| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| rock foundation | 11/21/2009 |
Q: I have a crack 1/4in in my foundation . The foundation is about 2 1/2 ft thick 6 ft tall and ...
A: You have described a foundation that is 2-1/2ft thick....That leads me to believe that the ...
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| Floor Sloping | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I have a brownstone (Built 1910) in the new york city area. The building is 4 story, masonry ...
A: I am sorry that I cannot offer any remedial recommendations for structural components without ...
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| Floor Sloping | 11/16/2009 |
Q: I have a brownstone (Built 1910) in the new york city area. The building is 4 story, masonry ...
A: You have a situation that is actually quite common in older buildings. The floor joists were rough ...
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| Wall separation and bowing | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I have read mostly all of the questions that have been sent to you and the answers but I have not ...
A: The problem that you have described, is a result of foundation settlement, (sinking), in the areas ...
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| soil compaction for footer | 11/12/2009 |
Q: I'm interested in a lot that the city requires a soil compaction test for before building.I live in ...
A: The engineer will need to design the footer, and the supportive foundation walls, based upon the ...
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| soil compaction for footer | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I'm interested in a lot that the city requires a soil compaction test for before building.I live in ...
A: Many Cities and Counties are now requiring soil tests and soil compaction verification along with ...
|
| Shed Foundation Repair | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I live in New England and have a basic stick built shed. It's about 10x20. The above-ground ...
A: You mentioned that the shed's above ground structure is sound, therefore it should be no problem to ...
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| Mono slab perimitr raise | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I have 45 ft outside wall needs 1/2 to 11/2 inch raise.Dug under footing poured 2 ft sq 4 inches ...
A: I suggest installation of helical or hydraulic pressed piers to a verified depth resistance that ...
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| digging for 10'x20' addition - hit ledge | 11/4/2009 |
Q: Our home is 20 years old. A local foundation company starting digging for our foundation to support ...
A: This is a very difficult question to answer without investigating you local County requirements for ...
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| Rear Foundation Movement | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I have a 100 yr old 2 story barn in Ohio. The original foundation was brick and the barn was ...
A: It is difficult to make any recommendations without examining the frame and the load bearing beams ...
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| recommended method to repair foundation supported by aging wood pilings | 11/2/2009 |
Q: I have a split level home in one of the suburbs located adjacent to New Orleans, La. The house was ...
A: I am very sorry that I cannot endorse any pressed pier or: Mini Pile, except our own. You have ...
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| Foundation in rock | 10/31/2009 |
Q: I am having a house built. It turns out that one foot below the surface is rock. They cut a hole in ...
A: My first thoughts are: Why isn't the foundation simply built on top of the verified rock? Carving ...
|
| Southern Ca house | 10/31/2009 |
Q: We have a house in So. CA (built '87.) We bought in 2002. Last week we had warm floors that turned ...
A: Trying to get insurance companies to help with foundation problems is very difficult. You should ...
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| Concrete porch sinking | 10/30/2009 |
Q: Our house was built in 1986 in an area with shrink-swell clay soil. Within the last few years, the ...
A: You should definitely seal the gap along the edge of the concrete pad with a silicone type concrete ...
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| Foundation Issues | 10/29/2009 |
Q: We have probable foundation damage and would appreciate your help. We live in East Texas and our ...
A: The structural inspection will provide you with a written description of the faults discovered in ...
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| foundation repair on old farm home | 10/29/2009 |
Q: I read with interest your response to someone in Canada with a 130 year old house with foundation ...
A: I can understand your thoughts and I usually try to encourage folks to restore their structures and ...
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| Room Extension | 10/26/2009 |
Q: We purchased our home in 2004, the previous owners did a great job of covering up the "shifting" of ...
A: I believe you would have needed to challenge the inspection findings within the first year of ...
|
| How to replace a 4 ' fdn.wall withan8' wall | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I have a 4 foot foundation (with a crawl space)and a sand floor. My entire house is on BEACH ...
A: I would recommend contacting a reputable foundation piering company in your area. They will be able ...
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| Gap between Concrete Slab & Brick | 10/22/2009 |
Q: Our entryway was pulling away from the house awhile back and now we have about a 1 inch gap between ...
A: The type of round foam stripping is actually a closed cell, gap filling, material that comes in many ...
|
| Seperating Porch | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I have a porch addition that I'm guessing was installed back in the 50's. It is NOT on a slab, it ...
A: It is very difficult to give cost estimates on any particular foundation piering, without examining ...
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| East side continuous footing rotation | 10/22/2009 |
Q: (To visualize see a rectangle that is about 28" wide by 40' long.) My one story California bungalow ...
A: I am very sorry that I cannot offer answers to these types of technical questions without studying ...
|
| cracks in ceramic tile | 10/20/2009 |
Q: We own a two-story home that was built in 2006. We have lived here a little over two years. A ...
A: You will not need a structural inspection on a concrete slab floor, because it is not a structural ...
|
| cracks in ceramic tile | 10/20/2009 |
Q: We own a two-story home that was built in 2006. We have lived here a little over two years. A ...
A: It does make a difference!.....The cracking in the tile will be an indication of slab heave or ...
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| Porch Slab | 10/19/2009 |
Q: We live in South Texas in a 10 year old home. We've had a drought here up till 4 weeks ago. While ...
A: It is very difficult to guess what might happen if the clay soil swells or expands with moisture ...
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| cracks in ceramic tile | 10/19/2009 |
Q: We own a two-story home that was built in 2006. We have lived here a little over two years. A ...
A: It may be a serious problem if there is bowing or flexing in the floors, that could be an indication ...
|
| raised foundation - seems like it is sagging | 10/17/2009 |
Q: I have a raised foundation, not concrete. When I walk on the floor throughout the house the floor ...
A: You should contact a reputable contractor in your area, and have the sagging floors examined. I have ...
|
| filling crack between house foundation and driveway | 10/14/2009 |
Q: I have an approximately a 1/2 inch crack between the house foundation and the driveway. There is ...
A: Yes!......It will work great on any concrete cracks that you are trying to waterproof. Sometimes the ...
|
| Undercut footing | 10/14/2009 |
Q: The recent flooding in the South undercut my footings on one side of the house; I have attached a ...
A: I would not recommend attaching more concrete along side of a compromised footing. You would just be ...
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| leaking block wall | 10/14/2009 |
Q: I have a leak in my foundation wall. I noticed a wet area on my drywall, so I removed the drywall to ...
A: I believe that the use of hydraulic cement, or any other type of inside sealant, will only work ...
|
| flooding sunken living room | 10/13/2009 |
Q: my newlywed husband and i purchased a home in South Western Louisiana which was very well built in ...
A: It is very difficult to offer any remedial advice without thoroughly inspecting the structure and ...
|
| Failing foundation walls | 10/13/2009 |
Q: I am purchasing a home built in the 20's and the foundation on opposing sides has some bowing. It ...
A: The best way to provide the maximum support, without replacing the stone foundation, is to install ...
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| Foundation | 10/12/2009 |
Q: we have a twenty year old rancher with a walkout basement. We have had trouble with water coming in ...
A: The cinder blocks should be set upon the concrete foundation, whether it be a spread footing or a ...
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| floors raised near chimney | 10/10/2009 |
Q: what is the best method to level floors near a center chimney? Our second floor is raised(bowed) ...
A: To be able to answer your question, I would need to know if the center beam(s)are connected into ...
|
| block/brick garage | 10/8/2009 |
Q: This isn't exactly a foundation question, except it is the 'foundation' to add garage doors. We had ...
A: The best way to rip out and replace the problematic footer, is to contact a professional in your ...
|
| Steel Support Pipe Crack | 10/8/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a home that is 23 years old. I have 5 columns in the basement that are steel ...
A: I would recommend contacting a structural specialist, and having the cracked steel columns replaced. ...
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| Cracks in Post Tension Slab | 10/7/2009 |
Q: I purchased my town home 1/09, it was brand new. There were hair line cracks in the garage floor. ...
A: You mentioned the fact that you have retained legal council. The only thing you can do at this ...
|
| filling crack between house foundation and driveway | 10/6/2009 |
Q: I have an approximately a 1/2 inch crack between the house foundation and the driveway. There is ...
A: I would recommend removing any sand or debris from the gapped area,(vacuum the area), and then ...
|
| failed footing | 10/6/2009 |
Q: I have a carport that is supported on 1 side by 2 columns. These columns sit on a brick pier. The ...
A: You will need to find the source of water that has softened the existing footing, or you will have ...
|
| Cracks along bricks... | 10/5/2009 |
Q: Ed, Thanks in advance for your time and willingness to answer my/our question. I have reviewed ...
A: I am going to make the recommendation of having the sunken porch foundation piered before you ...
|
| cutting thru cold-rolled steel C channel | 10/4/2009 |
Q: I was doing a google search on cutting/modifying C-channels and came across a very thorough answer ...
A: Without making a thorough examination of the structure, I cannot offer any recommendations about ...
|
| Structure built at the bottom of a hill. | 10/4/2009 |
Q: I have a fully concrete structure (110ft x 50ft)(hollow block and poured) built at the bottom of a ...
A: From your description of the amounts of rainfall, year round, I really believe that concrete may be ...
|
| Moisture/effloressence | 10/2/2009 |
Q: Recently purchased a house in Delaware County, PA it sit at the top of a hill.The foundation walls ...
A: I fully understand your thoughts about capturing any water that may seep down through the surface ...
|
| foundation caulking | 10/2/2009 |
Q: Is it OK to use 3/8 inch backing rods for indoor basement caulking between concrete foundation and ...
A: The closed cell backing rods should be fine, and they should be mold resistant because of the ...
|
| Moisture/effloressence | 10/1/2009 |
Q: Recently purchased a house in Delaware County, PA it sit at the top of a hill.The foundation walls ...
A: Whenever there is water along side of a cinder block foundation, you will get seepage! You can try ...
|
| worst case scenario | 10/1/2009 |
Q: what is the worst case. top of wall is at grade. top of wall is 3 inches below grade. wall is 16 ...
A: The worst case would be having the top of a foundation wall below grade! Having the foundation wall ...
|
| 1600 year old adobe walls with out foundations | 10/1/2009 |
Q: could your company pump material under adobe walls to stabilize them? Also, where are you located? ...
A: Our firm is located in Golden Colorado, (just west of Denver) I'm sorry but we do not offer grout ...
|
| Cracks in ceiling and wall seperation from foundation | 9/28/2009 |
Q: Our house was built in 1999, but we just bought it a year ago. Just within the past few months I ...
A: From your description of the crack location, I would think there has been some differential movement ...
|
| Tilting Foundation | 9/24/2009 |
Q: I have a 10 year old 2-story house that has a concrete foundation that has been described as having ...
A: Steel piers are absolutely the best way to go! Most reputable installers will guarantee them ...
|
| caulking foundation | 9/23/2009 |
Q: If I apply silicone sealant between my concrete foundation and the boards attached to the ...
A: Silicone will make a great seal for air and moisture. The original seal strip is just a simple thin ...
|
| voids under concrete patio against house | 9/23/2009 |
Q: Can you give me alternate ideas to fill voids under a concrete patio. The voids appear to be around ...
A: There are only two proper ways to handle your situation. 1. Have grout injection performed in the ...
|
| pond leak | 9/22/2009 |
Q: Hoping you can help me. We bought a place with a small stream fed pond in the backyard. It has a ...
A: Bentonite will always expand rapidly when water is introduced. You would need to blend the bentonite ...
|
| soil seperating from foundation | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I live in Edmonton, Alberta. My house is a 50 year old Bangalow with a basement. Last year I've ...
A: Soil separation from along side of a foundation or structure is caused from soil contraction, ...
|
| Wall above fireplace mantel | 9/20/2009 |
Q: this section of wall, has been cracking and falling down, so I just jumped in today. have found that ...
A: Beneath the paint and wall paper, there should be a layer of plaster that is supported by thin ...
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| foundation wall | 9/20/2009 |
Q: I resently had a new foundation wall poured after the carpenter started framing it was discovered ...
A: You have just contacted an expert that has been in the business for 20 years! I have given you my ...
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| Recurring Foundation Problems | 9/20/2009 |
Q: We live in Carrollton, TX and we had our foundation worked on approximately 8 years ago. House is 40 ...
A: I believe you are in the middle of something that will require some legal advise. Unfortunately I ...
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| Localized Foundation Issue | 9/20/2009 |
Q: We live in a tri-level house with a concrete slab on one side and a raised pier foundation on the ...
A: I would recommend hydraulic pressed steel piers around the perimiter of the affected area(s) of the ...
|
| Foundation Wall | 9/17/2009 |
Q: We are looking at a house that has poured concrete foundation walls. Then in most of the basement, ...
A: The blocks that you have described, make no practical sense. The only possible purpose would be to ...
|
| Recurring Foundation Problems | 9/17/2009 |
Q: We live in Carrollton, TX and we had our foundation worked on approximately 8 years ago. House is 40 ...
