Expert Foundation Repair Services In Bradenton, FL

Foundation movement is a possible risk for homeowners in Bradenton. The City of Bradenton follows the Florida building code to ensure that your foundation can resist movement. The soils in Bradenton are sandy, which means expansion is limited. However, due to poor drainage, hydrostatic pressure on poorly constructed foundations can cause damage.

Generally, foundation movement occurs due to weight. The movement is usually a response to the weight being transmitted from the building to the foundation and soil. As buildings get older, the ground under the foundation continues to compact and causes gradual movement that shifts the foundation.

Settling 

Settling occurs when the ground beneath your foundation begins to shift, and your home gradually sinks. It’s normal for a building to settle because of its weight over the years. However, too much settling or sudden settling causes foundation problems.

Changes in groundwater levels, for instance, change the soil bearing capacity. Rising water levels due to heavy rains, flooding during tropical storms, or uncontrolled water pumping reduces the load-bearing capacity of the soil supporting your foundation. As the ground loses strength, the weight of the house causes sinking.

To reduce the risks of settling, homeowners should build foundations according to the Florida Building Code. The foundations should be at least 12 inches below the ground surface. Older homes are more susceptible to settling. Most of the old homes are in Downtown Bradenton and are currently undergoing renovation. Be sure to contact us to have a thorough foundation inspection before purchasing an old house.

Corrosion and Decay 

Homes near coastal areas like those in Bradenton tend to deteriorate due to moisture, humidity, and corrosion. Flooding from tropical storms and hurricanes put homes at even greater risk. Homes with wooden foundations and crawl spaces are particularly prone to water damage. It’s essential to treat wood and install a vapor barrier over the soil on the crawl space. Also, the wood used on the foundation should be extensively treated and accompanied by suitable metal parts to prevent wood degradation.

Structural Changes 

Over time, a house’s foundation loses structural integrity. Concrete naturally shrinks as part of the curing process. Curing turns the wet concrete mixture into a sturdy rock that supports your home. If timed or mixed incorrectly, the concrete may lose too much moisture, causing foundation shrinkage and cracks in the foundation. Also, concrete foundations tend to break down if the outer layer peels off.

Older homes that feature stone walls for foundations may also experience structural changes. Usually, stones are bound together by mortar. However, the mortar slowly degrades over time if exposed to the soil. Waterproofing is essential to protect the mortar from moisture and damage. If there was no waterproofing in your home or the waterproofing is damaged, the foundation may slowly break down.

Poor Soil Compaction 

Soil compaction is an integral part of any construction. During compaction, the soil particles are pressed closely together to air spaces and improve the soil’s load-bearing capacity. Compaction reduces the possibility of settling and foundation failure. Usually, contractors use heavy rollers and tamping machines to compact the soil before building your foundation. Poor compaction is unfortunately common in Bradenton where development occurred quickly, and it leaves air spaces in the soil, which later causes settling due to the building’s weight.

Tree Root Interference 

Our massive, native tree species growing close to your home can cause several problems. First, the tree roots can grow around pipes causing them to burst. A burst pipe slowly leaks water into the soil, compromising the soil’s strength under the foundation. As the compacted soil loses strength, it causes the foundation to settle.

Second, tree roots can draw away water from the soil under your foundation, causing the soil to grow thin. As the soil becomes weaker, it creates an unstable surface for your foundation, hence settling. Lastly, tree roots can penetrate foundation cracks and expand them, causing further foundation damage.

Poor Drainage

You should direct water away from your home to prevent foundation problems, especially in an area where drainage is poor to begin with like Bradenton. The water may come from your gutters, downspouts, and surface run-off. You should avoid discharging any water near the house because it causes drainage problems in the soil around the foundation. As the soil absorbs water, it expands and exerts pressure in the foundation walls, causing cracking or leaning.

According to the Florida Building Code, you should install footer drains around concrete and masonry foundations to prevent water damage in your foundation. All foundations and footings should also be damp proofed and waterproofed to protect the foundation, basement, and floors from water damage, again because of the high probability of saturated soil in the area.

• Doors and windows become increasingly harder to operate. This is because settling causes your doors and windows to become angled, and as a result, stop fitting in their frames correctly.
• Check for gaps between your walls and window frames, and door frames. The walls slowly pull away from the frames.
• When the soil underneath the foundation shifts unevenly due to flooding or erosion, the foundation stops lying flat on the ground. This results in cracks in your basement foundation walls.
• When your home begins to shift downwards, pipes that bring water into your home become twisted. Eventually, these pipes burst and reduce the water supply to your home and create additional soil erosion and settling.
• The top of your foundation may not be on the same level. You may notice your basement slanting.
• Check for cracks in the foundation, foundation walls, and basement walls if you have a basement. You may also notice cracks in the wall plaster, stucco, drywall, or brick siding. Moderate cracks are approximately 5 to 15 mm (0.2 to 0.6 inches), while serious cracks are above 15 mm.
• You may notice sloping floors and surfaces.
• Look out for water damage in your home and mildew and mold growth. This is a particular issue in Bradenton where the humidity is naturally high, promoting mold growth.
• Ants and termites are coming in from the floor. This could indicate a crack in the foundation, allowing ants to burrow into your home.
• You may notice bowing wooden floors and cracked tiles. These are signs of water seepage into your home.

It’s recommended that you hire a structural engineer like ours to fix your foundation in Bradenton. Our licensed structural engineers perform an inspection to check the structural integrity of your foundation. The structural engineer’s report includes details such as:

• If your home in Bradenton is safe for occupation
• Recommendations for foundation repairs, including how and where it should be done. For example, if your home needs piers, the engineer will provide a drawing showing their placement.
• If your foundation has moved, our structural engineer will detail what happens to the rest of your home.
• Recommendations for tree root barrier installation and termite removal

You can trust our licensed structural engineers because they have the right qualifications and knowledge to do their job. What’s more, their recommendations aren’t pegged on sales, but quality. With an engineering report, you can have peace of mind as you get your foundation repairs in Bradenton.

The cost of basement foundation repair in Bradenton varies depending on the work your home’s foundation requires. On average, homeowners in Bradenton pay $4,286 for foundation repairs. The cost range is between $288 and $19,883. This cost depends on factors such as:

• The average labor cost of fixing the basement. We have a team of specialists that may need to work together to fix the basement.
• The average cost of materials and equipment needed to fix your basement. Your basement may need concrete, new stones, piers, and steel. Our specialists may also use products such as polyurethane foam to fill cracks and a new waterproofing layer to protect your foundation.
• Project costs such as surface preparation and clean-up after basement repair.

Also, if the basement foundation problems cause additional issues, be prepared to pay more. For example, if the basement foundation problem causes cracks in your pipes, be prepared to pay extra for a professional plumber to redo your pipework. Also, if the burst pipes or cracks in the basement foundation cause flooding or water damage, you have to pay for clean-up, drying, waterproofing, mold and mildew removal, and possibly, new flooring.

The type of soil in your area affects the type of foundation and how the foundation performs over time. Bradenton has deep, poorly drained, and moderately permeable soils. The soils mainly consist of fine sand in the top layers and fine sandy loam in the bottom layers.

As such, these soils do not shrink or expand extensively, which keeps foundations stable. Sandy loam has a medium-coarse texture and also resists expansion and shrinking significantly. However, these soils are susceptible to erosion, which is dangerous for any foundation. If the soil beneath or near your foundation is eroded, foundation movement occurs.