What is the one major aspiration that most people have in common? Most likely you have thought of owning a dream home and you are right. Having a roof over your head which you rightfully own is up there in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. For this reason anything that threatens your home has to be dealt with promptly.
Latent Foundation Damage Risk
Your home’s foundation is the underpinning of your whole structure and if there are any problems down there you risk losing your valuable investment over time. Bowing walls according to Foundation Repair Association Inc (FRA) constitute about 60% of foundation problems in U.S homes.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to detect problems with your foundation until it is too late. For this reason you need to be on the lookout for problems in locking and opening doors and windows, leaning wall hangings among other issues.
Major Culprits in Bowing Walls in Chicago IL 60290
To manage any problem you have to know the causes and this applies to bowing walls which is indicative of a much bigger problem. This will help you in determining the best repair method.
Some common causes of bowing walls in Chicago IL 60290 include:
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Soil Settling
During construction a lot of excavation is done and later most of this soil is used to fill the area around the foundation. If foundation footers are on loose soil, there will be an adverse effect when such soil settles due to weight. The immediate impact is of course a bowing wall which only an experienced foundation contractor can repair.
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Water Pressure
A report by International Association of Foundation Drilling (ISFD) in 2010 says that 89% of all foundation problems are caused by water issues. Water pressure can push upwards to cause hydrostatic pressure or laterally and this leads to cracking and eventually bowing of walls. Excessive moisture in the soil around the foundation leads to gradual pressure which if unchecked can damage your house’s foundation.
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Vegetation Roots
Trees and bushes around your foundation can cause devastating damage because roots extend a long way horizontally and downwards. Such pressure leads to bowing, bulging and eventually cracking and all these compromise the integrity of your foundation.
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Poor Construction
Rushed construction and inadequate checks during pouring of foundation concrete will definitely lead to debilitating effects on your foundation walls. With time, this will show in form of bowing walls.
A qualified foundation contractor will recommend solutions such as steel beam foundation reinforcement, carbon fiber beams and helical anchors among other innovative solutions.
It might be a hackneyed saying but remember a stitch in time saves nine; why jeopardize your home when you can hire a foundation contractor to start corrective structural solutions today?