A: I am always sorry to hear about poor workmanship in the most important part of a building: The ...
|
| garage footing | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I have a 60 year old house and two car garage of which the floor in the garage has maybe 4 large and ...
A: You will need to have the foundation examined by a licensed structural engineer or similar expert in ...
|
| foundation wall | 9/15/2009 |
Q: I resently had a new foundation wall poured after the carpenter started framing it was discovered ...
A: The newly poured concrete foundation wall should be 8" thick, 4000psi concrete, and have rebar ...
|
| soil erosion along driveway edge | 9/13/2009 |
Q: total depressed area is about 8ft long down the edge of the driveway along the direction of the ...
A: I'm not sure what your question is, but I'm guessing you want to know what to do?? From your ...
|
| stabilize footer under brick facade | 9/13/2009 |
Q: 1974 Georgian style brick facade 2-story SE MI home. Basement is under main part of home and is ...
A: I'm sorry I don't know any foundation piering companies in Michigan. You will need to check your ...
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| stabilize footer under brick facade | 9/12/2009 |
Q: 1974 Georgian style brick facade 2-story SE MI home. Basement is under main part of home and is ...
A: The best method of repair is purely a matter of opinion. Every contractor that you speak with will ...
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| house pier repair | 9/11/2009 |
Q: My house has been sitting on jacks since 2 piers were replaced 2 weeks ago by a company I hired. ...
A: I think I am getting the picture here. Evidently the contractor has poured some new corner caissons, ...
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| foundation settlement | 9/10/2009 |
Q: I am purchasing a house. The inspection found a crack on the garage side wall. He recommended having ...
A: The settlement of the foundation can be corrected and stabilized. The fact is: It will cost money. ...
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| house pier repair | 9/9/2009 |
Q: My house has been sitting on jacks since 2 piers were replaced 2 weeks ago by a company I hired. ...
A: I'm assuming you are describing mid beam support columns, when you say replacement piers. I really ...
|
| deteriorating foundation | 9/8/2009 |
Q: The concrete foundation on my 40 yr old home in buffalo NY is deteriorating from the outside. It ...
A: There may be a need for muriatic acid to remove the loose oxidized surface material, and then of ...
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| deteriorating foundation | 9/7/2009 |
Q: The concrete foundation on my 40 yr old home in buffalo NY is deteriorating from the outside. It ...
A: There really is nothing you can do to stop the process, because there is a lack of adhesion between ...
|
| pond leak | 9/6/2009 |
Q: Hoping you can help me. We bought a place with a small stream fed pond in the backyard. It has a ...
A: I believe your idea may work just fine if you can create a slurry that is approx the consistency of ...
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| Foundation stability | 9/6/2009 |
Q: - am looking at purchasing a home in east Texas. The outside walls have a few hairline cracks in ...
A: From your description of the cracks, I believe there has been minimal settlement of the foundation. ...
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| cinder block foundation | 9/5/2009 |
Q: My wife and i are contemplating a total remodeling including adding on a considerable amount of ...
A: You should be fine adding full depth basement type foundation walls up against the existing basement ...
|
| cinder block foundation | 9/4/2009 |
Q: My wife and i are contemplating a total remodeling including adding on a considerable amount of ...
A: You should certainly repair any failure in the cinder block wall, whether you remodel or not. You ...
|
| helical vs. push piers | 9/4/2009 |
Q: Our 39 year-old cinder block foundation house, which is built on marine clay in Northern Virginia, ...
A: -Usually hydraulic pressed steel piers can be stabbed much deeper into load bearing bedrock or ...
|
| CENTER OF HOUSE LIFTING | 9/4/2009 |
Q: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LIFT THE FOUNDATION OF HOUSE WHEN THE MIDDLE NEEDS TO BE RAISED?
A: It depends on the type of foundation. If the home is built upon a perimeter foundation: (Either a ...
|
| sagging floors/wall separation | 9/3/2009 |
Q: The house was built in the early 1900's one level.The problem-the living room floor is slanting as ...
A: From your description of the age of the structure, and the noticeable moisture, I would guess that ...
|
| Basement wall bowing | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing a home that has a block basement. It is 41 years old and during ...
A: Block foundations can be easily damaged by saturated soil, and they will leak if there is any ground ...
|
| Sloping first floor rooms in beach house | 8/30/2009 |
Q: My wife and I are looking for a new home and have found a three story in Florida right on the beach. ...
A: You should insist on having a structural inspection by a licensed PE, (structural engineer). There ...
|
| moisture | 8/29/2009 |
Q: my son has a subgrade condo in chicago. an inspection was performed (condo is or sale)which ...
A: There is always a solution to every problem, but the trick is identifying the source of the problem. ...
|
| foundation repair | 8/27/2009 |
Q: My house is a cape cod two story home and was built in 1990. I moved in around 1999 knowing there ...
A: Either type of piering system should provide the needed stabilization, as long as they are installed ...
|
| sinking foundation | 8/26/2009 |
Q: Ed, I just sent you an e-mail about 30 min ago and need to correct the sinkage amt to exactly 3/4 of ...
A: My response to your previous e-mail remains the same. The settlement will absolutely continue unless ...
|
| corner foundation sinking | 8/26/2009 |
Q: Ed, 4years ago we added an addition approximate 81/2 by 13 off our dinning rm. we put a stem wall ...
A: Yes it is something to be concerned about. There is soil softening from saturation beneath the ...
|
| sinking asphalt driveway | 8/26/2009 |
Q: Ed, My home was built in 2000 with an asphalt driveway. The asphalt has started to sink and ...
A: I would use good compactible road base material to fill the void. You can pack it tightly and then ...
|
| House without foundation | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I own a house without a basement or regular foundation. it was built upon cement block posts. This ...
A: There should be concrete footings beneath the existing block columns. The depth of the footings ...
|
| replacing termite damaged bottom sill | 8/25/2009 |
Q: We bought a house w/ termite damage (1955 California rancher, perimeter foundation w/ some int ...
A: I would recommend contacting a licensed structural engineer to examine the damage and devise the ...
|
| Basement Pellet Stove through foundation install | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I am installing an Englander 25-PDVC pellet stove in my basement. The basement is mostly below ...
A: If you can cut the 7-1/2" hole just above the sill plate, centered between the floor joist end ...
|
| Slab sinking | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I have a 32 yr old ranch house on a slab foundation in So NM. The house has had a couple additions ...
A: Yes the slab can be stabilized by finding the soil softening problem and stopping the settlement. I ...
|
| window well | 8/23/2009 |
Q: I am having a problem with a window well. The ground around the well is sinking in from rain and I ...
A: You will need to create a positive grade slope away from the window well and at least 6ft out into ...
|
| crack in front of house | 8/23/2009 |
Q: Ed, we viewed a flat in a house we are interested to buy. But we found a 5-6 cm width crack on the ...
A: It is very difficult to offer any suggestions or remedial plans without thoroughly examining the ...
|
| salinity harming the building & settlement. | 8/21/2009 |
Q: My 110 year old brick home is next to a canal on very saline soil with a water table that often ...
A: You will need to consult with specialists in hydro grouting and soil testing. I'm sorry that I ...
|
| brick foundation | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I have an 1880's house with a granite wall basement and double brick foundation on top of the ...
A: It depends on the integrity of the bricks, whether or not they can be patched, or require more ...
|
| post and pad tipping | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I have an ~ 50 year old, small cottage (16'x25') built on post and pads on a slope. The front and ...
A: It is very difficult to make any recommendations without examining the structure myself, but I ...
|
| Cracks in brick veneer | 8/15/2009 |
Q: I have notice cracks in the brick veneer on the front of my 20 year old home recently. I have also ...
A: You should have the foundation stabilized before you try to seal up any gaps or cracks in the ...
|
| Small log well house on broken slab | 8/14/2009 |
Q: I am looking for ways to stabilize a sixty year old 10'x10' log wellhouse built on slab in a very ...
A: It depends on the condition of the lower rows of log, and the original attachment to the slab. There ...
|
| long, continuous crack in tile floor | 8/13/2009 |
Q: Our 2-year-old, 1-floor, North Texas (slab) home is showing an 8-foot, continuous crack that ...
A: There are two possibilities for the cause of the cracking (1) The center area, (where the crack is ...
|
| settling problem | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I have taken your advice and have passed on the moving of a house. Now I am contemplating buying ...
A: It is very difficult to make guesses about cost of repair on damaged homes without making a thorough ...
|
| Bowing block basement | 8/12/2009 |
Q: I live in Peru Indiana, my home is about 60 years old. I have a block basement wall that is bowing, ...
A: Block walls are very difficult to manipulate without catastrophic damage. I understand your ...
|
| settling of older home | 8/11/2009 |
Q: We are contemplating moving a 1967 home to a piece of property, but would like to know what kinds of ...
A: Your concerns are well founded! There will be a great deal of cracking in the walls and ...
|
| Red clay masonary tiles | 8/11/2009 |
Q: My basement is probably circa 1920,30, or 40's. The foundation walls are red clay tile blocks (no ...
A: The very best coating that you can apply is: Epoxy. It will cost more than oil based or latex ...
|
| BASEMENT FLOORING, SUMP PUMP AND SETTLING? | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I have a couple quick questions: 1> I'm looking to purchase a sump pump backup /w battery system. ...
A: You can purchase sump pumps from many builders supply outlets like: Home Depot....Lowes.....Ace ...
|
| foundation | 8/11/2009 |
Q: have a house that was built in 1903 on a stacked stone foundation that is falling apart. could i ...
A: You can install an inner foundation, (sister wall), and use the existing stonework as the outer ...
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| SLAB MOVEMENT | 8/10/2009 |
Q: We live in a 45 year old ranch with partial basement and a slab size of approximately 45'x 23'. ...
A: The piering that has been recommended, is probably the very best plan of permanent stabilization. ...
|
| Foundation Cracks | 8/10/2009 |
Q: Afternoon, I have a poured cement foundation which has several cracks needing repair. The cracks ...
A: It actually depends on several factors: -size of the cracks -soil type.....because there may be ...
|
| Patio Slab Adjacent to a Creek | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a townhouse that has a screened patio that quickly slopes into a dried up creek ...
A: From your description of the soil type, and the erosion that is taking place, I can say that you ...
|
| poor drainage around home | 8/7/2009 |
Q: We had an appraisal on this home and it said repair poor drainage around house. All water needs to ...
A: The first thing to try is contacting landscaping contractors. Ask them about their expertise with ...
|
| falling house? | 8/7/2009 |
Q: I bought my townhouse (End Unit) in the end of 2007 which has stucco wall and a crawl space. At that ...
A: From your description of the cracking and obvious frame movement, I can say with absolute certainty ...
|
| Repair advice for hole found in poured basement wall | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Greetings, We have been building a home for the past four years. ICF forms were used for the pour ...
A: There is really no need for expansion. You could cause bulging that would look like a poorly done ...
|
| Fine sand filling in Foundation trenches | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Respected Sir, Here I request you to kindly provide me a technical method on sand filling in ...
A: There are only (2) methods of sand filling that I am aware of. 1. pour the sand directly into the ...
|
| wall pushed in | 8/6/2009 |
Q: i have a wal that has a bow in it top is in place and bottom is about 6 to 8 inches in now the very ...
A: You have described a serious problem with your foundation wall. I'm sorry to say that there isn't ...
|
| North Fl. Monolithic Slab repair? | 8/5/2009 |
Q: The concrete block home I'm living in (built 1964) had an 10x12' addition added sometime ago ...
A: You can absolutely save the structure! You should contact a foundation piering company in your area. ...
|
| building patio up to foundation | 8/4/2009 |
Q: We are building a pool in our backyard and the concrete deck will abut the house (slab). We have ...
A: I would recommend removing the irrigation lines right away, especially if you are planning any type ...
|
| water & mold damage | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I just bought a condo and i wanted to redo the bathroom...a union carpenter (friend of family) came ...
A: From your description of the deterioration and mold noticed in the frame of your condo, I would say ...
|
| BENTONITE | 7/31/2009 |
Q: A company is replacing and old pipeline with a new pipeline through an existing right of way. The ...
A: If the contractors were using bentonite as a slip lubricant, there will only be small percentages ...
|
| basement and bricks | 7/31/2009 |
Q: our 1.5 yr old house has developed cracks{stairstep} on all levels in different areas. the builder ...
A: Yes!....Soil tests should be done prior to construction planning. Many County building departments ...
|
| need a foundation | 7/31/2009 |
Q: I own a small 1,000 sq ft house built in 1904 and it has a combination of wood beams & stone ...
A: Depending on the condition of the original stone foundation, It is possible that you may be able to ...
|
| basement and bricks | 7/31/2009 |
Q: our 1.5 yr old house has developed cracks{stairstep} on all levels in different areas. the builder ...
A: The most important thing to do is stay after the builder to make any repairs or corrections before ...
|
| crumbling pylons | 7/30/2009 |
Q: My home is in San Diego and was built in 1929. It is a two-story Spanish Mediterranean with a crawl ...
