When It’s Time For Full Foundation Replacement
There are times when despite any amount of creative solutions to foundation repair, a full foundation replacement is needed.
In such cases, we perform replacement or “sistering” of any failed sections of a foundation, including concrete, brick or stone foundation (in its entirety if required), in order to help protect your home from loss during future seismic activity.
Ignoring foundation repair warning signs can be an expensive mistake. Luckily, Julian Construction’s in-house workers offer expert foundation replacement at a competitive price.
Contact us today to schedule your home inspection if you’ve noticed any of the following foundation warning Signs:
Sloping or sagging floors.
Visible cracks in ceilings and walls.
Gaps appearing between walls and floors.
Walls leaning out or bowing.
Floor cracks appearing in tile or separation of wood.
In situations where a foundation has sustained extreme damage and cannot be correctly repaired, foundation replacement is not just an option, it’s a necessary requirement for maintaining the strength and durability of your home.
Handling these problems is how Julian Construction became known for the kind of foundation repair Los Angeles homeowners can depend on.
Southern California has seen its share of earthquake damage to foundations, and few structures in the area were designed with flooding in mind.
More commonly, the need for a complete foundation repair is the unfortunate result of incompetent engineering, shoddy original workmanship, or a years of improper drainage.
Common Examples of Damage that Could Mean Replacement Is required:
Poorly compacted soil base, causing the existing foundation to sink or shear.
A Large and excessive number of cracks.
Unusual or unsound building materials used in the original construction.
Cheap, low-quality concrete mix used in pouring the foundation.
The foundation was not allowed to cure long enough, leaving it porous and prone to damage.
Voids or hollow spots in the foundation.
Extended exposure to ponding water and moisture.
An interrupted pour creating an unintentional “joint” in the concrete.
The foundation was constructed out of materials such as brick, stone or other masonry which has not been reinforced.
Our expert foundation replacement techniques are based on 25 years of experience.
Once an in-depth foundation inspection has determined that replacing the entire foundation or portions thereof is the correct strategy, the process begins to replace the existing foundation:
The first step is to shore up the house. This is done carefully and precisely in order to prevent damage to the house (in the form of unwanted cracks to walls and ceilings). We transfer the weight of the structure to the temporary shoring so that the existing foundation is no longer doing any load-bearing.
Removing the old foundation is a relatively straight forward process, because most older foundations do not include any form of steel reinforcement. Typically if the existing foundation was too difficult to remove, it wouldn’t need to be replaced—it would only need to be repaired.
A trench is dug underneath the house to allow for a new footing to be constructed. The depth of this footing will depend on the size of the house, how many stories it has, and the weight of the materials used in constructing the house as well as the type of soil present.
New treated lumber is installed — known as a sill plate — to provide firm anchoring material for new foundation bolts.
New rebar steel reinforcement is installed throughout the trench, along with the new bolts, and wooden forms are built to receive the concrete.
The concrete is delivered to the job site by a concrete truck and pumped directly into the forms. The new foundation is allowed to fully cure, before the wooden forms are removed.
Once the forms are removed, the structure is attached to the new foundation and the stucco or siding is re-installed.
City inspections are completed according to building codes and local ordinances to ensure everything is done correctly. The work takes between 15 to 30 days depending on the size of the replacement area.
The cost of replacing a foundation varies depending on the size and construction of the home.