Piering Systems Can Stabilize Your Oklahoma Foundation
Concrete slab foundations, also known as slab-on-grade foundations, are fairly common throughout Oklahoma. They do, however, have a tendency to sink and settle, leading to foundation problems. If your home needs concrete foundation repair, the best option is a piering system that can properly level and stabilize your foundation to prevent future sinking.
What Causes Concrete Slab Foundation Problems?
A concrete slab is heavy on its own, and when you put an entire house on it, the slab gets really heavy. If the soil beneath the home isn’t properly compacted or has subsurface voids or has been impacted by erosion, the home can start to settle or sink. And when it settles or sinks, it is unlikely it will sink evenly.
This is especially true if your area has active clay soils that have significant shrink/swell cycles.
When the foundation sinks unevenly, it places stress both on the foundation and the rest of the home. Cracks might begin to form in the foundation. Everything will become misaligned, causing doors and windows to stick and walls to crack.
When this begins to happen it is time to contact a professional to examine your foundation.
How to Repair Concrete Slab Foundations
Slab foundations are different than pier and beam foundations in that there is generally just one piece to the foundation. If a pier and beam foundation has one pier sinking or degrading, that single pier can just be replaced. The same goes if you have a bad beam.
With the monolithic slab, the repairs must stabilize the entire foundation. To do that, you need a system that give the foundation the equal support that the soil beneath it has failed to provide.
That is where piers come into play. Piers, generally made of metal or concrete, are sunk to a depth at which the soil is stable enough to provide adequate support for the foundation or, if such soil cannot be found, bedrock. The piers are then attached to the foundation via brackets attached to the footing and, after the home is hydraulically lifted back to level, the load of the home is transferred onto the piers.
The Pierman Difference
While most foundation piers are made out of metal OR concrete, Pierman’s utility pier system combines both in order to give you the ultimate in strength and reliability. The end-bearing steel piers we use contain a concrete core to give them superior sturdiness for a permanent foundation fix.
Searching for a Concrete Foundation Repair Contractor Near You?
Pierman Foundation Repair has extensive experience in fixing Oklahoma foundations. Whether you have a slab foundation, basement foundation or pier and beam, we can fix and stabilize your foundation. Contact us today to find out more about the services that we offer.