A: You should be able to find a local contractor that can replace the failing concrete columns with ...
|
| How to improuve foundations. | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I am learning slowly with my properties, now, I just bought a 350 M2 , 2 floors house where I am ...
A: I am sorry that I cannot offer any engineering or technical advice on buildings that I have not ...
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| BENTONITE | 7/30/2009 |
Q: A company is replacing and old pipeline with a new pipeline through an existing right of way. The ...
A: I have never heard of using bentonite as a lubricant for pipe installation. Bentonite is an ...
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| foundation on different soils | 7/30/2009 |
Q: Respected sir, Send me some list of different types of soils and foundation methods in each type of ...
A: I am sorry but there is no brief detail about various soil types. There are literally hundreds of ...
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| fixing a leaky basement | 7/30/2009 |
Q: We have an old home, pre ww2 not sure how much older than that. We are in missouri and habe clay ...
A: I'm sorry that I cannot offer any technical advice without thoroughly examining the structural ...
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| Repair advice for hole found in poured basement wall | 7/28/2009 |
Q: Greetings, We have been building a home for the past four years. ICF forms were used for the pour ...
A: It will be difficult to fill the void with concrete. You will need to build an inner form that has a ...
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| Michigan Basement In Mississippi | 7/28/2009 |
Q: Our "new" (1922)house has a half finished half dirt basement. If I close off the dirt section will I ...
A: You should be able to frame above the block wall, up to the overhead floor joists with conventional ...
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| Foundation Block Divots | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I have a house built in the mid 70's in which the foundation was made of concrete block. The walls ...
A: I believe you are having a problem with mold growth in the pores of the concrete block. There is a ...
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| Michigan Basement In Mississippi | 7/27/2009 |
Q: Our "new" (1922)house has a half finished half dirt basement. If I close off the dirt section will I ...
A: I would recommend installing vents if you plan to seal off an area of the foundation beneath a ...
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| Stair like cracking on a new home | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I am writing to ask about this because it seems to be a little bit of a concern. We have a new home ...
A: There is obviously some perimeter settling taking place and that is why you are seeing the step ...
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| Cabin with shifting problem | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I am having an issue with my cabin. The cabin was built in 1991 and put on 6x6 beams with a crawl ...
A: I'm sorry that I cannot make any technical recommendations without thoroughly examining the ...
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| clay based soil effects on foundation and repair suggestions | 7/26/2009 |
Q: We have a townhouse in Kaneohe, HI that was built in the 70's on clay based soil and on a slope. ...
A: The micro piles / mini piles, should do the trick. The most important thing is reaching a depth that ...
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| clay based soil effects on foundation and repair suggestions | 7/25/2009 |
Q: We have a townhouse in Kaneohe, HI that was built in the 70's on clay based soil and on a slope. ...
A: Our firm provides the very best stabilization bar none!...(I'm just kidding) You have presented a ...
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| Bowing Block Foundation | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I live in an all brick ranch style home with a block foundation built in the 1950's. When I ...
A: You have described an on going problem that is related to overwhelming soil energy against the ...
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| wet wall basement | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I can actually see the limestone and sand which is really moist. the wall is getting worse. water is ...
A: From your description of the saturated area, I am thinking that you probably have a fracture in your ...
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| Using I-Beam braces for lat movement | 7/24/2009 |
Q: I live in Kansas City and my 60 year old house I moved into last year has lateral wall movement as a ...
A: I-beams installed in the wrong situation, (Block Foundations or foundations without rebar), can ...
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| new construction ofsingle family home | 7/23/2009 |
Q: Can I displace 2-3 feet of mud with gravel/stones to stabilize soil for prefab foundation walls? ...
A: You will need to consult with a Geo-Tech, (Geological Engineer). Depending on several factors: ...
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| repair | 7/23/2009 |
Q: i am considering buying a house that is block construction.No basement only a small crawl space. ...
A: You should consult with a local foundation piering company. The crack that you have described, is ...
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| Using I-Beam braces for lat movement | 7/21/2009 |
Q: I live in Kansas City and my 60 year old house I moved into last year has lateral wall movement as a ...
A: Sounds like you have been talking with Carbon Fiber salesmen. There are many factors to consider ...
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| bowed block foundation | 7/20/2009 |
Q: Ed, Are you familiar with carbon fiber straps held in place with epoxy? ...
A: I am familiar with carbon fiber, and I think it can be a great thing in certain environments where ...
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| sand around foundation? | 7/19/2009 |
Q: We live in a one-story pier and beam home, built approximately fifty years ago in an area where the ...
A: When you say you have ground that shifts a lot, I must assume that you have clay based soil. ...
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| Uneven floors/cracks in walls | 7/18/2009 |
Q: I live in Indiana and have noticed that my floors are uneven and have cracks in my interior walls, ...
A: You do not need to dig the areas for the concrete support pads, but you do need to make sure they ...
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| sister wall-inside | 7/18/2009 |
Q: Ed, Do you have a ball park figure on what a inside poured sister wall would cost. Approx. 10x60, ...
A: There is really no way to offer any type of an estimate without examining the entire situation: ...
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| Post Tensioned Suspended Slab | 7/16/2009 |
Q: I am a waterproofing contractor and have taken a job in Dubai to waterproof a 60,000 square foot ...
A: I would guess that there is a problem with expansion and contraction that may be related to the ...
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| Foundation Replacement? | 7/15/2009 |
Q: My house is 80 years old, with a cinder block basement. It is a 2 story, with several little ...
A: The simplest and most cost efficient way to solve your problem is with poured concrete sister walls. ...
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| Betonite and shale | 7/14/2009 |
Q: Ed, We are looking at buying a lot that a soils report was done and they found betonite and shale. ...
A: The house foundation can be built on drilled caissons and can be reasonably secure, but you will ...
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| foundation | 7/13/2009 |
Q: My kitchen has an addition that was originally a back porch. The problem is that there is sagging. I ...
A: Absolutely!.....You may need to remove some of the flooring to acquire access to the floor joists, ...
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| Huge crack in the side of the house... | 7/13/2009 |
Q: My boyfriend lives in a relatively old house (we figure it's about 70 years old), and it wasn't ...
A: It is very difficult to determine the severity of the problem without examining the structure very ...
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| HIgh Moisture Reading on Basement walls | 7/11/2009 |
Q: What are the odds this house has a failed drain tile system? Although we had a light rain the night ...
A: If the home does in fact have a drain tile system, and if it is more than 10 years old, There is a ...
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| Concrete Pillar Pad | 7/10/2009 |
Q: Great website ! Bruce posted a question on 12/4/07 regarding crawl space pillars etc. I have the ...
A: It depends on the soil type. Generally, the concrete pad is formed right on top of the soil. Most ...
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| bolt in soild concrete wall foundation | 7/10/2009 |
Q: I just bought my first house last October. Yesterday we got alot of rain really quickly 1 1/2" in 40 ...
A: The only bolts that should be in the concrete foundation are the j-bolts that protrude up through ...
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| wicking via brick chimney breast footings | 7/9/2009 |
Q: both my neighbour and I (1850s semis in UK) have damp patches on our alley walls (brick) directly ...
A: Generally, Old brick structures that sit directly into the soil with no concrete footing, will ...
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| grass/soil pullling away from foundation from garage | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I just recently bought a house in south Texas. I've been watering my grass about every 3rd day due ...
A: The soil is probably clay, and the separation that you are noticing is from drying and shrinking of ...
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| sinking floating slab issues | 7/6/2009 |
Q: My husband and I recently purchased a 35+yr ranch in Ohio. We hired an inspection company that comes ...
A: The problem you have described is related to slab settlement and obvious soil softening. If you are ...
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| Wet Basement | 7/2/2009 |
Q: I have seen a product that is a type of barrier that can be fastened to th basement floor and ...
A: If there is such a product being sold or represented, It would not be a proper way of dealing with ...
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| cottage footings | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I am thinking of replacing the original block on pad footings under our cottage due to ...
A: Generally, the best way to safely support any type of structure during manipulation or supportive ...
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| Weeping 100 year old basement walls | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I am partner in a 104 year old house recently remodeled. The exterior and interior basement walls ...
A: Usually the residue that forms on foundation walls, is caused by moisture seepage or condensation ...
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| load bearing beam | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I have a load bearing beam in my basement that has bug damage. I am told the damage is more than ...
A: There is a simpler and more cost effective way to repair the bad section of beam. You mentioned the ...
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| Concrete step | 6/29/2009 |
Q: .. The step down in and out of our front door is too high /low. In order to remedy this, we are ...
A: 1.You should be able to pour the concrete right up against the brice without any inner form. 2.You ...
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| losing dirt around my concreat patio. | 6/29/2009 |
Q: rain is washing away the dirt from around my patio. i can see the hole edge of the concrete. i dont ...
A: First you will need to replace the washed out soil with a good sturdy soil structure such as: road ...
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| masonry cracks | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I am a first-time home buyer who is interested in a house with an stone exterior. However, there ...
A: All cracks, especially in stone type foundations, are a major concern. The cracks are indicators of ...
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| foundation problems | 6/29/2009 |
Q: Our home is 15 yrs old and located in Western Ky, we have clay soil. Our first foundation issue ...
A: Most of the problems you have mentioned are a direct result of soil softening beneath a footing type ...
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| Cracking/crumbling cinder block basement walls | 6/28/2009 |
Q: I am investing into an older home with cracking and crumbling cinderblock basement walls. The ...
A: I would highly recommend consulting with a local structural engineer. That is the only way that you ...
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| Foundation Crack | 6/27/2009 |
Q: I purchased a 2 story house built in 1976 in Glen Burnie, MD. in Oct 2008 and had the home ...
A: There must be some settlement or movement in the block wall that has evidently caused separation in ...
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| bowed foundation walls | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I have a bungalow built in '53. One of the foundation walls is bowed quite badly. It is a full ...
A: The very best repair would be installing a new inner sister wall, Poured concrete, (Not another ...
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| open foundation block homes | 6/25/2009 |
Q: I'm looking at a home built in the 30s (in Florida) and it has openings consistent with an open ...
A: The 30's is a little before my time. Here in Colorado, it is quite common to see block crawl space ...
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| Thin cracked concrete floor water leakage | 6/25/2009 |
Q: Our 1918 ear home has a very thin concrete basement floor. The floor is cracked and has holes in it ...
A: The type of contractors that install new basement floors would be listed in your local directory ...
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| basement wall repair | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I have a basement wall which is badly cracked and overlapping.It is a full basement.I have a 3 story ...
A: Older foundations are difficult to repair once they become cracked and miss-aligned. Often times ...
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| Metal post base problems on Patio Cover | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I live in Phoenix, AZ and we have 6x6 wood posts on our patio cover. The metal bases that wrap ...
A: If you need to replace any of the post base brackets, you will need to install temporary posts along ...
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| re addition on slab in KY, slope and tree | 6/22/2009 |
Q: Ed, I've been reading your answers to similar questions. The huge tree a few feet from the room ...
A: It isn't advisable to place soil up against the siding. Building frame and siding should always be ...
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| drainage problem at floating slab addition | 6/22/2009 |
Q: Our 18x21 family room attached to a small 1960's ranch-style home is on a floating slab. We are in ...
A: Without calling in professional help, you will need to identify the storm water route and divert it ...
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| Air conditioner leaking water in car | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I have a 92 Buick Regal. Water is leaking on the right floorboard from the air conditioner. Where is ...
A: This question was received in the wrong category! Some how you have asked an automotive question ...
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| foundation repair | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I live in San Antonio TX and recently had the foundation on my home repaired. They lifted the ...
A: It is not advisable to leave a void beneath the slab type foundation, particularly beneath areas ...
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| Thin cracked concrete floor water leakage | 6/20/2009 |
Q: Our 1918 ear home has a very thin concrete basement floor. The floor is cracked and has holes in it ...
A: The drain and pump system should help with the water problem, but you should have a nice concrete ...
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| foundation cracks/leaks | 6/19/2009 |
Q: We have one large horizontal crack and several small vertical cracks in our 30 year old poured ...
A: I believe you are on the right track! If you can keep the soil next to the foundation as dry as ...
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| raised ranch slab sinking into ground??? | 6/19/2009 |
Q: Ed, I live in a raised ranch, on a slab, built in 1981, 2 stories, garage, family room, 1/2 ...
A: I cannot recommend a course of action without examining the structure myself. I would certainly ...
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| foundation cracks/leaks | 6/19/2009 |
Q: We have one large horizontal crack and several small vertical cracks in our 30 year old poured ...
A: From your description of the horizontal crack, and the water coming in to the basement after rain ...
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| Carbon Fiber Strips | 6/18/2009 |
Q: My foundation wall is suffering from a little bowing, about 1.5 inches. It’s a walkout basement and ...
A: There is cause for concern on all types of cracks in foundation walls, particularly when the ...
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| foundation repair advice | 6/17/2009 |
Q: A part of my foundation has been in need of repair for quite some time. I now have the opportunity ...
A: It is very difficult to get a good perspective, of the reason for the foam, by just looking at the ...
