Structural Repairs

Noticeable Warning Signs

Some of the most noticeable signs of foundation problems and movement are:structural-repairs1

  • External doors and windows sticking and not working properly.
  • The gap between the top or bottom of doors or window jams and frames being out of alignment.
  • Internal doors and cupboards sticking and not opening or closing properly
  • Cracks in exterior brickwork or brickwork coming away.
  • Cracks in interior walls at the corners of doors and windows.
  • Cracks at GIB Stopping joints in the walls and ceiling.
  • Floors are not level or are spongy.
  • Skirting boards cracking or pulling away.
  • The chimney pulling away from the house.
  • Separation of wood trim at the exterior corners of your home above bricks.
  • Separations of the brick and the adjacent wood surfaces at the sides of the chimney.

Foundation Repair:

structural-repairs3Many home owners are faced with problems associated with shifting foundations. Internal signs of foundation problems are cracks in the ceilings and walls, separation of architrave and skirting boards, doors and windows that stick and don’t open or close due to distorted door or window frames, cracks in the fireplace, soft or sloping floors, cracking in the tiles, tears or creases in the wallpaper.

External signs are cracks in bricks or mortar, corners not flush, separation of window and door frames, these are just some of the early warning signs that all is not well with the foundations. One of the big mistakes people make is to start renovating before they have had the sub-floor checked.

This results in a last minute phone call from the builder once works have commenced which brings unexpected additional costs to you the Owner and can postpone or delay your building works.

The information on this page aims to provide a good understanding of the underlying cause of these problems.

Reasons for Foundation’s Shift:

The shifting of house foundations is related to the soil on which the foundations rest.

Most clay soils undergo volume changes as the result of changes in soil moisture. A decrease in soil moisture is accompanied by shrinkage and an increase in soil moisture is accompanied by swelling.

Typically, a layer of clay 300mm thick could undergo a 25mm change in thickness as it goes from a completely dry, to a completely saturated state, or vice versa. Thus, foundations located within the clay are susceptible to movement when the soil moisture changes.

The volume changes resulting from both shrinking and swelling of fine-grained soils are often large enough to seriously damage small buildings. Estimates are that shrinking and swelling soils cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to properties each year.

We can solve any structural, cracking or leveling issues that your home may have.

Visit the links below for information about:

  • Structural Repairs:

    structural-repairs5There can be many different solutions when dealing with structural foundation repairs. Affordable Foundations Ltd will properly assess your particular situation and give you options for repairs, as well as a firm cost on your project. At Affordable Foundations Ltd, we believe in keeping all of our promises and keeping you, the customer, well informed.

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  • Basement Floors:

    structural-repairs4Have Affordable Foundations Ltd repair or replace your cracked basement floor. We can give your home a completely new basement floor. Ask your Affordable Foundations Ltd representative what options you have to fix your damaged basement floor.

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  • Foundation Inspections:

    structural-repairs2We provide a complete foundation inspection service. Once the inspection is complete you will receive a written report detailing the condition of the foundation structure and the costs for any needed repairs.