What is the most common cause of foundation failure
If you worry about the health of your home’s foundation, you are quite right to be concerned, as sadly, foundation failures in our region are a common occurrence. This is not just because of the earthquakes which subject our homes to intense pressures, but also because the unique soil we build our homes on makes Los Angeles foundations vulnerable to subsidence and cracking. Our region’s soil is dry most of the time, but can get very wet during the rainy season, when this soil expands. After the soil dries and contracts back to its original position, this process causes a void between the foundation and soil, which can later cause the foundation to drop and crack. This process of expansion and contraction, over a period of years, along with frequent seismic activity, both large and small, can severely damage a building’s foundation.
At what age do houses have foundation issues
If you are wondering whether pre-1950 older homes have more foundation issues, the answer to that question is yes, very much so! Unfortunately, foundation problems are very common in homes built from 1900 to 1950, which had unreinforced concrete, bricks, or river rocks as foundations. Foundation issues are also common in homes built during the building boom years of the 1950s and 60s, as those homes were often built on top of uncompacted, unstable soil that can cause a foundation to shift and crack.
Is it worth buying a house with foundation issues
Many of our clients are in the process of buying a home when they discover that the home they want to purchase has foundation issues. At that point, our clients call us to ask whether it is worth buying a house with foundation issues, and also how expensive would it be to fix a foundation? Well, the good news is that yes, a home with foundation issues is probably still worth pursuing, as you may get a deal on it!
Moreover, many foundations can be repaired quite easily if the damage is not too extensive, and often at a cost of just about 1% – 3% of the value of the home. Even raised foundation repair can be had at quite a reasonable cost. For example, foundation cracks up to a ¼ inch wide can be filled with epoxy that solidifies and reconnects the concrete, and structural strength can be increased by anchoring in-place and sealing reinforced steel rods. Those homeowners who catch damage early may just need to repair a few cracks and improve the drainage around their house to funnel rainwater away from their property. If a foundation must be entirely replaced, the cost of replacing a foundation is typically 5% – 10% of the value of the home.
How do you know if your house foundation is bad
If you are interested in purchasing a house and were wondering whether it has foundation issues, or even if you just want to know if your own house’s foundation is bad, just walk inside and around the building and ask yourself: Is the stucco around the building cracked? Are the floors level? Do the floor boards squeak when you walk around? Do you see cracks on the internal walls around doors and windows? Are doors and windows sticking?
Even if you answered “no” to all these questions, the home’s foundation could still be experiencing issues and you won’t necessarily know about it. Because it’s not always easy to tell if a foundation is in trouble, the best course of action is to get some free professional advice from foundation experts such as the ones at Weinstein Construction, who can offer homeowners owners a free, no-obligation inspection of their foundation!
So many of Weinstein Construction’s clients and blog readers find themselves in front of their computers Googling, “foundation repair near me” because they want to know whether or not their home’s foundation has an issue that must be addressed. The good news is that Weinstein Construction’s Los Angeles home foundation repair crews have the right solution at the right price! We are experts at foundation repair and replacement so call Weinstein Construction today at (818) 855-5752 for a free inspection and review of your home’s foundation!
