What is Foundation Repair?

At the very least, foundation repair involves stabilizing the foundation of the home or building so that it won’t keep settling and causing more damage. In some Utah foundation repair cases, the foundation can be lifted up to its original point but this happens less and less over time. The foundation is more than just a slab of concrete under a house, and a foundation is only as good as the soil on which it stands. A lot of new homes and buildings have issues with foundation settlement, with even new houses cracking as they settle. These are often caused by weak soil under the building, or the soil itself was not compacted correctly. When soil changes, it becomes less able to support the weight of the home, which is where foundation crack repair comes in.

You’d be required to find the right Utah foundation repair company that can transfer the weight of the structure to a more stable soil that also has resistance piers to keep it supported, which is known as underpinning. Soil changes occur mostly because of water, causing some soils to split and the particles to consolidate and settle. Other soils swell up. When there is extremely dry conditions, the soil can dry out entirely and shrink right down. Any changes like this can then affect the way that a building settles, causing a need for foundation crack repair.

Reasons For Utah Foundation Repair

If you are dealing with a foundation issue in your ] home, you may need to think about contacting Rhine Foundation Repairs to have your Utah foundation repair booked. There are a few things to know about the process, and the first is to know why your foundation could be damaged in the first place. These reasons can include:

  • The soil is expanding under the foundation
  • Your home is sitting on soil that is shifting
  • You are living in an area of Utah with extreme weather shifts
  • You live somewhere that struggles to drain water properly

Of course, there are more reasons than this, but these are the most common reasons for foundation repair.

What Causes Foundations To Break?

Other than a weaker foundation, there are a lot of reasons for foundations to become damaged. Some of those include:

  • Environmental factors are the first. In Salt Lake City, heavy snow is common which can lead to leaks in the basement and cracks in the foundation due to water damage. This can lead to cracks, weakening of the foundations and breaks in the home.
  • Earthquakes are another factor, though these are rare in Salt Lake City. The shaking of the ground can cause cracks to form in the foundation.
  • The load bearing part of the soil can be compromised when there are extreme changes in moisture levels. This happens during heavy rain and snow. The water levels then rise up and saturate the load bearing soil, causing it to collapse once it dries up.

Without repairing these cracks right away, you could find yourself in a situation of collapse or costly foundation crack repairs.

Why Is Foundation Repair Important?

​Any building requires a strong foundation to ensure it stays standing. A good foundation keeps a building secure and ensures that it wouldn’t collapse in on itself – scary, but it does happen. This alone should give you an idea of how important it is to have excellent foundations of your home, and that also means that you need a Utah foundation repair company on speed dial in case of any issues.

Weak foundations won’t last for long, and those that have cracks or are built on unstable soil will not stand for very long. The right Utah foundation repair company can ensure that your building foundations remain strong and prevents its collapse. If you have any issues with the foundations of your home, calling the foundation repair company can help to ensure that your life is not in danger in your home.

There are certain tools which people use to build your foundation correctly, and if these haven’t been used you’d notice quickly with the foundation crumbling. Builders will notice a problem in the foundations as they go most of the time, but settling houses can cause more issues than anything else. From time to time, foundation repair is a must and the right company – such as Rhino Foundation Repairs can help.

About Soil In Utah:

Mivida designated the state soil of Utah by the Utah association of professional soil scientists. But, what makes it so unique? The soil was chosen because it represented a sort of common land use which provided range management, including livestock and wildlife. While also providing building material. It is also associated with the always iconic red rock landscapes of Southeastern Utah.

Mivida soil is a well drained soil that runs deep into the Earth. It’s formed in eolian sediments and alluvium derived mainly from sandstone. The soils are, in the majority, found on the structural cuestas and benches of the Colorado Plateau.

The soil is digable. It is extensive to a moderate degree in South Utah and covers around 200,000 acres, but there are also other kinds of soils there, with 980 soil series in Utah, due to the dramatic amount and variation of geology in the area.

The soil formation is centered on CIORPT, comprising the five major factors of Climate, Organisms, Relief, Parent material and Time.