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| foundation repair advice | 6/16/2009 |
Q: A part of my foundation has been in need of repair for quite some time. I now have the opportunity ...
A: From the photos, I can see that you have a slab type foundation. The gaps along the edge are due to ...
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| block wall lift and reair | 6/11/2009 |
Q: mr Ekly,i have a garage in brnson mo 24 x 24 one back corner has settled and the floor is cracked ...
A: Your plan will probably work just fine, but you will need to correct the groundwater problem that ...
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| Finish on old limestone foundation | 6/10/2009 |
Q: I have a limestone basement. A section of the wall has what looks like a smooth 'cement' coating on ...
A: You should consult with a local mason. There will be several steps involved in cleaning and ...
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| Foundation Shifting/Warranty Issues | 6/10/2009 |
Q: Greetings. My wife and I, first-time buyers, found a great house in Bedford. It was built in 1979. ...
A: It is only a good idea to purchase the house IF you can buy it for approx 50% of the value of a ...
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| concret dust in garage | 6/7/2009 |
Q: i was cleaning the garage yesterday and when i moved my work table out to clean behind it, i found a ...
A: I am not aware of any type of insect or creature that attacks concrete. My guess would be that the ...
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| crumbling limestone wall | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I live in Malta and the crumbling of limestone is a problem. Here they use linseed oil (yuk). I have ...
A: I am not aware of any chemical that can fortify or strengthen crumbly limestone. I believe you may ...
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| 1700's house | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I am considering a house said to be built in the mid to late 1700's in Northern NJ. It is ...
A: I would say that the problems that you have described will cost way over $80,000 or more, and there ...
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| foundation folloup question | 6/2/2009 |
Q: I just bought a single family one story home that was made in 1979 and it did have a foundation ...
A: Yes!.....Especially clay based soils that Texas and Colorado have in common. Please click on the ...
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| basement wall repair | 6/2/2009 |
Q: I have a 1927 bungalow that has one small leak that sometimes appears after a heavy rain. I know the ...
A: I believe you are on the right track. The plans that you have mentioned, should take care of the ...
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| foundation | 6/1/2009 |
Q: I just bought a single family one story home that was made in 1979 and it did have a foundation ...
A: Whatever you do,,Do Not use soaker hoses or any other form of soil moisturizing. The soil must be ...
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| cracks in brick | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I have a 4 year old home with a concrete slab foundation in Amarillo, TX with a basement. We have a ...
A: Soil injection is only affective for soil voids and temporary stability in situations where there is ...
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| House is leaning, settled or unsafe? | 5/30/2009 |
Q: I bought a house a couple of years ago that had evident foundation problems. It was built around ...
A: Whenever there is leaning or bulging in older structures, There is tremendous risk of collapse. You ...
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| Foundation leak | 5/29/2009 |
Q: My 30 year old Fl home has a foundation leak in the NW corner of the livingroom. It leaks like a ...
A: You have not mentioned whether or not the leak is during heavy storms, or just constantly throughout ...
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| Foundation crack | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I just had a pre-purchase inspection completed on a single-story, poured slab foundation home in ...
A: I'm not following your description. You have mentioned a horizontal crack that is approx 36" long, ...
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| your email rgd foundation | 5/29/2009 |
Q: Your response to my question regarding whether or not you can anchor a brick foundation (retro-fit ...
A: I'm not sure if there is a way to re-send the email through this website. The answer became public ...
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| settled foundation | 5/28/2009 |
Q: My foundation is limestone and settled. What do I use for shims and where do you recommend I get ...
A: I am assuming that you are trying to shim the sill plate in an attempt to level the house frame. I ...
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| Brick and mortar foundation | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I am looking to buy a house and one in particular has a brick and mortar foundation. The house is ...
A: Generally the brick type foundations are back in the 1940's or earlier, and the integrity is ...
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| Lowering a basement floor? | 5/28/2009 |
Q: my wife and I are thinking about purchasing a home in the Washington, DC area. The one we're ...
A: I understand the need for more space and I must caution you about older structures because of the ...
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| Garage wall buckling | 5/27/2009 |
Q: My garage back wall (37ft across) and the right wall (27ft deep) are buckling inward. They are ...
A: It is very difficult to give advice about securing compromised cinder block walls, without examining ...
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| basement seepage | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I live in Chicago and own a brick raised ranch, built in 1957. I caulked all around the outside of ...
A: From your description of the water seepage, I am thinking that you have a defective downspout drain ...
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| Foundation drip systems | 5/26/2009 |
Q: My home is about 5 years old and is on a concrete slab. Currently I do not have a problem. I have ...
A: Yes!...That is exactly what you can do to insure stability and protect the concrete slab type of ...
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| Foundation drip systems | 5/26/2009 |
Q: My home is about 5 years old and is on a concrete slab. Currently I do not have a problem. I have ...
A: I would not recommend water drip systems to anyone! The problem is: There is absolutely no way ...
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| crack repair | 5/26/2009 |
Q: Ed, I have a sidewalk outside my bedroom which is on a slab. The sidewalk has a 1" wide crack ...
A: I would use a stronger concrete crack repair compound. There are some good quality products ...
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| Concrete slab next to basement wall | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I'm curious about whether you could place a concrete slab next to a basement. Would the weight of ...
A: You can absolutely install a concrete slab up next to a basement foundation wall. Many builders ...
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| Raised ranch foundation drainage | 5/23/2009 |
Q: 05/23/09 I have a raised ranch(35 yrs) and never had a leaky foundation. I have a sump pump ...
A: I would say that after 35 years, if you haven't experienced any particular movement or foundation ...
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| cracks from water | 5/22/2009 |
Q: the 2 story house was built around 1860 to 1870.The ruble stone walls are about 2ft. thick and are ...
A: It is possible to make some of the repairs yourself, if you have the expertise. It sounds like you ...
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| New home foundation failure | 5/21/2009 |
Q: One wall of our new foundation failed during the backfill process. It is a deep pour 9 foot for a ...
A: It is very difficult to determine exactly what went wrong with the foundation strength, but ...
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| my Michigan Basement is crumbling.... | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I have a 100 + y.o., two story, rental property in Kalamazoo, MI. The floors do slant in some places ...
A: I understand your concern and I know that proper reinforcement or rebuilding your old foundation is ...
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| old stone foundation | 5/1/2009 |
Q: My family's home is 110 years old built with a stone foundation. Nothing has been done over the ...
A: You really should make an attempt to correct any noticeable problems with the foundation before you ...
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| bathroom floor | 4/30/2009 |
Q: my bathroom floor has ceramic tile. It is cracked in several places and is uneven. How do I repair ...
A: The most important thing is identifying the reason for the movement in the floor that caused the ...
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| Sunken living room leaking | 4/28/2009 |
Q: I live in Houston, TX. My sunken living room (2 steps, 12" deep) fills with water when we have a bad ...
A: You have described a concrete slab floor that is installed below grade, (similar to a basement floor ...
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| cracked stem walls | 4/28/2009 |
Q: Which would you be more concerned about. A horizontal crack or stair step cracks in stem walls. ...
A: I would be equally concerned about all visible cracks because they all tell a story about particular ...
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| flaking concrete blocks | 4/27/2009 |
Q: My house was built in 1952. After the snow melted, I noticed a bubble like thing. I touched it a ...
A: The problem that you have described is a result of moisture attacking the cinder blocks and possible ...
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| sinking driveway | 4/27/2009 |
Q: Our house was built in 1995. The asphalt driveway has sunk about 3-7 inches from the garage floor. ...
A: It depends on the condition of the garage floor and the existing slope of the driveway, the apron, ...
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| uneven floors pier beam | 4/27/2009 |
Q: I own a 2 story 2400 sq ft, wood frame, vinyl sided house in Florida.It was manufactured in 1986. We ...
A: I don't think it is a coincidence that the additional squeaking and nail popping is occurring over a ...
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| Bowed Basement wall | 4/27/2009 |
Q: Foundation is bowed about 2 inches in middle. Wall is made of blocks. I have been here 12 years ...
A: I am not familiar with that term: Monkey Bars.....It is probably a made up name for some sort of ...
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| Rotten Pole Buiding | 4/26/2009 |
Q: I've got an older pole barn. I've noticed that some of the boards around the base of the barn have ...
A: I would recommend contacting a professional to help you with that type of a problem. There will be a ...
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| Tree close to house | 4/24/2009 |
Q: We have a mulberry tree that sprouted up several years ago and is growing quickly. It is very close ...
A: Mulberry trees are very nice to have, but you really don't want to allow any type of tree to grow ...
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| Concrete Pads | 4/22/2009 |
Q: I am building a small RV park and want to make the pads out of concrete. I have good sub base ...
A: You shouldn't need any beams as long as you use 4000psi mix or stronger, 6000psi fibre mix would be ...
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| Adequate Foundation for 2nd Story Addition | 4/22/2009 |
Q: Ed! I want to know what I should look for to determine if my current foundation is adequate for a ...
A: You will need to talk to your County building department about your planned 2nd story addition. They ...
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| Concrete Pads | 4/22/2009 |
Q: I am building a small RV park and want to make the pads out of concrete. I have good sub base ...
A: I would recommend pouring the pads at least 5" thick and using steel mesh or rebar cross grid. I ...
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| limestone wall repair | 4/22/2009 |
Q: we have a two story home with limestone foundation that seems to be missing some mortar between one ...
A: Actually there is just one type of mortar mix for brick, stone, or block type construction. It is ...
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| Hydro static Pressure is lifting my house | 4/22/2009 |
Q: We live in a 2 storey house with an attached 2 car garage, full basement with poured concrete walls. ...
A: I cannot guess whether or not the house will continue to rise, because I do not know the soil type, ...
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| Telephone tile foundations | 4/21/2009 |
Q: We have a 1917 home - with a (original) telephone tile foundation. The previous owners installed a ...
A: I am sorry to say that I am unfamiliar with such a foundation. If the foundation is constructed from ...
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| Old crumbling cement foundation | 4/20/2009 |
Q: We have a home built in the 1940's that has a crumbling cement foundation on the outside of the ...
A: I believe the previous owner tried to cover up a serious problem. From the looks of the ...
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| limestone wall repair | 4/20/2009 |
Q: we have a two story home with limestone foundation that seems to be missing some mortar between one ...
A: You will need to use a good quality mortar mix. You should thoroughly clean any loose material from ...
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| ground water seepage in basement | 4/19/2009 |
Q: We have a concrete basement (home built in 1971) with furnace ductwork in the floor. In the spring ...
A: The standing water in the vents, with air blowing through the vents, can be dangerous if there is ...
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| Contract for Repair | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I am in the process of getting my entire foundation levelled with steel piers. The question I have ...
A: That particular contract clause, is not common at all. Contractors are liable for any consequential ...
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| footings under deck heaving | 4/19/2009 |
Q: Footings under my deck have raised about 10-12 inches over the past 3-5 years. To adjust fot that I ...
A: It is shocking to hear about such severe heaving of simple deck support piles. I would recommend ...
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| uneven floors pier beam | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I own a 2 story 2400 sq ft, wood frame, vinyl sided house in Florida.It was manufactured in 1986. We ...
A: From your description of the problems, I am certain that your exterior foundation walls are sinking. ...
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| Garage Sill Plate | 4/18/2009 |
Q: I have about 8' of garage sill plate to replace. How Do I raise the corner to insert new sill ...
A: The best way to raise the frame slightly, and temporarily hold the load while the sill plate is ...
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| cabin pier | 4/17/2009 |
Q: I purchased a hunt cabin (approx. 16' x 32') that is built on 16 6" pt piers that are embedded ...
A: It is very difficult to give advice without examining the structure myself, but I will say that I ...
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| Cinder Block Wall Spalling at Grade Line | 4/16/2009 |
Q: The cinder blocks on the south facing frost wall on my garage has spalling at and below the grade ...
A: From your description of the cinder blocks and the negative grade slope, I can assume severe damage ...
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| Steel or Pressed Concrete? | 4/15/2009 |
Q: I have a 3-4" drop all across the front of my home. I've had 6 companies offer bids ranging from ...
A: The Cable Lock system is installed by: Olshan. It is a great piering system that should be ...
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| old rotting cross beam | 4/14/2009 |
Q: I have a house built pre-1860 with a wooden cross beam in the basement running side to side. The ...
A: The simplest way to support the affected end of the beam, is to install a vertical support post ...
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| Cement pad | 4/13/2009 |
Q: We have a walkout basement. Our yard is very wet (always). The cement pad under the walkout is ...
A: It would be advisable to attach the concrete slab to the house foundation, otherwise the edge ...
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| Reinforce an old stone foundation for a new addition | 4/11/2009 |
Q: I have many questions, so I'll try to keep it simple. My house is 100 years old, and sits on a ...
A: -There are ways to install an inner foundation, (sister wall type), without removing the original ...
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| Garage settling, center post has a gap | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 story colonial built in 1992, with an attached garage with a bedroom over it. The garage ...
A: From your description of the situation, I believe the support is set upon the garage floor slab, ...
