FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER

 

Guidelines for choosing a foundation repair specialist

So, you have noticed some damage in your foundation and think you may need to have a specialist look into it. What steps should you take?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well, you can ask around to your friends and neighbors, see if they have had any experience with having to get repairs done on their foundation.  Ask them if they had a good experience with the company they worked with. Did they have to get an Engineer involved? They may have some information to contact the companies they did use. You can also use a service such as Angie’s List, this service helps members easily find highly-rated service providers to fulfill their service needs. You can also check out your local BBB (Better Business Bureau) you can do a search to find an accredited BBB business that fits your needs.

 

 

Now that you have done your initial research on finding a foundation repair specialist and made an appointment, what’s next?

When you interview your foundation repair specialist what questions should you ask?

Will this inspection cost you anything up front?

Has he ever worked in your neighborhood?

Does he have adequate insurance?

Is he licensed to work in the area?

Will there be an engineer involved?

What if the foundation repair specialist sees that you need to get an engineer involved? Well, he may have several engineers in the area and may suggest them, you can also look to Angie’s List and the BBB. If an engineer needs to be involved, then the foundation repair specialist will be working directly with the engineer and doing the repairs that the engineer has drawn up.  At this point you can almost surely be rest assured that the work is being done in a professional manner, as work may need to be inspected by the county or city.

Before the work is done what (if anything) will you need to do to prepare for the workers? (Such as brush removal, landscaping materials removal) or will they take care of that?

Is there a necessity to have the utilities located? Is that done by them?

What safety precautions will the foundation repair specialist take to keep the worksite safe after the workers are done for the day?

Is there going to be a need to replace any concrete after the work is done? Will that be done by them or is that your responsibility?

After all work is complete and all inspections are passed will he furnish a completion letter from the Engineer? (This may be important if the house will be sold in the next few years).

 

 

This is just a few points that you may need to think about if you find the need to hire a foundation repair specialist. If you think you need to talk to a foundation repair specialist you can give us a call at Colorado Grouting and we can come out and look at your problem.

719-543-7670

 

FALL 2013 Newsletter

Stabilizing Cellular Towers, Compaction Grouting & Expansive Soils

STABILIZING CELLULAR TOWERS

Cellular towers are everywhere, they come in various types and in some areas companies are required to camouflage them due to local opposition.  You may see them camouflaged as a palm tree or a steel structure decorated with colored glass.  But most often, they stick out like a sore thumb, huddled together with satellites on a tall buildings roof, or in rural areas, as extremely tall tower held with high tension wires to hold it in place.

Colorado Grouting had the unique opportunity to do repairs to two of these tall towers in rural southeast Colorado, and we would like to share with you that adventure for our summer 2013 newsletter.

A Unique Situation:

The two towers were originally built with a poor compaction underneath the foundation for the cell towers and the loose fill was a primary cause of the tower settlement problem.  This caused differential movement of 1” to 1 ½” since construction in 2007. One recommendation for a suitable repair was Compaction Grouting. 

Doing the repairs:

After marking out the outline of the foundation pad underneath the tower base, we took elevation shots to see where the tower was standing before grouting. As the weight and height of the tower is so immense, we had to be extra cautious to not disturb the intricate rebar layout inside the foundation when choosing where our compaction holes were going to be drilled.  To core drill locations a specialized rock drill was used in case we came across rebar, as you can see in the photos.  We then water drilled 5 locations around the pad up to 7 ½’ below the pad.  We pumped a grouting material into the unstable soils and lifted the pad to become more stable. We then had two custom concrete pieces made to further stabilize the towers pier at the base and mixed concrete and molded it together with grout

We were able to lift the pad to a level platform, using up to as much as 6.34 Yards of grouting material and in some cases lifting the pad up as much as 3 9/16”.  Thus greatly restoring the stability of such a tall structure.

Filling the void: Compaction Grouting

Compaction Grouting is a technique used to fill in voids under the ground.  For Compaction Grouting, a high viscosity grout material is commonly used for injection into the soils.  As the grout mass expands, the surrounding soil is displaced and densified. Compaction Grouting began in the United States in the 1950’s and is a successful technique used to correct structural settlement, helping to densify soils.  Typically an injection pipe is advanced to the maximum treatment depth.  The grout material is then injected as the pipe is slowly extracted in lifts, creating a column of overlapping grout bulbs.  Compaction Grouting can be accomplished where access may be difficult or space is limited.  If you think you have problems with your home’s foundation and are interested in finding out if Compaction Grouting can be used to fix any settlement problems, call us at Colorado Grouting and we will be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Expansive Soils, A Definition

Expansive soils are soils that contain water – absorbing minerals.  These soils expand as the take in water, and can cause damage to buildings and other structures due to the force they exert as they expand.

Expansive soil is a very common cause of foundation problems.  During times of high moisture, soils which are expansive will heave and can cause lifting of a building or other structure, whereas little or no moisture in the soil can collapse, causing the structure to settle.

Expansive soils can exert pressure on the vertical face of a foundation, basement or retaining wall resulting in lateral movement.

If you are experiencing problems with your homes foundation, give us a call and we can come out and take a look and get you on the right track for any repairs you may need.

To Visit Our Website: CLICK HERE

Our Phone: (719) 543-7670
Our Fax:     (719)546-0963

 

​

Author: M. Harper, Colorado Grouting.



SPRING 2013 NEWSLETTER

Its Spring, are you seeing cracks?

​

As the snow and ice melt away its time to think about getting your house and property ready for spring.  As you are walking around your house deciding where this years flowers are going to be planted, do you also look at any new wear and tear on your houses foundation?

​

Check the exterior of your home for any new visible cracks in your brick or slab.  Do you notice doors having a problem opening or closing?  How about window frames that are "sticky"?  All of these "new" problems could be caused by damage to your foundation due to poor drainage conditions.

​

So, you've noticed a crack in your basement floor or garage, no big deal right? Wrong, with a foundation crack your houses structure could be compromised, and that could be serious business.  Its time you called in a foundation specialist just to see how serious it is and get the problems tackled now before they become even bigger problems.

 

Poor Soil Conditions?

​

Poor soil conditions can lead to settling issues and can cause further damage if you aren't on top of the drainage systems around your house.  If you notice water flowing down into the window wells when you water your lawn, you may have drainage issues. 

​

That water can affect the way that window opens and closes, it could start to deteriorate a wooden frame, rust a metal one causing more problems than you would like.  Calling in a foundation specialist now could cause a lot less headache than later.

​

How have your gutters fared over the winter?  You don't want to overlook where the water is going, you want to ensure proper drainage away from your homes foundation.

 

 

Low areas, bulging walk or driveway?



Do you notice low areas in your yard next to your foundation?  Make sure that soils around your foundation is compacted and slopes away from your home 6" for every 6'.  Rainy season can cause yard flooding which can lead to foundation damage.

​

So, as drought conditions can leave the soils around your home so dry the foundation can actually shift causing damage.  So can a non-drought season creating too much water that can cause foundation damage as well.

​

So as you start on your spring and summer gardening, take care of the issues that can be causing damage to your foundation as well.

​

If you would like a foundation specialist to come and look at any problem areas you may be having, please give us a call at Colorado Grouting and we will come out and take a look!

Happy Gardening!

​
To Visit Our Website: CLICK HERE
To Shoot Us an Email: CLICK HERE
Our Phone: (719) 543-7670
Our Fax:     (719)546-0963

 

​

Author: M. Harper, Colorado Grouting.