What to Do If Concrete Foundation Is Not Square?

Foundation Problems

• When a foundation is installed correctly, it is square against the ground and fully level. Ideally, the foundation would continue this way for decades, but over time, problems can develop and manifest in a couple different ways. First, concrete foundations tend to tilt, moving off their square position and losing what level qualities they had. Second, if the concrete is put under too much stress, it can develop large cracks that indicate tilts that the slab was not able to survive.

Source Issues

• If a concrete foundation is no longer properly positioned, the first step is finding out what caused the problem. Tilting is usually caused by soil compaction or soil changes that have happened slowly over time (or quickly, in the case of floods). In this case, the soil is settling and the repairs will have lasting effect. However, if the soil is permanently unstable from an underground collapse or if the cracks are caused by poor stressing, larger remodels will be necessary to prevent the issue from occurring again.

Drilling

• The first step in foundation repair is drilling. Workers drill holes into the foundation at its lowest point, the incline portion where the slab starts to tilt. The holes are drilled carefully to avoid any further damage, but they must be large enough to allow pumping nozzles and piping to fit through. Once the hole is made completely through the foundation, new concrete material is pumped through.

Pumping

• Pumping the new concrete materials into the hole bolsters the concrete, lifting up the lower side and leveling the surface again. This new concrete is under high pressure and is made from cement, sand, fly ash and water, a simple mix that can penetrate the soil and cure under the foundation to prevent future problems.