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| Identification of beams in slab | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I am now in the process of having steel piers installed under my entire foundation (jackhammer is ...
A: Any supportive beams within, or beneath a slab, should be directly beneath load bearing walls or ...
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| Foundation cracked and raised | 4/9/2009 |
Q: My wife and I found a home we would like to buy in Kaysville Utah. It is a two story house with ...
A: The raised part of the basement floor that you have mentioned, (Middle of the floor), will not ...
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| repair priorities | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I live in a 950 ft2 house build in 1939 and located on a hillside in Los Angeles. It's on a pier and ...
A: The number one priority should be: Solid stabilization of the settling foundation. You should ...
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| frost heave | 4/6/2009 |
Q: "Hello, I have a significant heaving issue. We have always had some minor heaving on our deck ...
A: I'm wondering if the drain tiles may be creating a bigger problem than helping the run off ...
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| Slab House Leak | 4/5/2009 |
Q: I have a 7 year old slab house in Florida. Last week we had 4" of rain in one hour, and the next ...
A: You could try to contact the builder and mention the details about the negative grade and the poor ...
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| Sinking Foundation | 4/4/2009 |
Q: I have a concrete slab home in Dallas built in 1959 in an area known for expansive clay soils. It ...
A: I believe you will be in good shape with slab jacking, (mud jacking), and the stability will last as ...
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| cinder block foundation disintegration | 4/4/2009 |
Q: I am looking at buying my first home in Schenectady, NY (upstate) and 2 of the potential homes have ...
A: The deterioration and crumbling of the blocks indicate the possibility of serious structural ...
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| Foundation Corner Damage & Repair | 4/3/2009 |
Q: The corners of the poured concrete foundation have cracked and one has all but fallen off. What is ...
A: The most common cause of corner breakage is: Ice damage. Often times water collects around the ...
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| Raised Foundation Issues | 4/3/2009 |
Q: My fiance and I put a bid in on a single story home built in 1957 in Stockton, CA last week. We ...
A: You could contact a local structural engineer and have the situation examined and then you will have ...
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| high water table | 4/2/2009 |
Q: we bought our first house a year ago and are now having significant water issues. The house is only ...
A: Evidently, the sump system is not adequate for the amount of water flow that is coming towards your ...
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| Drylock on wet walls | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I am currently in the process of putting up a modular home with a full basement made of cinder ...
A: I believe the engineer's recommendations are reasonable, and the application of asphalt coating on ...
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| PVC Sch#80 buried under driveway, strong enough? | 4/1/2009 |
Q: My underground sprinkler system has to pass through driveway. Which pipe is strong enough to bury ...
A: I would recommend sch#80 pvc or sch#40 galvanized steel pipe. I would avoid the use of ABS, because ...
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| boat house floor | 4/1/2009 |
Q: my husband is remodeling a boat house he needs to replace the floor frame because it is rotting how ...
A: It is difficult to answer your question without examining the structure, but I would say that the ...
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| Moisture from foundation electrical line path | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I have a one level poured slab foundation. When we moved into the 8 year old home, we decided to ...
A: There must be a crack in the slab that is allowing the water to seep into the carved trench in the ...
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| raining | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I need my foundation repaired and live in texas. Of course this is the time of the year when it can ...
A: You should wait for the soil to dry up before attempting any type of excavation along side of your ...
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| water leakage in storage room | 3/30/2009 |
Q: When it rain, I have lots of water leakage in my storage room which is inside my garage. The water ...
A: From your description of the water leaking into your garage, I would say that you definitely have a ...
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| half of house sinking | 3/30/2009 |
Q: We bought a 60 year-old cape outside Albany NY last year. The floors in the back-half of the house ...
A: The block foundation that you have described should be situated on a spread footing. The footing ...
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| Bowed concrete block foundation | 3/28/2009 |
Q: Ed - Approximately 20' of the block foundation in the front of my home is bowed slightly (maybe 1.5 ...
A: There is really no standard way of attaching the base of the beams. It is actually a matter of ...
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| Raising My House That Is In Flood Plain | 3/28/2009 |
Q: My home is in the A-9 flood plain in Pasadena, MD .. a 1,300 sq ft bungalow with concrete block ...
A: You will need to find qualified contractors with the proper equipment and expertise to take on such ...
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| 100 house St Paul Minnesota | 3/28/2009 |
Q: Trying to fix up and sell Mother's house. I have a few problems! I think this is a Craftsman or an ...
A: You have obvious foundation settling taking place, and the cracking and distortion that you have ...
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| Bowed concrete block foundation | 3/27/2009 |
Q: Ed - Approximately 20' of the block foundation in the front of my home is bowed slightly (maybe 1.5 ...
A: You should be fine with either method of repair as long as they use good sturdy beams and space them ...
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| replacing existing foundation | 3/27/2009 |
Q: I just brought a cottage in Catskills, New York. The house was originally built on pillars and then ...
A: The situation is quite serious and there is no way to approach the structural repairs without a ...
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| Waterproofing membranes | 3/25/2009 |
Q: We have a leaky basement and we are looking to waterproof our foundation and replace the ...
A: The best thing to do is go with the contractor that provides the best warranty, that way you can be ...
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| wall cracking | 3/25/2009 |
Q: Our house(2-storey) was built in 1992.The soil in the area is black cotton. I understand that this ...
A: The cracking is probably a result of the seismic shaking of the foundation. There must have been ...
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| House built on bentonite soil. Will repairs hold? | 3/24/2009 |
Q: my wife and I are thinking about buying a house north of Denver that was built on bentonite soil. ...
A: It depends entirely on quality of the repairs! There are many regions in Colorado that have varying ...
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| cracked/bowed basement wall | 3/24/2009 |
Q: wall 21'6"x6'6", horizontal crack & steps. approx. 2.5"out of plumb. 5 estimates/inspects. 2 ...
A: I believe you are describing a cinder block foundation..... I have seen many wall anchors fail ...
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| Crack and sag in garage floor. | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing a 2100sf 1986 1-1/2 story Cape Cod with a full basement. It has a three ...
A: All cracks concern me!, however, Garage floors have absolutely no structural relationship with the ...
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| Crack and sag in garage floor. | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing a 2100sf 1986 1-1/2 story Cape Cod with a full basement. It has a three ...
A: I would say that the cracked garage floor should not be a major concern when evaluating the ...
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| 2nd floor movement | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I have two story colonial home in Queens Village NY and I notice sitting in my bedroom (2nd flr) the ...
A: From your description of the type of movement that you are experiencing, I would think that there is ...
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| Hole Under Foundation | 3/22/2009 |
Q: We are having our deck replaced and when they took up the old deck, there was a huge hole under the ...
A: Depending on the area you live in, and the natural soil composition around your home, there are ...
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| wall up lift | 3/22/2009 |
Q: I live in northern WI. I build a 24x24 cabin with a 6' overhang. It sit on a floating slab, the ...
A: It is very difficult to make assumptions without examining the structure, but I believe you are ...
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| Townhouse settling/sinking in middle | 3/22/2009 |
Q: The home is two story with fully finished walkout basement: 3B 3.5 bath 2200sqft. Two years ago, a ...
A: There is no doubt that the foundation is sinking and causing the frame distortion that you are ...
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| foundation | 3/19/2009 |
Q: hello may house is in Miami Florida was built in 1994 I have a problem with may foundation a couple ...
A: You are experiencing foundation, (Slab Type), settling. The cracking and settling are a result of ...
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| Foundation | 3/19/2009 |
Q: As of May3,2002 we used Keystone Foundation to do foundation repairs. They used the Perma Pile to ...
A: You can use any good reputable pile, (piering), system to get satisfactory results, but the ...
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| Leak at Floor/Wall joint | 3/19/2009 |
Q: My house is a split entry located in Dartmouth, NS. It is 30 years old and my husband and I were ...
A: I believe the problem is related to a direct water flow path along that particular side of the ...
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| cottage is sinking | 3/19/2009 |
Q: My cottage is sinking in one corner. It sits on pads with wooden posts. It probably needs to be ...
A: The proper procedure will involve jacking all of the posts at the same time with equal hydraulic ...
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| concrete slab moisture? | 3/18/2009 |
Q: My wife has planted some flowers right against our concrete slab foundation and I am concerned about ...
A: Any type of plant or shrub should not be placed within 5 ft of a building foundation. There should ...
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| Effect on a strip footing of a single story extension | 3/17/2009 |
Q: I live in a duplex dwelling with a double skin (brick) party wall on a shared strip footing. Three ...
A: The additional load could absolutely cause settling in a foundation that was planned for a single ...
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| A pole garage that has raised 2 inches in some areas | 3/17/2009 |
Q: I live in Lagrange Ohio and had a pole garage built 2 years ago. This past winter the front (west ...
A: You have described a situation that can only be possible on heavy expansive clay soils such as: ...
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| Ground is sloping more each year | 3/16/2009 |
Q: I live in Orlando Florida. I have a hillside by our pool, I am trying to head off a potential ...
A: From your description and the visual observation from the photo, I am inclined to belive that there ...
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| underpinning | 3/13/2009 |
Q: basement is 5 feet below grade with attached garage at right side, i want to tear down 1 story ...
A: You need to contact a reputable foundation piering company in your area. The best way to go is with ...
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| 'expert' to expert | 3/12/2009 |
Q: as a fellow engineer I have a question about foundation drainage. Not so much how to do it but ...
A: You have brought up some very good questions. It is basically a situation where the County Building ...
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| foundation | 3/9/2009 |
Q: We have a 2600 sq ft., 1996, crawl space, ranch style home. The last several years we've noticed ...
A: You should have all of the structural adjustments and corrective repairs made before you do any ...
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| garage floor | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I just built a new pole building the fill has settled and left a void of 6in between the concrete ...
A: The fill is obviously settling due to lack of compaction and you really have only two choices: ...
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| leaking into basement from foundation | 3/8/2009 |
Q: I am wondering what kind of options or if this can be done myself. My problem is that in my basement ...
A: You could use a high quality silicone sealant, the type used for concrete and flashings. You need to ...
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| foundation | 3/7/2009 |
Q: We have a 2600 sq ft., 1996, crawl space, ranch style home. The last several years we've noticed ...
A: If your outer walls and doorways are doing well and the problems are with inner walls and bouncy ...
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| drainage under driveway | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I am replacing my gutter drainage system. The old one failed. The pipe must go under the driveway, ...
A: PVC Sch#80 is the best for durability and lasting flow capability. You need to make certain that you ...
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| Foundation Repair | 3/5/2009 |
Q: great column by the way...I live in my mother in laws home in San Antonio. It is an older home build ...
A: Hydraulic pressed steel piers would be the very best way to go! You should try to find the most ...
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| foundation falling apart, | 3/5/2009 |
Q: first of all thank you in advance for all your help, i bought a little old house here in Los Angeles ...
A: It is sometimes difficult to determine the remaining strength of badly oxidized or deteriorated ...
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| Existing House Foundation Question | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I am trying to figure out something about the foundation in a house I may purchase. The house is a ...
A: I cannot think of any other reason for the inset foundation pour, except to provide more depth for a ...
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| Existing House Foundation Question | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I am trying to figure out something about the foundation in a house I may purchase. The house is a ...
A: I am certain that original foundation was a crawl space type,(short foundation), and the inner ...
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| integrity of wooden basement | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I moved a house and hired someone to build a wooden basement for this strucure just a couple of ...
A: That is a very difficult question to answer without knowing the architect or engineered plans for ...
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| foundation piering with a slab | 3/3/2009 |
Q: Help!! My 86-year parents have had foundation piering (cable-lock methd) to their home several ...
A: Piering is used on virtually all types of foundations. Slabs are piered when the outer edges are ...
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| sinkhole roof leak | 3/2/2009 |
Q: I own a 2 story frame house in Florida. We had 3 sink holes under different parts of our house. They ...
A: The frame torsion could cause roof leakage. Often times there is stretching and twisting of the ...
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| Bank Repo | 3/2/2009 |
Q: Ed, Currently looking at a bank repo. Ranch, on crawl space. Cinderblocks are broken, bowing, ...
A: Yes,,Just about any foundation can be fixed, but the amount of damage that you have described ...
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| 100 year old foundation repair | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I am considering buying a 100 year old house in south central Wisconsin. The foundation appears to ...
A: From your description of the floors and the frame squareness, I would say that the foundation must ...
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| new construction | 2/28/2009 |
Q: Ideas on building poured concrete walls into hillside. Drive under garage and small apartment first ...
A: What you are asking for is engineering and design plans. I'm very sorry that I cannot offer these ...
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| vertical crack in foundation wall | 2/28/2009 |
Q: i'm in process of buying a home in northern nj. curent owner has vertical crack in foundation at ...
A: The vertical crack indicates bowing in the blocks. This is a result of soil pressure that could be ...
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| Basement - HELP!! | 2/27/2009 |
Q: Ed, Hopefully you can help me, I'm desperate. I am getting water through one corner of my basement ...
