House Leveling in Kyle, Texas
The level of a house (within the limits of construction) should be as close as possible to its original condition. Houses can be leveled by repairing their foundations. When a home sinks, it has structural problems. This is especially true if it sinks at multiple locations or at one end. A house leveling will in most cases correct the problem, but the source of the problem must also be addressed in order to prevent it from recurring.
A number of factors can cause sinking homes, sagging floors, and structural damage, such as erosion on the foundation, structural damage, unstable soil conditions, and underfloor plumbing leaks. In order to ensure a more permanent solution, these issues must be addressed before house leveling can begin.
Foundation Settling – The Root of Uneven Floors
Why does heaving or settlement of foundations occur? Water and soil are the main causes. Together, these factors can cause cracks in walls and movement in foundations, including settling. Whether the foundation is a slab foundation, pier and beam foundation, or a basement, it may move. House foundations will shift and crack if they heave or settle excessively. Leveling may be the solution.
In addition to house leveling, the problems that caused the foundation shifts must be resolved. The foundation shifts are caused by clay soil. As the foundation absorbs water from the clay soil, it heaves upward. The foundations move downward as soils dry, shrink, and settle. Inadequate drainage on the exterior is often to blame for excessive water under the foundation.
Additionally, water from plumbing leaks or excessive flowerbed watering can seep under the slab foundation, oversaturating the soil. Additionally, improperly graded driveways, walks, and patios can cause foundation soil to become oversaturated.
House Leveling – Slab Foundation Homes
Many successful methods can be used to level homes with slab foundations. They include excavating the exterior of the house and installing helical pilings, bell bottom pilings, steel pilings, concrete pilings, mudjacking, and filling in the cracks underneath the foundation with a chemical compound.
House Leveling – Crawl Space Foundation Homes
In order to level a crawl space foundation, there are a few successful methods. The methods of leveling may include installing pilings underneath existing piers to provide additional stability, using rods or braces to reinforce damaged support stations and cure sagging floors, stabilizing the soil underneath the foundation with a chemical mixture, or a combination of all these methods.
The Impact of Soil Problems
Soil also shifts when it becomes too dry. Large trees may have roots that extend under the foundation. It is estimated that these roots can absorb up to 100 gallons of water daily. When soil loses moisture, it shrinks. A shrinking foundation contributes to differential settlement. When one part of a foundation moves and another part does not, this is termed differential movement. Differential movement may cause stair-shaped cracks in your foundation. A leveled foundation will prevent future cracks and problems.
If you do not have the machinery and experience necessary to level the house, try not to attempt this yourself. If you want to make sure that your mobile home is properly leveled so that you can continue living in one, then seek out the services of a professional leveler. Call us today at 512-872-4673, for professional leveling and tunneling services.