Home to the aptly named, “Utah Lake,” Utah County rests in a deep valley in the northern half of the desert state. The lake rests at the foot of the Wasatch Mountain Range, where cities like Saratoga Springs and Provo thrive. Given this geography, buildings throughout the region are often found in many different elevations, with some even resting on the sloped hills of the mountain sides themselves. While this may seem like a very unique place to be living, and the view may be extraordinary from your balcony, there are many hazards that can come with living on an angle, and these hazards can bring harm to your foundation, and given the geography, in some of the worst cases, cause your home to collapse altogether. 

 

At Rhino Foundation Systems, we work hard to prevent homes from going through these troubles long term, regardless of if the work needs to be done on an existing facility, or if the building is a fairly new project, and we generally offer many potential solutions for any problems that may be affecting the building in question. Before we go into some solutions, let’s look at some things that may pose a threat to these homes that lie on Utah County’s mountains:

Abnormal Weather Patterns

Utah is no stranger to shifting weather. Being a mountainous state in the midwest, almost centered perfectly between the snowy regions of the north, and the harsh sunshine from the lands near the gulf, the state experiences substantial snowfall during the winter, and similar amounts of dry weather during the summer. The problem surrounding these simple shifts in the climate is the effects it can have on soil. If the ground around a foundation is accustomed to dry soil, rain and snow slipping through a poor draining system can cause it to deteriorate in strength, and giving the foundation a better chance of failing. Of course, a similar phenomenon can happen when a typically damp soil dries out during the summer months. On the sloped surface of a mountain, this can be catastrophic, costing a homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs minimum! our foundation repair services in Salt Lake City, get in contact with us today via 801-492-3503.

Seismic Activity

Earthquakes are often an afterthought, just as most natural disaster type events, but they still happen, and it almost always takes people by surprise. The Wasatch Mountain Range rests along the Wasatch Fault Line, and because of this, even small amounts of activity in the plates of the fault line can cause rocks and the surface of a mountain to crack and tear, and if this event happens anywhere remotely close to home, the results in damage could be disastrous. This is the case with even the smallest amount of tectonic activity, and imagining what it would look like after an earthquake, even of a low magnitude, is a lot to take into consideration. from temporary to long term solutions, we will discuss with you the best course of action for your individual building.

Other Threats

We already discussed how rain and snow can damage your foundation, and this is mainly due to the damage that water can, and often will cause. Water alone is likely one of, if not the worst cause(s) of structural damage. Water can cause your home to sink by tampering with the soil, it can weather away at the material of the foundation. Having a good drainage system will help to avoid this problem, and waterproofing the basement or your home will also assist in this regard, but more on that later. 

 

There are many other things that can damage your foundation, and while some of these are less common on the face of a mountain, there are many different terrains that litter Utah County. Many of these problems can occur anywhere in the region, and it is probably best to keep an eye on them, or keep them in check if possible, as it could save you a lot in terms of repair or preventative costs. Here are some of those hazards:

 

  • Poor Plumbing
  • Foliage/Tree Root Invasion
  • Shoddy Construction
  • Inferior Soil
  • Seasonal Conditions
  • Improper Remodeling
  • Over Extensive Landscape Alterations

Potential Solutions

Rhino Foundation Systems offers all services statewide. If something happens that generally would be seen as odd for an area that a homeowner lives in when contrasted with another region where that event is more common, we can offer the service because we offer our services anywhere they may be needed in the state under the locations Rhino Foundation Systems is functional within. Utah County is no exception, not its mountain side homes, and not its lakeside estates either. Here is a brief bullet list of the services we offer:

 

  • Foundation Repair
    • Basement Waterproofing
    • Crawl Space Encapsulation
    • Carbon Fiber
    • Foundation Leveling
    • Helical Piers
    • Micropiles
  • Concrete Lifting
    • Concrete Leveling
    • Polyurethane Foam
    • Concrete Replacement

FAQs

What will it cost to have my home or foundation repaired/safeguarded in Utah County?

The price range for repairs is always subject to change depending on the extent of damage to the foundation, structure, or any aspect of the facility that needs to be brushed up on. If your home is settling, work will need to be done to bring its value back and to get it into a decent state of being. Repair costs at damages like this can cost more than $15,000, and often more than that depending on how difficult it is to access and work on the area We recommended that anybody experiencing issues act quickly and call for foundation repair as soon as possible to avoid having to spend more than necessary on repairs.

What can be done to keep damage to my foundation minimal by myself?

Some damage may be inevitable depending on the geographical location of your home. However, the main cause for most damage, water, is something that can be prevented by simply maintaining a good drainage system, particularly one that causes water to flow away from your home. Making sure to have your foundation, drainage systems, and plumbing inspected at least once or twice a year is one of the best things you can do, because if something is found to be wrong, you can call a foundation repair business to come fix the problem before it becomes extremely problematic. The key is being diligent and seeking help as soon as possible.

What is the process of repairs like?

This will entirely depend on the situation at hand. Different damages will call for different solutions. For example, if water damage is your problem, we need to get rid of any potential flooding, and waterproof the facility after that. However, if your home is sinking, we may need to install piers or piles to raise your home back up and stabilize it. For a more in depth explanation of what each of our services is used for, visit our services page here.

How long will it take to repair my home in Utah County?

The time we will need to allocate for repairs generally doesn’t stretch past 3 days, but in some of the areas where we are dealing with heavy damages, it may take a bit longer. Time will mostly be dictated by the damage at hand, but we work as quickly and as efficiently as possible.