Pier And Beam Repair by Oakland Foundation

Most older houses have what is called pier and beam, or post and beam, foundations. Even though it's more costly than slab foundations, they should be considered when constructing on hills or in flood zones, where soil tends to expand and contract significantly. Like a home on stilts, they are somewhat elevated from the ground, setting them apart from slab foundations. When constructing a pier and beam foundation, the beam is pounded into the earth using rebar and concrete until it hits bedrock. The joists and floors of a building or house need more support, so beams are installed, running from one pier to the next.

Which is Better, Pier and Beam or Slab Foundation Repair?

Repairs to a slab's foundation often include leveling the slab so that further settlement is prevented. Houses that have foundational cracks can have more issues, such as subsidence, as the gaps widen over time. When a building's foundation is fixed, the floors are leveled and any gaps are filled. When your home's foundation has failed, it may create other structural difficulties, so fixing it as soon as possible is essential. Floors with a pier and beam foundation often experience problems including sagging, sloping, and buckling. Pier and beam foundations may be fixed in a variety of ways, depending on the nature of the damage. Fixing a pier and beam structure may include re-shimming the foundation, rebuilding beams and joists, or replacing decaying wood.

Types Of Pier and Beam Foundations

Three of the most typical types of modern pier and beam foundations are described here. The load-bearing capacities of concrete piers vary widely. Concrete piers are used by builders if they can't dig down to a suitable depth of solid soil. Because of their distinctive form, drilled caissons are also referred to as drilled piers. These piers, which may be dug down to bedrock with the use of steel cages or other reinforcements, are used to support more substantial buildings. It is also possible to use cinder blocks and cement to create a pier and beam foundation.

Different Pier and Beam Repair Solutions

Beams and the joists that rest on them might become loose or move. A reshim is a thin piece of wood that is squeezed in between the piers and the beams to fill any gaps. Over time, the piers that hold up your foundation could rot and need to be replaced. Alternatively, you may need additional piers to support and spread your home's weight. Beams and their supporting joists made of wood are vulnerable to fungal and bacterial decay. To replace the rotten beams, the foundation repair crew will have to unplug the healthy beams. Experts will be required to sustain your home while the beams are being repaired.

Advantages of Pier and Beam Repairs

Cost, flood protection, and adaptability are the three main reasons why pier-and-beam foundations are used. The home will be safe from floods since it is raised above the ground on poles. One of the issues with a concrete slab as a foundation is that it is impossible to avoid embedding electrical and plumbing fixtures into it. However, the crawl space under a pier-and-beam structure facilitates maintenance and renovation. Repair costs for pier-and-beam foundations may be lower than those for concrete slabs since it is typically simpler to rebuild just the damaged section of the foundation. A concrete slab foundation isn't the best choice for sloping terrain, but pier-and-beam construction is more flexible.