Understanding Two Common Foundation Repairs: Slab Jacking and Piering

Understanding Slab Jacking and Piering

Foundation problems are a major inconvenience. Just as you get your home looking the way you want it, you suddenly discover a small crack that spells doom to your foundation, thus, your home. If you notice any sort of oddity to your house—a random crack in the tile or wall, tilt or crack in the chimney, an imbalance to your home—it is essential you contact a professional immediately. The expert will inspect the issue and will inform you of the procedure necessary to resolve it. Two common procedures include slab jacking and piering. To best educate you and to prepare you for each of these established solutions, please continue reading.

Slab Jacking

Slab jacking is the process of pumping mud through drilled holes into the material beneath your home in order to level or raise the foundation. The soil beneath your home can shift over time. Many establishment issues are the result of lengthy droughts, something Texas residents are no stranger to. This is why foundation problems are most prevalent among homes/buildings in Texas, Arizona, and California. Droughts cause the soil to shrink. Less soil means less stability. Additionally, shrinking soil allows more openings and passageways for water to penetrate. Water entering into unwelcome areas causes unwanted shifts.

This is when the slab jacking becomes necessary. A mixture of water, soil, and cement makes up the substance (mud) that your contractor will fill the foundation in order to level it. Simply put, the mud will fill the gaps beneath your home to stabilize it.

Please keep in mind that slab jacking is not considered a permanent fix. It will help and it could last for the lifetime of your home; however, there are more permanent options. Your hired professional will have plenty of input as to what the best option is for your home.

Piering

Piering is considered a permanent fix. The sole purpose of piering is to raise a foundation. Of course, permanent fixes are going to cost more than temporary fixes. Piering is generally a more expensive procedure than slab jacking. Here’s how it works:

Piering is the technique of driving steel pipe pilings beneath your home in order to correct foundation settlement. Think of it as the legs to your kitchen table. Piering is essentially installing support legs beneath your home to raise the level of your home. The piers are dug about six feet into the ground. Once installed, the piers are fitted with a concrete cap and raised slightly through the use of hydraulics. A new foundation is essentially created, separating the structure from the initial foundation which led to the initial problems.

This procedure does require excavation and hydraulics to effectively install and raise the foundation. The needed labor for the project will add to the price. Customers are generally charged per pier, and piers can range all the way form $350-$3,000 each, depending on size and complexity. However, depending on the company, piering can oftentimes be completed in a single day.

Slab jacking and piering are just two of a handful of repair options. Structured Foundation Repairs can help you with your foundation inquiries and repairs.