A: You could be taking a risk of bigger problems. You could create a flow path that allows rapid ...
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| reconstructing a home | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I want to buy this house that has been through a fire. The house has been condemned. The interior ...
A: You can check with local realtors about land value per lot size and recently sold comparables. ...
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| reconstructing a home | 2/25/2009 |
Q: I want to buy this house that has been through a fire. The house has been condemned. The interior ...
A: The best advice I can offer is this: Do not anticipate repairing the structure. It will need to be ...
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| Slab on Ground | 2/24/2009 |
Q: First I apologize for my poor English cause I don´t live in the USA. My question is for a good ...
A: Your plan should be more than adequate to hold much larger vehicles than you have mentioned, and the ...
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| Foundation pier adjusment | 2/22/2009 |
Q: I have a slab foundation where seven concrete piers have been installed about six years ago. It ...
A: I would need to examine the structure to determine the best remedy. I cannot comment on another ...
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| old cinder block foundation crack repair and waterproofing | 2/21/2009 |
Q: I have a concrete block resting on a poured cement footing foundation in a 50's-built home. I'm ...
A: I can see by the corner photo that there has been on going settling of the foundation. That ...
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| Foundation Pier Depths in Coastal Areas | 2/20/2009 |
Q: I am designing a beach house style floor plan and was wondering what a standard depth is for ...
A: I don't believe there is a standard depth for concrete caissons at any particular coastal area. Most ...
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| Pouring concrete pad for Garage on rock | 2/19/2009 |
Q: This summer I'm hoping to build a 24 x 22' side entry garage in Newfoundland Canada. I have had ...
A: Based on your description of the rock base that you plan to build on, I would think that you may ...
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| water drainage from retaining wall | 2/17/2009 |
Q: The retaining wall at the back of the property is about 18ft high, separating this property from the ...
A: It depends on the design and the soil conditions. Sometimes weep holes are installed because of no ...
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| Drill piers not deep enough | 2/17/2009 |
Q: On the paid advice of a structural engineer, I had 14 concrete drill piers installed around my home ...
A: The best way to determine the quality and expected life of the steel pressed piers, is by the load ...
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| window cracking | 2/16/2009 |
Q: I lived in an apt for last 2 years and w/in that time, i had 2 of the 3 panes of glass in my huge ...
A: It is possible that the building foundation may have settled during the excavation because of the ...
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| foundation repairs | 2/16/2009 |
Q: we are considering purchasing a home that has had previous foundation repairs. the home was built ...
A: The uneven floors are an indication of possible problems. It is difficult to speculate on whether or ...
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| water drainage from retaining wall | 2/16/2009 |
Q: The retaining wall at the back of the property is about 18ft high, separating this property from the ...
A: Proper drainage is always a concern. An 18ft high retaining wall is certainly something to keep an ...
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| Pier and beam/slab house | 2/15/2009 |
Q: I live in Huntsville, TX in a house that was built in the 40s. That portion of the house is pier ...
A: I'm not sure what you are saying about leveling the pier part about seven years ago....Evidently the ...
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| floating pad foundation reliability in Canada | 2/14/2009 |
Q: We am planning to build a new house on an oceanfront lot in Quebec, canada . The local builder has ...
A: I believe you are absolutely correct. The planned footing should be below the maximum expected frost ...
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| Crawl space block wall | 2/14/2009 |
Q: I just bought a 5 year old house on a crawl space with block wall. when it rains real hard the ...
A: I would say that the answer to your question is YES, The blocks will deteriorate and possibly ...
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| Drill piers not deep enough | 2/14/2009 |
Q: On the paid advice of a structural engineer, I had 14 concrete drill piers installed around my home ...
A: I would talk to the contractors that installed the concrete piers at the 14 ft depth, and confront ...
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| Concrete block foundation spalling | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My concrete block wall is splitting see attached pic. One year ago I painted it with two coats of ...
A: It is difficult to keep coatings on cinder blocks because of the porosity of the blocks. Water ...
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| firplace leaking | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My Split level house is 32 years old (we have lived there for 4 years). We live a very wet and sandy ...
A: Actually, the apron will deflect the water, and there should be no need to modify or change the ...
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| firplace leaking | 2/13/2009 |
Q: My Split level house is 32 years old (we have lived there for 4 years). We live a very wet and sandy ...
A: I believe the remedy that was applied 3 years ago was a good plan and evidently solved the water ...
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| erosion under foundation | 2/13/2009 |
Q: With the recent melt, water has created a hole toward the back of the house that seems to run under ...
A: I would contact a local soil expert, preferably a licensed engineer with soil expertise, and have an ...
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| Drill piers not deep enough | 2/13/2009 |
Q: On the paid advice of a structural engineer, I had 14 concrete drill piers installed around my home ...
A: The drilled piers were obviously not deep enough or strong enough to permanently support the load. ...
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| water in basement | 2/11/2009 |
Q: I have been getting water in my basement after heavy rains, and I have recently discovered that the ...
A: I believe that the mentioned remedy sounds logical and probably is the best plan. I really cannot ...
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| "perspiring" foundation | 2/10/2009 |
Q: My business has a poured cement foundation that extends about 18 inches above ground. On the ...
A: I believe you are describing the inside of a basement foundation. I am going to make a guess based ...
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| Calcium deposits on concrete block foundation wall | 2/10/2009 |
Q: We are considering buying a partially completed home that has not been worked on for over 6 months. ...
A: It is difficult to say whether or not there might be problems with the foundation because of the ...
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| Garage floor cracking | 2/9/2009 |
Q: We had a 2 car garage with attached carport, all detached from the house, built about 8 months ago. ...
A: Based on your description of the slab, I would say that you have a super strong Floor, and it should ...
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| Foundation Sill Compression | 2/9/2009 |
Q: My 2-story house is maybe 150 years old, on a stone foundation. About 8 years ago, I put insulation ...
A: The situation that you have described is quite serious, particularly because of the age and size of ...
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| Garage floor cracking | 2/9/2009 |
Q: We had a 2 car garage with attached carport, all detached from the house, built about 8 months ago. ...
A: Depending on several factors: psi strength of the concrete, Thickness of the pour, whether or not ...
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| Piering | 2/9/2009 |
Q: I am thinking about purchasing a 2-story townhome that is about 4-5 years old. There is no ...
A: The chances of further piering being needed, are slim unless there is a drainage issue where ...
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| FOUNTAION PROBLEMS | 2/8/2009 |
Q: WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF BUYING A HOME AND HAD IT INSPECTED. THE INSPECTOR FOUND SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ...
A: I must agree with the inspector. Whenever there is severe rotting in the frame work of a building, ...
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| floors seem to be sloping at doorways | 2/8/2009 |
Q: Our home is only 1 year and 1/2 old and I have had a lot of problems with squeaky floors. I now have ...
A: From your description, I don't think you are having any foundation problems because you aren't ...
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| Crack in Foundation | 2/7/2009 |
Q: We are in the process of buying a home & have come across one that is perfect but have noticed a ...
A: The slab type foundation is cracking and settling. There has probably been some soil softening due ...
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| Post tension repair | 2/6/2009 |
Q: Poured concrete slab or block, 12 years old, 1 story. I was having plumbing moved in the master bath ...
A: I don't think there is any cause to be concerned about serious problems, but you should probably ...
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| Sinking garage? | 2/6/2009 |
Q: The house is about 50 years old, the garage walls look fine. It is attached the house, the sinking ...
A: You will need to contact a foundation piering company in your area to help you lift up and stabilize ...
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| Foundation leaks | 2/6/2009 |
Q: We have a home with a poured footing/block wall foundation that sits entirely on bedrock. There is ...
A: There are many available foundation sealants on the market, Some containing asphalt, (tar), and some ...
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| footer supports | 2/5/2009 |
Q: I am digging holes in a basement to install jack post to support a 2 story building, my question is ...
A: I'm not quite following you. If you are digging beneath the footing, You will need to install ...
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| how to fix problem | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I live in Staten Island,NY.House build in 2002.Its duplex,two story and full basement,concrete ...
A: From your description, I believe the down spouts are dumping the water directly against the ...
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| Sinkhole under garage apron | 2/3/2009 |
Q: House built 1988 in MN I believe I have a sinkhole under my garage apron. I believe it is from the ...
A: There are a couple of options: #1 you could have a mudjacking company come out and look at the ...
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| Perimeter Foundation | 2/3/2009 |
Q: MY 1917 bungalow has brick around the perimter. On one side it is leaning out, causing the siding to ...
A: You will need an inspection from a qualified structural engineer or foundation repair expert. A plan ...
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| Foundation walls | 2/3/2009 |
Q: We have a single story ranch built in 1957 located in Wisconsin. The attached garage has been ...
A: It is certainly possible to install a basement beneath the garage frame. Your existing foundation ...
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| replacing a basement floor | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I bought a house 5 years ago that was built in aprox 1911, when we get spring rains I get water that ...
A: Whatever you do, Do Not dig under the foundation walls! That old of a foundation is very dangerous ...
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| house with cracked walls | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I'm considering buying a brick house, but the walls inside are cracked in a few places, mostly in ...
A: Your question is very difficult to answer! It could be a great purchase if the repairs are ...
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| shale stone ledge foundation help | 2/2/2009 |
Q: Working in a 1920's home in CT with a portion built directly on some kind of heavily layered shale ...
A: I believe you are looking for a way to simply seal from the inside. I cannot, in good faith ...
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| shale stone ledge foundation help | 2/1/2009 |
Q: Working in a 1920's home in CT with a portion built directly on some kind of heavily layered shale ...
A: The very best plan would be a sister wall. The main reason I say this is because of the age of the ...
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| cracked and bowed block basement wall | 2/1/2009 |
Q: 8' high with only 4' being below ground, the house is aprox. 28' x 28'. 1 wall has horizontal ...
A: Your plan sounds pretty reasonable to me, as long as you use adequate strength lumber, and tie it in ...
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| Mudjacking | 1/31/2009 |
Q: We live in Regina,Saskatchewan, Canada and the soil around us is highly clay. Our 4 level split ...
A: There must be some misunderstanding about the mudjacking in your area. It is not possible to lift ...
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| Mudjacking | 1/30/2009 |
Q: We live in Regina,Saskatchewan, Canada and the soil around us is highly clay. Our 4 level split ...
A: Mud Jacking cannot lift or straighten foundation walls. It is only used for flat slabs such as: ...
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| sinkhole-re cracking | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I live in Florida and last year we noticed some walls were separating from the ceiling. The ins. co. ...
A: The piering and under pinning will require an inspection and measurements of the twisting and ...
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| front wall of house settling | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I have a 2 story 18 yr. old house with a full basement (partially finished) and poured concrete with ...
A: The heaving of the basement floor, could be in reality, the appearance of heaving due to settling ...
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| Soil | 1/29/2009 |
Q: I am looking at buying a house with a walkout basement but the basement was originally dug for a two ...
A: It depends entirely on the type of foundation. If the foundation is set upon drilled caissons, ...
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| sinkhole-re cracking | 1/29/2009 |
Q: I live in Florida and last year we noticed some walls were separating from the ceiling. The ins. co. ...
A: From your description of the problems, I believe the stem-wall foundation is probably built upon ...
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| Steel beams holding up foundation wall | 1/29/2009 |
Q: MO which has some foundations issues that are preventing me to become 'sold' on it. The house is an ...
A: I fully understand your concern! The fact that the foundation must have been poorly designed in the ...
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| house settlement | 1/28/2009 |
Q: Where I live the builders put so many houses up at once that they will tell you that all settlement ...
A: It is very difficult to say what might be considered normal, as far as cracking and frame movement ...
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| house settlement | 1/27/2009 |
Q: Where I live the builders put so many houses up at once that they will tell you that all settlement ...
A: From your description of the settling and cracking, I am thinking that your home is built upon a ...
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| rod and grout | 1/27/2009 |
Q: How do you put the rods into the cinder block wall?
A: Usually the #4 or #5 rebars are installed vertically within the hollow block jackets during ...
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| Poured concrete basement wall pushing in | 1/27/2009 |
Q: I have a ranch style home in the Kansas City area built in 1973 with a full basement and 7' poured ...
A: The excessive amount of bowing, has caused an elevation loss along that particular edge of the ...
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| water enters under home garage and leaks in foundation | 1/26/2009 |
Q: We recently renovated our home. Some of the foundation was pyt in without rebar. We have leaks on ...
A: From your description, I believe you have negative grade or similar water collecting problems along ...
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| Deciding on foundation repair | 1/23/2009 |
Q: Built in 1998 on slab foundation in San Antonio. Crack in sheetrock joint in ceiling near center of ...
A: Whatever you do, Do Not Wet the clay soil. There are many companies suggesting soil dampening in an ...
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| Deciding on foundation repair | 1/22/2009 |
Q: Built in 1998 on slab foundation in San Antonio. Crack in sheetrock joint in ceiling near center of ...
A: Piers should only be needed in the affected areas of the foundation that are showing elevation loss ...
