weeds.

Part of the backyard is Zoisa (sp?) and the front yard is all Bermuda. 

We'll probably put a lot of seed down, in the backyard, for some kind of softer grass once they're completely done.

[nelsonfel]

I am in Northern Ky and going through a very similar situation here.  My wall was extremely bowed and they have pushed it back a lot, but it is still not straight.  they put two steel anchors in.  they are installing carbon fiber inside as well and I have asked many questions about the work like should the mortar/stucco stuff be taken off of the block before the carbon fiber is put on, should the straps be anchored at the top to the sill of the house?.  I feel like I am getting blown off and really starting to feel like I am being taken advantage of.  They are working on my front wall which was bowed and one of the adjoining side walls they say was messed up from the front and back walls is bowed as well, but not as bad.  the top corner of it has a large stair step crack though and looks like it is ready to slide off.  The back wall they had to put in six steel push peirs, which are spaced awkwardly so that the worst part of the slab has fewer supports and they put in three under a part of the floor that had barely moved.  Im lost I am a woman and I think they are working my limited bank account over.  The have already replaced the fill dirt in the front of the wall and I see no signs of gravel at all and I have like the worst clay soil I think I could shape it and fire it and sell it for artwork.  I am suppose to be paying over 35000 for this work I feel like I should have it done right.  I have seen where others have asked you what your bill is but see no response can you private message me and tell me or maybe give us a price range.  It would be great for comparison for me. thank you

[puniraptor]

gE.c: The nation's premiere home repair online community.




OT: one of my more cherished pasttimes is looking at the Who's Online thing and seeing all the random crap that guests are looking at and try to imagine what kind of google search brought them there and what their motivations are.

[eastcat]

moisture threat?

Roll tide.

[puniraptor]

sounds like our girl nelson here may be in need of the services of that kind of lawyer

[Shooter Jones]

Explain to me like I'm five.  What caused all that to happen in the first place?

1st off, the basement is made of cinder blocks.  One of the worst basement types in areas with expansive soils.  Ask anybody in Prairie Village, Ks that has owned a house built in the 60's with cinder block walls.  They have all had some type of repair done to them over the years.

2nd, and probably most important based upon the walls being cinder block, look at the 3rd picture in the original post.  See where the bush at the corner of the house looks like it is in a low spot.  That low spot looks like it wraps around that corner from the front porch all the way around to that basement window where the land falls off to the back of the house.  Anytime it rains, all the run-off from that area and the downspouts coming off the roof, drains around that corner right up next to the basement walls.  This water soaks into the ground next to the basement further down than just the surface causing it to expand and contract as it get wet and dries out.  That soil movement plays hell on any type of basement wall, especially cinder block. If the slope of the land just 3 feet from the foundation out was sloped downward so that run-off stayed at least 3 feet from the basement wall, this repair work probably wouldn't have had to be done.

I bet that magnetic sign on the truck in your avatar says House Inspector

naw, no rough ridin' way Brian has a job that allows him to drive.

[WillieWatanabe]

the ghost hands on the closest anchor, freak me out.

[The_Wippuh]

I am in Northern Ky and going through a very similar situation here.  My wall was extremely bowed and they have pushed it back a lot, but it is still not straight.  they put two steel anchors in.  they are installing carbon fiber inside as well and I have asked many questions about the work like should the mortar/stucco stuff be taken off of the block before the carbon fiber is put on, should the straps be anchored at the top to the sill of the house?.  I feel like I am getting blown off and really starting to feel like I am being taken advantage of.  They are working on my front wall which was bowed and one of the adjoining side walls they say was messed up from the front and back walls is bowed as well, but not as bad.  the top corner of it has a large stair step crack though and looks like it is ready to slide off.  The back wall they had to put in six steel push peirs, which are spaced awkwardly so that the worst part of the slab has fewer supports and they put in three under a part of the floor that had barely moved.  Im lost I am a woman and I think they are working my limited bank account over.  The have already replaced the fill dirt in the front of the wall and I see no signs of gravel at all and I have like the worst clay soil I think I could shape it and fire it and sell it for artwork.  I am suppose to be paying over 35000 for this work I feel like I should have it done right.  I have seen where others have asked you what your bill is but see no response can you private message me and tell me or maybe give us a price range.  It would be great for comparison for me. thank you

Did they put the straps on top of the stucco?  You may want to contact the manufacturer to make sure the install is being done correctly, especially if they're the ones putting the warranty on it.

35,000 sounds about right.  I know that my job, plus 7 piers would have run me about 28.  I have 19 straps in place and only 1 tie-back.  I think they underestimated my job and are not making much of a profit off of it, especially with almost 4 weeks of overrun :x

[nelsonfel]

Thank you for the reply!  The contractor is actually putting a lifetime warranty on it but I know that only lasts as long as his company does too I will def check though. Thanks again!

[The_Wippuh]

My warranty on the straps comes through the manufacturer of them, not the install company. 

Now, if my install company goes out of business, their national company will honor their warranties (waterproofing).

[Panjandrum]

I'm going to look at a house this week that had foundation repair done.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel the showing or not until I read this, but I think we'll just see what it looks like.  It looks like a legit, permanent repair if done right.

[Dugout DickStone]

I'm going to look at a house this week that had foundation repair done.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel the showing or not until I read this, but I think we'll just see what it looks like.  It looks like a legit, permanent repair if done right.

If it is in a good neighborhood, just fill in the basement and add another level on top.  boom

[waks]

I'm going to look at a house this week that had foundation repair done.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel the showing or not until I read this, but I think we'll just see what it looks like.  It looks like a legit, permanent repair if done right.

If it is in a good neighborhood, just fill in the basement and add another level on top.  boom

Tornadoes tho

[AppleJack]

I'm going to look at a house this week that had foundation repair done.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel the showing or not until I read this, but I think we'll just see what it looks like.  It looks like a legit, permanent repair if done right.

bring an engineer in, not just a inspector. worth the $400 if you plan on living there for a long time. otherwise do not but that house.

[Panjandrum]

I'm going to look at a house this week that had foundation repair done.  I wasn't sure if I wanted to cancel the showing or not until I read this, but I think we'll just see what it looks like.  It looks like a legit, permanent repair if done right.

bring an engineer in, not just a inspector. worth the $400 if you plan on living there for a long time. otherwise do not but that house.

One of my best friends is a (EMAW) structural engineer, so I may bring him with me on the first showing to see if I even want to spend the $400 to bring an official engineer in to do the report.