Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Your home’s foundation is one of the most important features that keep your house from tumbling down into a heap of nothing. At BOL-DAN, our team of trained professionals specialize in home foundation repair in Ottawa. When you own a home, it’s important to know what kind of foundation you have, the signs of wear, when to inspect it and the different ways you can go about repairing it. Let us show you a few different tips that could help you figure out when it’s time to have your foundation repaired.
HOW WEATHER AFFECTS YOUR FOUNDATION
Extreme weather conditions can affect the integrity of your foundation in various ways. Freezing and thawing are a big problem. Because the concrete surrounding your foundation is a porous material, when the water seeps in and freezes, it’ll cause the concrete to expand and crack. Extreme heat is also no friend to the integrity of your foundation. Extreme heat will make the water in your concrete evaporate and cause cracks. It can even dry out the soil surrounding your home, causing your foundation to settle and, in some cases, become uneven.
Signs that you should have a look at your foundation
How often you have your foundation inspected should be based on whether or not your home is exhibiting any of the warning signs for common foundation problems. Here are a few:
Doors that jam or fail to latch
Cracks appearing in the walls, especially over doorways and windows
Windows that stick and refuse to open
Cracks in your concrete floor
Gaps between the walls and the ceiling
Signs of mould and moisture
Any of these are signs that you should have your foundation checked immediately.
Types of foundation
There are various types of foundation out there. It’s important to know which kind you have before you can go about repairing it. Here are the common types:
Concrete Foundation
Block Foundation
Stone Foundation
Rubble Foundation
Methods to repair your foundation
Depending on the type of foundation you have, there are different methods to fix it.
Cracks are a common issue with concrete foundations; it can be repaired by injecting polyurethane or epoxy. Steel plates can also be installed to consolidate the foundations.
Bowing block walls due to frost heaving can be reinforced by coring into blocks, grout pumping into cavities of blocks and putting rear bars.
Repointing and resetting your stone foundation is another possibility.
Installing a wire mesh and a base coat supplemented with a parging technique to reinforce your rubble foundation can be envisaged.
Keeping your basement finishing from unwanted water damage by waterproofing the foundation below the grade is a process that includes the installation of a new weeping tile, window wells with vertical drain and a proper grading to divert surface water.
If you’re in need of foundation repair in Ottawa, give us a call at BOL-DAN. We do everything we can to make your repairs quick and easy. Visit us here for more information regarding our services.