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| Foundation repair | 1/22/2009 |
Q: I have been doing some research on repairing my basement. I live in a 2 story home. Main level with ...
A: My thoughts are: Use Steel support beams!.......If you really want the best possible strength, and ...
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| Foundation Problem | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I live in a nice, middle-class three bedroom home. Foundation work was performed by a reputable ...
A: Whatever you do, Do Not wet the soil!.....The holes have probably captured water from previous rains ...
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| Foundation/floor leak | 1/20/2009 |
Q: I have lived in the same house for 25 years. I never had any leaks until a GIGANTIC rain storm in ...
A: Generally the type of problem that you have described indicates a definite groundwater situation. ...
|
| Wall Bubble | 1/19/2009 |
Q: Today I woke up and found a big water bubble which looks like a blister in my son's room. His room ...
A: The blister appears to be related to some type of a water leak through the wall. The paint appears ...
|
| water in basement following rain | 1/19/2009 |
Q: We have received two estimates. One recommends a sump pump and drain work, second estimate doesn't. ...
A: I agree with you!...The problem is related to negative grade or poor landscape design. Whenever ...
|
| Wall cracks, basement cracks | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I am not in construction so I apologize for the length here. I need help determining if I should ...
A: Part of the problem is floor beam support and joist sagging, but part of the problem appears to be ...
|
| Foundation | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I have a foundation showing moisture between the blocks. This was an addition to a one story brick ...
A: I'm guessing your question is: Where is the moisture coming from?? There must be a source along that ...
|
| Wall cracks, basement cracks | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I am not in construction so I apologize for the length here. I need help determining if I should ...
A: You should contact a foundation repair specialist to examine the situation and design a system of ...
|
| Underground water | 1/4/2009 |
Q: Our home in a 55+ community is 3 years old. It is a one story ranch with a walk out basement.The ...
A: The water can and probably will damage your basement foundation and the floor slab as well.The water ...
|
| foundation crack after repair | 1/4/2009 |
Q: We just had foundation repair (17 exterior concrete piers 3 interior concrete piers). I heard two ...
A: It is very difficult to say what might be considered structurally ok. From your description, it ...
|
| Helical Piers and foundation wall size | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I am having H. Piers installed for a home addition. The basement is only going to be 4 feet lower ...
A: The tie in should be from the sill plate that will be attached across the top of the new foundation. ...
|
| Water around bottom of block foundation and around footer | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I live in a 2 year old ranch home in kevil, Ky. I built the home 300 feet off the road. The home ...
A: I would advise against any gravel or perforated tubing next to the footer. Such a system will ...
|
| Water around bottom of block foundation and around footer | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I live in a 2 year old ranch home in kevil, Ky. I built the home 300 feet off the road. The home ...
A: You have to be very careful when planning any type of collective water drain system along side of a ...
|
| Leaking basement--UPDATE | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I wrote to you last week regarding a Chicago bungalo. I know you must get many questions so I hope ...
A: I believe you are working with a knowledgeable contractor. He is probably planning to rebuild the ...
|
| pier depth | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I'm building a 24'x24' small cabin in southern california on 10"-12" telephone pole piers encased in ...
A: That is a very good question! From what you are saying about the soil structure being decomposed ...
|
| Water leaks in basement wall crack | 12/30/2008 |
Q: On heavy rains, water is coming through some cracks in our basement walls. House was built in 1940. ...
A: Any one of the products will work just about as well as the other for sealing the cracks and making ...
|
| slab settled on newer ranch home | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I am considering the purchase of a four year old 2200 sq ft ranch home in southern Indiana in which ...
A: If the foundation seems to be holding fine and the problem is basically the slab floor settling, ...
|
| leaking basement | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I'm desperate for help. I have a 1950's Chicago bungalow. This past September when we had six inches ...
A: I understand just how frustrating a problem such as yours can be. You are right to analyze the ...
|
| leaking basement | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I'm desperate for help. I have a 1950's Chicago bungalow. This past September when we had six inches ...
A: If you do have a drain tile system, there is about a 95% chance that it is plugged up. The problem ...
|
| Garage floor flooding | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I live in Eastpointe, Michigan and have an unattached, 2 1/2 car garage made of cinder block with a ...
A: From your description of the problem, I believe that your property is collecting water run off from ...
|
| leaking basement | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I'm desperate for help. I have a 1950's Chicago bungalow. This past September when we had six inches ...
A: From your description of the water sources, I am inclined to believe that there is a negative ...
|
| center beam support was cut must fix | 12/28/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could call me. . I bought a 1910 sears robuck home. The structure is 28 x 28. ...
A: The problems that you have described, pertaining to the altered mid beam, are quite serious. You are ...
|
| Leak in garage foundation | 12/27/2008 |
Q: my garage leaks through the wall (foundation made of cinder block with a glaze on the exterior), it ...
A: The problem must be related to a negative grade along that particular area along the garage ...
|
| Leaking Basement | 12/26/2008 |
Q: Our basement leaks water during heavy rains & snowmelt. It comes in throught cracks in the concrete ...
A: Truthfully, I am un-familiar with the product. It sounds great, but I am with you, The cost is quite ...
|
| hole in foundation | 12/26/2008 |
Q: I've recently discovered a hole that was cut in the foundation (about 3 feet in diameter) with a ...
A: I believe you are describing a slab type foundation, and the cut area is probably a sump pump pit. ...
|
| broken drain pipe | 12/26/2008 |
Q: my home is a single family brick home on a concrete foundation built in 1952. 12/23/08 my sink had a ...
A: The access area that is saw cut through the slab, should be patched with 4000psi concrete. Most bag ...
|
| broken drain pipe | 12/25/2008 |
Q: my home is a single family brick home on a concrete foundation built in 1952. 12/23/08 my sink had a ...
A: It is very difficult to say what might be involved with the drain pipe problem. The master plumber ...
|
| Leaking Basement | 12/25/2008 |
Q: Our basement leaks water during heavy rains & snowmelt. It comes in throught cracks in the concrete ...
A: You will definitely need to re-shape the landscaping to provide positive grade away from the ...
|
| basement wall integrity | 12/25/2008 |
Q: I am looking at purchasing a house that has a small basement under the back part of the house. The ...
A: The very best way of providing maximum structural integrity to compromised, (bowed), walls, is by ...
|
| Crack and bowing in basement wall | 12/24/2008 |
Q: I am a new homeowner and I have a large horizontal crack in my basement wall. It spans almost the ...
A: Carbon fiber is quite strong and certainly has many good qualities in particular applications where ...
|
| Crack and bowing in basement wall | 12/24/2008 |
Q: I am a new homeowner and I have a large horizontal crack in my basement wall. It spans almost the ...
A: The engineer that made the suggestion: Install steel bracing, is absolutely right! We have had the ...
|
| Fieldstone Foundation - | 12/23/2008 |
Q: My house has a fiedlstone foundation. At some point somebody painted over it with some sort of ...
A: The most important thing is removing the old paint or coating, and any loose material. You will then ...
|
| Sinking foundation | 12/21/2008 |
Q: We live in Panama, Central America. We bought a home 3 years ago that is on a slope. We have ...
A: I wish that I could help you myself, but unfortunately I am barely able to keep up with the problems ...
|
| Sinking foundation | 12/21/2008 |
Q: We live in Panama, Central America. We bought a home 3 years ago that is on a slope. We have ...
A: I am sorry to say that there is absolutely no way to suggest any type of repair on a small scale ...
|
| Ok to replace one side of foundation at a time | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have been told that one side of our foundation is pretty bad due to the fact that the soil is up ...
A: I would say that you should be fine with addressing the problematic side right away, and take ...
|
| Ok to replace one side of foundation at a time | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have been told that one side of our foundation is pretty bad due to the fact that the soil is up ...
A: I am picturing a brick or block type of foundation because of your description of the age being 90 ...
|
| Baltimore Rowhome - Normal Foundation Depth? | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have a 2 story rowhome with a basement in baltimore that was originally built in the early 1900's. ...
A: If you were to dig along the edge of the foundation, you would discover a very limited sized footing ...
|
| Foundation Stabilization and Repair | 12/14/2008 |
Q: The foundation of my house is set up on concrete blocks, with the slope of my land going downhill ...
A: You could use the same sand based soil and backfill the holes and that would basically stabilize the ...
|
| Foundation problem?? | 12/13/2008 |
Q: First off, thanks for taking the time to read over my question. To start, I'm sorry if this runs out ...
A: You should be fine using the natural surrounding soil. The only type of soil that could cause a ...
|
| Foundation problem?? | 12/11/2008 |
Q: First off, thanks for taking the time to read over my question. To start, I'm sorry if this runs out ...
A: The shallow well, (cistern),that is close to the foundation, is acting as a deep water trap. The ...
|
| Drywall Buckling and Nail Pops in 25 Year Old Home | 12/8/2008 |
Q: I live in a house in Charlotte, NC that was built in 1983. It is built over an open air crawl space ...
A: Your best bet is contacting Foundation Piering contractors. Ask them if they can measure the ...
|
| Drywall Buckling and Nail Pops in 25 Year Old Home | 12/8/2008 |
Q: I live in a house in Charlotte, NC that was built in 1983. It is built over an open air crawl space ...
A: There is absolute frame racking taking place. The specialist's are missing something! Whenever there ...
|
| cracks in slab | 12/7/2008 |
Q: our house is a block house inner and outer walls windows and doors seem ok,about 3 years ago we had ...
A: That is a very good question! I would have to say that it depends on the type of soil, and the ...
|
| Adding a second support beam in my basement | 12/6/2008 |
Q: Mr Eckley, Good Evening! I recently bought a 1920's story-and-a-half bungalow with a full ...
A: In most cases the main beam is centered and the floor joists overlap the beam. Load bearing walls ...
|
| foundation supplies | 12/4/2008 |
Q: I am looking for a source to find solid blocks to replace the ones under my house that are the ...
A: I'm sorry that I cannot help you with locating concrete blocks in Texas. Our firm is located in ...
|
| Need to fill cinder block wall to add 2nd story | 12/3/2008 |
Q: Our permit is allowing us to build a second story to our home. The hurdle to jump however is the ...
A: You will need to contact a foundation repair company in your area to describe the situation and ...
|
| Post and beam foundation | 12/1/2008 |
Q: My house is a single story, 480 sq ft, built in 1940's in Tacoma,Wa. It has a post and beam ...
A: The most cost effective way to install a basement foundation beneath your single story house, is to ...
|
| Older home with uneven floors/lots of cracks | 11/30/2008 |
Q: Ed, First, thanks for taking the time to read this and answer! My husband and I are looking to ...
A: It would be a good idea to have a structural expert examine the foundation and the load bearing ...
|
| failing Foundation ? | 11/26/2008 |
Q: I am leasing a two stories house built in 1940's. I am very concern about our safety. Over the last ...
A: From your description of the rapid deterioration of the ceilings, and the type of uneven floor ...
|
| Sandy Mortar in 1930's Stone Foundation Wall | 11/22/2008 |
Q: Ed I would like to buy a house outside Boston that was built in the 1930's with a "Stone/Brick" ...
A: The older homes, prior to the 1960's, were generally built on brick, block, or stone, foundations. ...
|
| Major settlement and cracks in slab foundation | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I live in Northern CA.. My home was built in the 1940's originally as a single level 3 bed, 1 bath ...
A: Your best bet would be contacting a local foundation piering company. Steel piers, (mini piles), can ...
|
| New foundation | 11/19/2008 |
Q: We built a 24 x40 2 floor cabin on post and beams in Steuben County NY. We are considering raising ...
A: I'm sorry that I cannot help you with any contractor names in NY, because our firm is located close ...
|
| water at foundation | 11/17/2008 |
Q: I have a problem with water coming in at were the block wall & the basement slab meet. It seem to be ...
A: It may stop the seepage for a little while, but it will not last and the water will definitely find ...
|
| foundation settling? | 11/16/2008 |
Q: I live in Fort Worth Texas,the soil is black in color.Over the past few yars I've noticed cracks in ...
A: Water softens and de-stabilizes the clay soil, and then the foundation begins sinking and twisting ...
|
| efflorescence on unfinished basement floor | 11/16/2008 |
Q: We bought an older house (1987) a few years back. The basement is unfinished. It is cold but not ...
A: From your description of a hairline crack in the floor, the mineral deposits, (efflorescence), and ...
|
| foundation settling? | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I live in Fort Worth Texas,the soil is black in color.Over the past few yars I've noticed cracks in ...
A: You can stop the settlement or at least lessen the damage by establishing a positive grade away from ...
|
| concrete | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I am not sure if you can answer this question it does pertain to concrete though. I am contracting ...
A: My guess, based upon the amount you have mentioned, is that the home is probably 1,600 - 1,800 ...
|
| cracks in wall after pier work | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I had 13 piers installed around my house to correct foundation problems when I bought this house 6 ...
A: There is a possibility of failure in the installed piers or the bracket attachment on the ...
|
| house with two foundations | 11/14/2008 |
Q: I have a small frame house built in 1948. It has good drainage, but may have nudged by various ...
