The Differences in Foundations
When discussing the stabilization of a slab below a house it's important to first examine what can cause the foundation of a house to settle and what types of foundations there are. The major foundation types in this area are either a solid poured slab, foundations with supports and a crawl space, or a basement. If you have a foundation problem and your house's foundation includes a crawlspace or basement, then we recommend a trusted local contractor such as AMC 911. If the house's foundation is a poured slab of concrete without a basement or crawlspace, JACKCRETE will be able to help.
Solutions for Poured Slab Foundations
When you have established that your foundation is a poured concrete slab, the next step is choosing which type of resolution you need for your home and the expense that a proper solution will incur. Under standard conditions a concrete slab foundation can experience some settling due to soil overcompaction from the sheer weight of the slab. In these cases, our polyurethane foam systems can be sprayed beneath the settling slab to raise it back to level and provide the additional support needed to stabilize the subsoil. Depending on soil quality and the degree/ nature of the settlement, the polyurethane foam may need an additional support system. To ensure a successful project in such conditions, it is recommended that a trusted foundation repair company install helical piers (large steel screws that are installed directly into the earth beneath the foundation until a subsoil such as bedrock is reached). Once the piers are in place and reinforced with our foam, the foundation will have been permanently reinforced. All together such a fix can cost upwards of $15,000-$20,000 and the repair time is several very noisy days. If the conditions favor a fix utilizing just polyurethane foam systems, the associated cost will typically be between $5,000-$10,000 and last less than a day.
What Does the Process Look Like
The first step in our process is isolating what the issue is causing the settling and what type of settling you are experiencing. If the whole interior slab has dropped, sunk, or settled injections will be made in phases in a grid pattern. This insures an even displacement of the foam and a steady level lift of the slap, ensuring that a disproportionate amount of pressure is not placed on any one section. In this manner, further complications such as slab cracking can be avoided. If only one corner or section of the interior slab is settling then the fix will be quicker with fewer injection ports. Once the issue has been identified, penny sized holes will be drilled into the slab through whatever vinyl or hardwood surface is there. Carpet has to be removed prior to our arrival if the surface is carpeted. After the holes have been drilled, the Lead Technician will begin the process of injecting our spray foam systems strategically into the holes and allowing it to disperse beneath the slab. The foam takes roughly 15 minutes to cure as it expands to the areas of least resistance and finally pushes the slab back to its level position. Within 30 minutes the slab and floor are able to be used as they were before and the slab will have been brought back to its original position.
Our Track Record
The JACKCRETE Team have completed many interior slab repair projects around the mid-Atlantic region. Some of our best work has been done for Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority, though many independent homeowners have been helped as well. By far the largest project of this nature was the interior slab lift completed at the RuhRPumpen facility in Hampton, Virginia. Through all of our projects, large and small, we operate with all safety needs firmly in mind and with consideration for what solution will be most beneficial to the homeowner. To that end, we will be thorough in our inspection and honest in our judgement; if we are not the best solution, we will quickly let you know and recommend a company that is.
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