Foundation Defects: Causes and Solutions
The foundation is the basis of any building, ensuring its reliability and durability. The safety of the structure and the comfort of living depend on the quality of the foundation. Foundation defects can lead to serious consequences, including the destruction of the building.
Causes and factors influencing the occurrence of defects
- Incorrect selection of foundation type. A selection error may be due to insufficient study of the soil at the construction site, which leads to defects in the building foundation.
- Violations of construction technology. Even minor deviations from construction standards can lead to serious consequences, such as defects in strip foundations and other types of foundations.
- Influence of climatic conditions. Freezing and thawing of the soil, changes in the level of groundwater – all this can contribute to the appearance of cracks and other defects in the foundation.
Signs that the foundation has defects
Detecting foundation defects at an early stage helps avoid serious damage to the building in the future. There are visual and functional signs to look out for:
Visual signs
- The appearance of cracks in the walls, especially where the walls meet the foundation. This may indicate defects in the concrete foundation or other types of it.
- Unevenness and subsidence of the floor may indicate defects in the foundations and bases.
- Peeling and destruction of the building facade in the area of ​​the foundation.
Functional features
- Difficulty in closing or opening doors and windows, which may be a consequence of changes in the geometry of the openings due to displacement of the foundation.
- Increased humidity in basements and on the first floors, may indicate a violation of the foundation waterproofing.
Let us now move on to a discussion of typical foundation defects.
Typical defects
Foundation defects can be varied and depend on the type of foundation, the materials it is made of, as well as external and internal influences.
1. Defects of strip foundation:
- Cracks of varying width are caused by uneven soil settlement.
- Subsidence of the foundation leads to a change in the level of the building.
2. Defects of rubble foundation:
- Destruction of the binding material (solution), leads to weakening of the structure.
- The movement of individual rubble stones leads to the deformation of the foundation.
Defects of pile foundation:
- Damage to the integrity of piles due to corrosion or mechanical damage.
- Displacement of piles from their original position under the influence of loads.
Defects of a columnar foundation:
- Destruction of protective layers leads to corrosion of reinforcement.
- Deformations caused by non-uniform soil settlement.
Methods for eliminating defects
Depending on the type and extent of damage to the foundation, specialists use various methods of reconstruction and strengthening:
Strengthening the existing foundation:
- The use of micro piles allows for increasing the bearing capacity of the foundation without significant excavation work.
- Installation of additional strip or columnar elements under the foundation to distribute loads.
Local repair of defects:
- Sealing cracks in concrete with special compounds that ensure restoration of solidity.
- Replacement or restoration of damaged sections of rubble and strip foundations.
Using building “lifting” technologies:
- When the foundation subsides, methods of “lifting” the building with subsequent strengthening of the base are used. These are complex and high-tech processes that require the involvement of specialized organizations, such as DLC Hardscapes.
Determination of the technical condition and degree of wear of foundations
Before starting reconstruction or repair, it is necessary to carefully diagnose the condition of the foundation:
- Visual inspection is the initial stage, allowing to identification of obvious defects.
- Instrumental research – the use of ground penetrating radar, endoscopic equipment, and other means for a detailed study of the foundation condition.
- Laboratory testing is the analysis of material samples to determine their physical and mechanical characteristics and degree of wear.
Timely detection and qualified elimination of foundation defects are the keys to the durability and safety of any building. It is important not only to choose the right method for eliminating damage but also to entrust this work to specialists. DLC Hardscapes offers a wide range of services for diagnostics, reconstruction, and repair of foundations, ensuring the restoration of their bearing capacity with a quality guarantee.