Crawl space foundations, in all their forms, are common in Oklahoma and the rest of the southern United States. As with slab and basement foundations, they come with their own set of strengths and weaknesses. When things go wrong, they also require their own unique type of crawl space repairs.

If you need crawl space repair in Oklahoma City and nearby areas, Pierman has the expertise to help. We’ll keep your foundation strong and prevent issues that can affect your whole home.

Types of Crawl Space Foundations

There are two general types of crawl space foundations. Each can see different problems and in some cases will require different repairs.

Pier & Beam Foundations

Pier and beam foundations, and their close relative block and base foundations, have certain aspects which make them unique.

Pier and beam foundations are supported by a series of piers, which could be made of concrete, block, wood or metal. These piers support beams above them. Those beams, in turn, support the floor joists.

Because the piers elevate the structure off the ground, it creates a crawl space beneath the structure.

Stem Wall Foundations

With the stem wall foundations, the crawl space height doesn’t come from piers but rather a short concrete or block wall that rest upon the footing. The structure of the house is then supported by the stem wall.

Any beams or joists are supported by the stem wall

Problems that Affect All Crawl Space Foundations Similarly

In this category, you have water, in all its forms. Moisture can do plenty of damage to crawl spaces, ranging from problems that are annoying to those that are health hazards to those that compromise the foundation’s structural stability.

Water intrusion (or even high humidity levels) can cause significant damage to both types of foundations with crawl spaces. This includes:

• Musty Odors: The damp musty odors caused by the wet crawl space won’t stay in the crawl space but rather will likely affect your whole home
• Pest Infestations: Whether it is the moisture itself or the rotting wood that often is a result of crawl space moisture, damp crawl spaces are popular with pests ranging from termites and insects to small rodents.
• Mold and Mildew: Mold likes dark, wet environments, and that description accurately describes a wet crawl space. Mold spores can inflame current respiratory disorders and cause new ones.
• Wood Rot: If your crawl space’s moisture content is too high, it can cause the home’s wooden structural components to begin to rot.
• Spongy or Sloping Floors: Related to the wood rot, if your beams or floor joists are weakened by rotting, your floor will likely begin to feel spongy to walk on as it is not getting the proper support from the structural components.

The Problem That Affects Piers & Stem Walls Differently

Settlement (the foundation sinking, often unevenly, into the ground) is a problem that can affect any type of foundation. It can manifest differently in pier & beam foundations than in stem wall foundations, though.

Because the stem wall is continuous, settlement will be more along the lines of slabs or basement foundations. While settlement can cause a similar type of damage in both (slanting floors, wall or ceiling cracks, sticking doors and windows), the problem could be more localized in a pier & beam foundation if only a single pier is sinking.

The effects will also be similar if instead of sinking one of the piers is damaged and isn’t able to support its fair share of the weight of the home.

Crawl Space Repair Options

Beam or Joist Replacement

If wood rot is affecting any of the structural beams or joists in your home or the beam is otherwise damaged, they will likely need to be replaced.

Because these are structural elements for your home, replacing the beams should be handled by a professional. Our experience with crawl space foundations allows us to make the needed repairs without further damaging your home.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

Crawl space encapsulation isn’t so much a repair as it is a preventative measure. Encapsulation can, along with any other needed waterproofing measures, keep your crawl space dry to prevent future moisture problems.

Crawl space encapsulation includes the installation of a tear-resistant vapor barrier on the walls, floor, and any structural components extending up from the floor. The crawl space also gets sealed, closing off any venting to prevent moisture from entering the crawl space that way.

Pier Replacement

This one is unique to a pier and beam foundation. If a pier has begun to settle, it might need to be reinforced or replacement. This also goes for if the pier is damaged in some other way.

By replacing or reinforcing the pier, we can prevent the structural issues that can stem from the beams not receiving uniform support from all of the piers.

Foundation Underpinning

While traditional underpinning like that done on slab and basement foundations generally isn’t done on pier and beam foundations, it can be used to level and stabilize stem wall foundations.

While there is no slab, there is a footing onto which the underpinning piers can be attached after being sunk into the ground.

With underpinning, piers are installed around the footing down to a load-bearing strata of soil. The piers are then attached to the footing and the home is hydraulically raised back to level before the load of the home is transferred onto the piers.

Need Crawl Space Repairs in Oklahoma City or Much of the Rest of Oklahoma? Give Pierman a Call

At Pierman, we are skilled at all kinds of foundation repair projects, including those involving crawl spaces. Pier and beam work and crawl space encapsulation are among our specialties. Contact us today to find out more.