You may have seen the signs: cracks in the walls; doors that won’t open or close properly; items you dropped on the floor promptly rolling away to one side of the room; furniture that never seems to sit plumbly against your walls. These are evidence of a house that needs leveling. Over time, many homes will require leveling, which is a process by which a house’s floor is restored to a level state through foundation work. While this may seem like a daunting or costly repair to many homeowners, and one which is necessary to maintain the structural integrity of the home, it can be a straightforward process with the help of an experienced contractor who will find the most efficient and cost-effective way to level a house.
Why do houses need to be leveled? Shifts and movements are to be expected with any foundation, regardless of type. However, when different parts of the foundation settle disproportionately, called differential settlement, this can compromise the structure and cause areas of the house to sag or bow. This is usually caused by various ways water and the soil around the foundation interact, such as with soil erosion or expansion caused by extreme dry and wet seasons, absorbent clay-like soil, or plumbing issues that occur under the foundation. In rare cases, it can also be caused by a foundation that is deteriorating due to rotting or sub-par materials or even shoddy workmanship. How does house-leveling work? There are many ways to go about leveling a house; however, which method a contractor employs first depends on the type of foundation the house has. For slab foundations, many issues can be resolved by working from the exterior and adding piers or pilings to sagging areas. Sometimes additional concrete may be poured underneath or a chemical substance added to the soil that stems soil expansion. For pier and beam foundations with a crawl space, new piers and concrete pads can be installed or hydraulic jacks can be put in place. In instances when the piers or beams are made of wood and are deteriorating, they can be reinforced by fresh lumber or steel I-beams. Fortunately, most of these repairs can be completed with minimal disruption to the functioning of your home. When might a house be lifted? Lifting a house is an extreme measure that is required in only a few instances. If possible, contractors will seek to avoid this method in the event of foundation issues, by addressing the results of differential house settlement or deteriorating wood foundation elements without lifting the home. However, in instances where the entire foundation must be replaced or when it is too difficult or impossible to reach the problem areas, a home must be lifted. House lifting is also usually required when adding another level to the structure, instead of removing a roof and exposing the interior of the home and building from the top. Mares & Dow Construction have been serving the Bay Aare since 1983. Our general contractors and home remodeling experts are knowledgeable about leveling homes. Contact us today to learn more.
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