(Newswire.net — December 30, 2013) Billerica, Massachusetts —
A firmly intact foundation protects and preserves the structural integrity of a building. In colder climates this structural integrity is at greater risk with foundation settlement causing cracked drywall, stuck windows, and even damaged framing. Properties with settling foundations lose substantial resale value as well as create building safety concerns. Repairing building foundations can often be a costly process and one that requires a professional contractor to complete correctly.
Concrete repair and restoration businesses in New England deal with freezing temperatures for a large portion of the year. Unskilled or inexperienced workers pouring concrete in colder climates can often result in long term deficiencies in structural integrity resulting in cracks, raised slabs, and weaker foundations. Air temperature isn’t the only determining factor to consider when and how concrete is poured. Humidity, wind speed, ground surface temperature, and the temperature of the mixed material are as important as the air temperature. Expansion and contraction of freezing water and soil can produce pressure that will crack concrete. Even with a good concrete pour, over time, harsh weather conditions can still damage a concrete foundation.
Good foundation design depends on correct preparation, handling, and installation of its concrete form, but water management is another important design factor. It is always better to prevent water from reaching and undermining the foundation than to attempt to control it after it arrives. Ground water arrives from underground flows or from surface water seepage. A perimeter drainage system at the foundation footer level can redirect underground water away from the foundation by a trench filled with drain tile and gravel from a level well above the top of the basement floor down to a level even with the bottom of the footer. Landscape fabric over the trench shields the gravel from clogging by backfilled soil. The drain tile should run to outflow at one or more protected downhill surface locations.
Good gutters and downspouts extended well away from the foundation on ground sloping away from the house on all sides to control surface water by directing it around rather than toward the foundation. Nearby soil should be dense with clay content to reduce seepage into the ground close to the foundation. Foundation coating is the final critical consideration. Several products on the market can apply a water-resistant membrane on the foundation exterior from the ground surface down to the footer to keep water from wicking through the foundation or finding a path through foundation cracks.
For sound design of new home foundation construction or for help with existing foundation engineering and repair, consult Engineered Foundation Technologies, the leading geo-structural contractor serving the New England region.