NEWPORT NEWS | HAMPTON | WILLIAMSBURG | SUFFOLK | GLOUCESTER
Call or Text a Structural Engineer at: 757.821.7336
Hours: Mon -
DPOR License No. 0407007180
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Tidewater Structural Engineers PLLC
1245 Cedar Road, Suite G-
Chesapeake, VA 23322
DPOR License No. 0407007180
NEWPORT NEWS | HAMPTON | WILLIAMSBURG | SUFFOLK | GLOUCESTER
FOUNDATION SETTLEMENT
AND WALL CRACKING (PART 3 of 3)
FOUNDATION REPAIR -
PART 1: WHY CRACKS HAVE OCCURRED
PART 2: PREVENTING FURTHER CRACKING
PART 3: REPAIRING EXISTING CRACKING
Your first option is to do nothing. Yes, that’s right, in some cases the crack/s is progressing very slowly, or is not progressing at all. In such cases it may be acceptable to treat the crack/s like a chronic but manageable condition and perform regular cosmetic repairs, such as repointing mortar joints and repairing interior finishes. This option is practical where movement is minimal over a period of years, where cracks are minor, and where the earlier noted proper drainage is in place. While this option is not a structural repair, it can be an acceptable choice in many instances. We can help you determine if this is a viable option for your home. In many instances our stamped report satisfies a prospective home buyer without affecting further repair.
A second option is to have a foundation contractor give you a “free” inspection. Helical piles or Resistance Piles will generally be proposed. Structural engineers often use helical piles to support as much as 100,000 pounds, which is more than the weight of your entire house, so this is an effective option, but is usually excessive and expensive.
A third repair option, and often the more economical repair option, is to custom design a reinforced concrete grade beam that attaches to your existing cracked footing . This effectively gives your existing footing a new backbone, which will stabilize your home and prevent further movement. It also reduces pressure on the supporting soil, thereby alleviating settlement. This repair can generally be accomplished for less than a repair using piles while being equally effective.
When working with Tidewater Structural Engineers you will always have an experienced professional structural engineer come to your home, perform load path analysis and design, and oversee your contractor’s construction (as requested), so that you can rest assured that a repair is instituted properly. We do not perform construction, which removes any conflict of interest or ulterior motives in our designs. Our interest is only to recommend the most cost effective solution to your problem, and this often saves our clients tens of thousands of dollars over non-
failed. In PART 1 we discussed why walls crack. In PART 2 we discussed why your footer likely failed.
When it comes to foundation problems, free contractor inspections can get very
expensive. Call a Structural Engineer to see about saving thousands in repairs.