It’s one of the soils utilized for livestock grazing. Livestock is a billion dollar industry in Utah, shedding light on how important the soil is to the state. The Mivida soil also provides grazing for many species like deer.

There are limitations on the Mivida in regards to annual precipitation and periodic droughts. The soils are subject to wind erosion if the vegetive cover is removed or eroded by the elements or human intervention. 

There are dedicated rules which require land managers understand the ecological points associated with the soil to ensure it’s protected and used correctly. These are critical for the rangeland health throughout Utah.

About Soil In Salt Lake:

Soil is an essential component that comprises of numerous capabilities, from an abundance of minerals, to support for microbes like fungi and bacteria. Soils tend to consist of 25% water, 25% air, 45% rock and mineral pieces, and has between 1% and 5% of organic material. After water and air, soil is our most important resource, and we should treat it accordingly. 

In Salt Lake City, the Mivida (pronounced mee vee duh) soil, is considered to be the unofficial state soil for Utah, but there are so many different types of soil in the state of Utah. Utah soil types vary enormously, ranging from sand to almost pure clay. Sand and loamy soil textures are more prevalent across the Southeastern areas of Utah, clay soils are found in the north, but it is important to note that the soil may differ from one corner of your property to another. There are four types of soil: sandy, loamy, clay, and peaty.

As Salt Lake City is in the north of Utah, the soil tends to be loamy. This means that it has middle-sized particles. It can drain a little slower than other soils such as sandy soils and it is abundantly rich in nutrients. In fact, it’s considered that this type of soil is ideal if you want to grow anything. This type of soil usually includes 45% sand, 35% silt, and 20% of clay soils. Living in the north of Utah, this loamy soil is something you should take advantage of.

FAQs

What will it cost to repair my foundation?

The price range is primarily determined by what needs to be done for the repairs.

 

If your home is sinking, Rhino Foundation System’s work on average costs approximately $16,000. The final pricing of the work done generally depends on the following factors (though, said price is not limited to just these factors): 

 

  • Size of the home/building
  • The type of piers that will work best
  • Amount of piers needed

 

If your home has a foundation or crawl space that is currently leaking, or experiencing other types of hazardous water issues, we have found that most will need to pay around $2,600 to repair a foundation. This is completely dependent upon the extent of the damage to your foundation.

What should I ask a foundation repair contractor?

It is good to call around, or search the web thoroughly for a foundation repair business. You never want to settle when a potentially better option lies out there, one that could save you a lot of money.

Ask questions. Getting a good image of how the company runs and how long the company has been in business will help determine the best option. The last thing you need is an extremely novice foundation repair business to do some work that is better done with experience. Getting what was paid for is important.

Something important to note is that insurance for a foundation repair company who offers foundation piers is incredibly expensive.

This next one isn’t so much of a question as it is a test for your future contractor. Don’t be afraid to bug them before you commit because you want to be sure that you are getting what you spent money on. Try to get an Idea of how they treat their customers. Do they get back to you seemingly as soon as possible? Are they good about showing up on time? Communication is a company culture issue. If you don’t get good communication from one person in that same company, don’t expect to receive it from someone else. You may find yourself wasting time and money.

Will foundation Repair mess with the value of my home?

It really depends, just like many other factors in foundation repair.

 

Foundation repair can affect the value of your home, but it is generally in a positive manner. It really wouldn’t make sense for a repair to lessen the value of something, but in some cases this can happen, especially if the facility has seen abnormal levels of damage. However, in almost every case, foundation repair will help bring the value of a damaged home back up, and in the best cases, bring it very close to its original value.

Can I live in my house during foundation repair?

More often than not, the answer to this question is yes.

 

In fact, we recommend that you stay in the home while it is being repaired. For one, it will save you money by not having to get a place to stay and eat out for each meal. The other benefit is you can watch the work being performed and become familiar with the process should the problem present itself again with the same house or an entirely separate building somewhere else down the line. Additionally, a foundation repair business may have some questions regarding the home and how long damage has afflicted the property, and having you home allows these businesses to do that more easily.