The foundation of residential and commercial buildings can be subject to significant outside pressures which over time can cause vertical as well as horizontal cracks. At the same time, a foundation’s walls and floors can also be affected by these pressure and seasonal changes in the surrounding soil. As time goes on, even a seemingly minor defect can develop into a major problem.

Hydroscience Group has specialists on staff that is well versed in how to identify and repair a wide range of foundation defects. This includes our innovative crack repair system, which has been meticulously engineered and manufactured by Rhino Carbon Fiber © Products.

This foundation repair strategy can effectively address cracks by installing durable carbon fiber straps to both structurally repair a crack as well as prevent water intrusion. There have also been instances where our techniques were able to address things like bowing wall was displacing sill plate due to static pressure which also affected the foundation footings which will then stabilize the wall.

With the proper installation, these carbon fiber straps carry a 25 yr warranty. This gives you a very cost-effective way to preserve and repair a previously compromised foundation, wall, or floor.

Foundation Problems

Of course, a foundation is more than just footings, or a floor. A well-designed foundation is often a system of relatively static components which both bear the load of the building above, as well as resist the outside force of the surrounding soil.

Even a slab foundation or floor can experience tremendous stress from the upheaval of the soil below. This is even more likely to be an issue if the seasonal freeze-thaw effect causes frost heaves in the surrounding soil.

At Hydroscience Group our specialists understand that every foundation is unique. This extends to each critical component. The solutions needed to affect cracks and defects requires a customized, and well-thought approach.

Bowing Walls

A bowing wall often looks like it’s being pushed inward. This is most often caused by expansive soils from the freeze-thaw effect or water saturated soil that applies a hydrostatic pressure.This can cause horizontal or stair step cracking along the foundation walls as well as diagonal cracks that develop in the corners. In some situations, the external soil pressures can cause an inward bulge, or cause the wall to lean at the top or bottom. As it continues to develop, bowing walls can severely compromise the foundation’s structural integrity.

Walls

Most foundations are made from either poured material or heavy-duty blocks. While modern building codes are intended to produce very strong walls capable of resisting soil pressure and static forces, time, and rapid changes in the surrounding soil, can cause cracks or other defects in the walls of a foundation.

Stair Step Cracks

Block wall foundations can be susceptible to static soil pressure. As time goes on, it can cause specific blocks to fail at the mortar lines, causing a so-called “Stair Step Crack.” Left unaddressed this problem could cause severe damage to the foundation walls and other components.

Floors

Floors and foundation slaps can become prone to cracking over time. Beyond the aesthetic impact, even a seemingly minor crack in a floor can prove to be a tripping hazard. Cracked floors also have the ability to lower the property value.

Yet the larger concern with a cracked wall is that it is often an early symptom of another developing problem with the foundation. If you have noticed a crack in your slab or foundation floor, the wisest course of action is to have it inspected by a professional foundation repair service like Hydroscience Group.

A crack in your basement floor or concrete slab is most likely related to movement in your foundation. The underlying cause can vary depending on the soil conditions such as:

  • Settling or compacting the soil
  • Soil washout
  • Poor compaction of backfill during construction
  • Shrinking soils

Soil

Soil conditions tend to be the dominant force affecting foundation defects. Changes in soil compaction, moisture levels, and other alteration can lead to:

  • Foundation cracks
  • Wall Cracks
  • Bowing Walls
  • Floor Cracks
  • Water intrusion issues
  • Corner cracks

Hydroscience Group’s experienced technicians have the tools and training to identify underlying soil issues to develop an effective strategy for preventing further foundation damage. The strategy that is right for your foundation will depend on many factors, including soil composition, local conditions, the type of foundation, the age of the foundation, and severity of the existing damage.

Most foundations have several layers of soil under them including the backfill from the original construction, the untouched virgin soil below it, and the deep underlying bedrock. Movement in these soil layers can impact your foundation, causing bowing walls, and cracks in wall or floors, while also lessening stability.

Inspection

After inspecting your slab, basement, or foundation, and assessing the surrounding soil conditions, our specialists can help you understand your repair options. This might include things like installing a pier foundation system or other methods to stabilize the surface. We can then repair the crack itself to restore your floor to its original smooth condition.

Why Should You Fix Your Foundation?

In general, the longer you wait to have your foundation professionally inspected and repaired, the more likely the problem is to worsen. Hydroscience Group can perform a fast, yet thorough inspection to provide you with a detailed cost analysis quote.

Without professional repair, a damaged or compromised foundation could suffer:

  • A negative impact on the resale value

  • Worsening aesthetic issues

  • Door and window alignment issues which cause them to jam

  • Safety issues

  • Water intrusion problems

  • Invasive pest problems

How We Do It

All of Hydroscience Group’s patented foundation and crack repair solutions are carefully designed to match the dynamics of home or commercial structure. The first step toward restoring your foundation, slab, walls, or floor starts with a comprehensive inspection. This information will be factored into the foundation repair strategy that we present to you.

Rhino Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Products© can often be used to manage cracks and modest wall or corner defects. In a situation where soil composition changes are a factor, we might also need to install a system of Helical Piers.