You can fix a foundation problem caused by settling or heaving by calling a foundation specialist. Repairing a damaged foundation is in no way, shape or form a job for a do-it-yourselfer.
This is a job for a pro, and it’s going to cost you plenty. The remedy to a cracked foundation that has settled unevenly can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to $100,000, depending on the size of the house and the severity of the problem.
Here are two options available to homeowners whose homes have settled unevenly. They’re expensive, but they will allow you to repair your home and preserve the equity you have paid into it.
A tip: Ask for a warranty on the work before you sign on the dotted line.
Push Pier: Push piers are a steel piers that are driven into the ground under the house. Heavy equipment inserts the pier with 70,000 pounds of hydraulic force until it reaches bedrock, which typically is 10 to 20 feet below the surface, or the ultimate load-bearing strata, also called the refusal point.
Once the jacks are in place, the foundation specialist will use heavy hydraulic equipment to raise the foundation, which has settled unevenly and cracked, so it’s even with the rest of the house.
Helical Anchor: The screw-like helical pier can be used underneath a home’s stem wall, which is a vertical, concrete extension of the slab foundation that usually surrounds the home’s perimeter. Giant helical anchors are screwed into the earth until “lock-up,” when they hit a sturdy rock foundation.
After inspecting a damaged foundation, a foundation specialist can decide which remedy is best for your home. The specialist may call in a geologist to help determine the cause of the problem.
Most Arizona cases can be fixed within a week.
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