A: You are going to need a plan from a licensed structural engineer. I can think of several ...
|
| worth the trouble? | 11/14/2008 |
Q: I'm looking at purchasing a house that appears to have some water and/or foundation problems in the ...
A: Given the fact that the foundation has done pretty well since 1962, I would say that the cracking is ...
|
| Possible broken drainage pipe in foundation | 11/14/2008 |
Q: This may be more of a plumbing question but here goes....We own a home in southern California. A ...
A: I don't believe it would be successful because of the nature of ductile cast iron drain pipes. You ...
|
| heaving of foundation walls and basement floor | 11/13/2008 |
Q: I am construction supervisor of a non profit agency overseeing the construction of low income homes ...
A: There are a couple of big problems with the soil and the structure. The biggest problem is the type ...
|
| Possible broken drainage pipe in foundation | 11/11/2008 |
Q: This may be more of a plumbing question but here goes....We own a home in southern California. A ...
A: Unfortunately, The only way to repair or replace sections of the old drain pipe, is by cutting ...
|
| Slab foundation insulation | 11/11/2008 |
Q: I have a floating pad for my garage in a cold climate (Ontario). It was well tampered when ...
A: I would not recommend digging around the slab. The very best thing you can do is create the best ...
|
| small slab sinking | 11/10/2008 |
Q: I live just west of New Orleans and so the ground here is soft and has a shallow water table. With ...
A: You should be able to bury the sunken slab and not worry about it. The fact that it is non organic, ...
|
| detached patio moving | 11/8/2008 |
Q: We live in a thirty year old wood siding house in San Antonio. We have a detached patio that is ...
A: The soil base in your area is probably clay, and clay based soils will always be problematic ...
|
| newly poured footers and built foundation | 11/7/2008 |
Q: Please view the attached pictures of the newly built foundation by clicking on the ...
A: I'm not sure what your question is...... I believe you are wanting opinions on the quality of ...
|
| Compromised support beam - help needed | 11/6/2008 |
Q: We live in an older home and recently took down the ceiling plaster in our den. The ceiling was ...
A: You will need to have a structural engineer examine the situation and submit a plan. You will need ...
|
| subfloor is bowing | 11/4/2008 |
Q: My builder is attempting to repair the subfloor on our new house (receive COA Jan 08).The subfloor ...
A: If the sub floor has bowed from 1/2" to 1" off of the floor joists, then I would say that there must ...
|
| Hillside Building Technique | 11/4/2008 |
Q: Great forum, and thanks for taking the time to provide answers!! We are thinking of buying a home ...
A: I haven't heard of such a technique, and I'm curious about the massive cost for a simple cinder ...
|
| i-beams instead of floor joists | 11/3/2008 |
Q: Ed, I am looking at home built in 1946 that has i-beams instead of floor joists. The i-beams are ...
A: It is difficult to guess about the cost of replacing the foundation and the entire floor structure. ...
|
| Cement slab with cinder block house | 11/3/2008 |
Q: We have a home in northern wisconsin next to the lake, the house is a cinderblock house on a cement ...
A: The temperature of the inside of the structure shouldn't have any particular affect on slab heaving ...
|
| Foundation for 19th century cottage | 11/2/2008 |
Q: I've bought a single story cottage (loft space under roof)from the 1870s made from brick about 18 ...
A: You have some great ideas, but the problems with structural integrity and careful shoring and ...
|
| Dry Loc | 11/2/2008 |
Q: I purchased a brick raised ranch house that was built in 1978 and has a basement with 7 feet between ...
A: Your questions are quite good! Generally, rinsing the CLR with water, and then drying the blocks, ...
|
| Washed out cinder block | 11/1/2008 |
Q: I have a single story 31year old house with a crawl space that has a red brick foundation with ...
A: You will need to contact a foundation repair company in your area to have the block replaced and the ...
|
| Floor bounce | 10/31/2008 |
Q: I have a single-story brick home that is 30+ years old. There is a crawl space below, and I believe ...
A: You could install some floor support beams that will help eliminate the bouncy areas. You can ...
|
| Selection of type of foundation repair | 10/28/2008 |
Q: How does one make a decision on the best type of foundation repair to choose? There are so many ...
A: There is no book about choosing proper stabilization or repairs. Each individual situation needs to ...
|
| neighbor driveway construction | 10/27/2008 |
Q: I live in Racine, WI and my neighbor is having his driveway resized. the contractor doing the job ...
A: You should probably contact your local building and zoning department, either city or county, and ...
|
| Ceramic Tiles - unlevel flooring | 10/21/2008 |
Q: We just installed ceramic tiles in our kitchen, we are having a problem - One half of the floor is ...
A: If you are down to the last five tiles, and they are setting too high to achieve level with the ...
|
| limestone/dirt basement | 10/21/2008 |
Q: . I am going to be purchasing an older home in northern Illinois. It has a limestone basement and ...
A: Yes you can pour a new basement. The home must be set upon carrier beams, (similar to moving the ...
|
| Ceramic Tiles - unlevel flooring | 10/21/2008 |
Q: We just installed ceramic tiles in our kitchen, we are having a problem - One half of the floor is ...
A: You cannot sand down the tiles without diamond cutting equipment. The easiest way to compensate for ...
|
| Brick foundation wall leaning out | 10/21/2008 |
Q: I just purchased a wood frame home ~100 years old. The home sets on a double wall brick foundation. ...
A: I would recommend contacting the very best brick mason that you can find in your area. You are going ...
|
| chimney | 10/21/2008 |
Q: We are doing an addition to our home which includes a new family room with a new brick chimney. A ...
A: You are right...Usually the block work is performed against the cellotex, but, it shouldn't be a ...
|
| support in basement needed | 10/20/2008 |
Q: I live in a 150 year old farmhouse. The foundation is stone and "stuff"(mortar?) and a couple feet ...
A: The best thing to do is install carrier beams beneath the floor joists. The beams can be 6" X 6" ...
|
| Closing in a window | 10/20/2008 |
Q: Hey Ed, I need to remove and close in an existing window that is encased in my cinder block ...
A: Setting cinder block takes a bit of practice applying the mortar compound to all edges with a masons ...
|
| Foundation wall shorter on one side | 10/18/2008 |
Q: We are building a new house on a crawl space and our problem is that when our footing was poured and ...
A: Usually the contractor will discover any low sections in the foundation prior to setting the sill ...
|
| Slab Foundation Problems | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I recently moved to Houston, TX and I am not super familiar with the area with reference to what the ...
A: If you are willing to live with the slope in the foundation, and the frame of the home seems to be ...
|
| foundation walls leaning in | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 1920 Chicago Style Bungalow with a 7' tall basement. The basement foundation is 4' high ...
A: The top end of the steel beams, (directly beneath the wooden floor joists), will need brace plates ...
|
| foundation walls leaning in | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I have a 1920 Chicago Style Bungalow with a 7' tall basement. The basement foundation is 4' high ...
A: It depends entirely on the soil type and the conditions that have caused the excess soil pressure to ...
|
| Concrete Steps Issue | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the past two years, we have had extremely bad droughts in the ...
A: The concrete steps will absolutely be connected to your foundation. If they were not, you would see ...
|
| Slab Foundation Problems | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I recently moved to Houston, TX and I am not super familiar with the area with reference to what the ...
A: I am more inclined to agree with your assessment of the problem. If the soil around the foundation ...
|
| cracking basement wall | 10/16/2008 |
Q: Our house was built in the early 70's. We have a block basement with 2 vertical cracks (one top to ...
A: From your description of the cracking, and the water problem along the north side, I believe that ...
|
| Dry Loc | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I purchased a brick raised ranch house that was built in 1978 and has a basement with 7 feet between ...
A: The white powder residue is generally a mineral deposit left from the groundwater that saturated ...
|
| foundation walls leaning in | 10/15/2008 |
Q: I have a 1920 Chicago Style Bungalow with a 7' tall basement. The basement foundation is 4' high ...
A: Steel beams are definitely the way to go. They should be attached to brace plates, lagged to the ...
|
| Builders | 10/15/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of building a new house. The paid for only a 2 car garage. The builder ...
A: It looks like they were off to a good start at cutting away the foundation. I believe at this point ...
|
| foundation | 10/15/2008 |
Q: I live in Madison,OH., close to Lake Erie (high water table). The soil is sandy loam. My house was ...
A: It sounds like you've been working very hard on trying to solve some difficult water problems. I ...
|
| foundation repair | 10/13/2008 |
Q: I have half a duplex in Olathe, KS that has lots of clay soil. Both sides did have drainage problem ...
A: I am unaware of any kits available for unlicensed individuals to be able to purchase and attach to ...
|
| Floor under lamiate appears to be sinking | 10/13/2008 |
Q: We have a ten year old slab on grade home in Houston. It is a brick two-story with no visible ...
A: Any water around the perimeter can easily find its way under the entire slab. Clay soils are known ...
|
| crumbling granite block | 10/13/2008 |
Q: I live in a 120 year old 2 story Victorian in New Hampshire. It has a full and dry basement with ...
A: If the stone is actually crumbling, then you are going to need replacement or reinforcement. Sealing ...
|
| Floor under lamiate appears to be sinking | 10/13/2008 |
Q: We have a ten year old slab on grade home in Houston. It is a brick two-story with no visible ...
A: It sounds like the slab is settling and creating problems with your laminate floor. Usually slab ...
|
| foundation repair | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I have half a duplex in Olathe, KS that has lots of clay soil. Both sides did have drainage problem ...
A: You did not mention the type of foundation. Basement, Crawlspace, Poured concrete, cinder block ...
|
| Builders | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of building a new house. The paid for only a 2 car garage. The builder ...
A: There is a good chance that the changes made to the foundation can make it stronger and better than ...
|
| basement wall/foundation cracks and leaks | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I have a ~80 year old 2-story solid brick house in Cincinnati with a poured cement foundation. The ...
A: Sealing and reinforcing with epoxy injection might be considered feasible because of the ...
|
| Builders | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of building a new house. The paid for only a 2 car garage. The builder ...
A: I realize that the situation is frustrating and probably causes bad feelings between you and the ...
|
| House Settling | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I have a home that is one story with a crawl space located in Yarmouth, MA. It is about 100 yards ...
A: It is difficult to say what the price is based upon. I am thinking that there will be at least two ...
|
| soil eroding from cinder block ontop of concrete footing | 10/5/2008 |
Q: For 5 years, I have been shoveling 3 times a year, 4 shovels full of dirt at one spot that appears ...
A: You should be able to contact any good landscaping company that has drainage and fine grade ...
|
| foundation cracks | 10/5/2008 |
Q: Opps - wife hit wrong key - s/b 1/4 in rather then 1/2 sorry, Here is picture of garage wall. Any ...
A: The photo of the garage foundation shows absolute footing failure, (footing is sinking in soft ...
|
| foundation cracks | 10/5/2008 |
Q: Help! One block wall of full basement(has 2 extra courses of block) has step cracks that are large ...
A: There are no particular guidelines for varying methods of stabilization. Some methods work for a ...
|
| stabilizing foundation beneath concrete steps | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I have 4 concrete steps leading to my kitchen door. There is a gap on one side between the bottom ...
A: The gap that you are describing is probably the result of contracting soil that is drying out after ...
|
| Sinking and Cracking Swimming Pool | 10/2/2008 |
Q: A portion of the shallow end of my in ground swimming pool has sunk approximately one inch. Cracks ...
A: Depending on the construction of the pool, there are several possibilities of stabilization and ...
|
| old house | 10/2/2008 |
Q: I am selling my house it is about 130 yrs old. A building inspector said I need to put in a center ...
A: It is almost impossible to guess the cost of replacing the center beam without examining the ...
|
| walkout foundation | 10/2/2008 |
Q: i am going to build a villa in a steep slope(45 degree) lot .can you recommend me how i can build a ...
A: You will need to consult with a local architect in your region. The first step is acquiring a soil ...
|
| sink hole or organic fill decomposing? | 10/2/2008 |
Q: Inspector spotted "sink hole" in crawl space. Geotech engineer said it appears that the house was ...
A: You need to find out what kind of support your foundation has. Whether it is on a spread footing, ...
|
| Flooring/Foundation Stabilization & Repair | 10/1/2008 |
Q: My house was probably built in the 1920's. I have a semi-crawl space (partial area you can stand up ...
A: The foundation contractor probably found no particular problems in the foundation, and therefore, he ...
|
| Soil up and down | 10/1/2008 |
Q: My house was built in 1970. This area has a lot moisture during winter (raining season). I saw ...
A: It is very important to keep the jack posts in place and properly bracing the center beams to ...
|
| stone foundation | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I have a 100 year old house and the stone foundation has plenty of small cracks and even shows a ...
A: That approach may be helpful in sealing the stone foundation, and providing limited strengthening, ...
|
| tilting brick foundation | 9/30/2008 |
Q: A house built in 1890: we are renovating this house and noticed water damaged wood in kitchen and ...
A: Whatever you do, Do Not try to manipulate the deteriorating bricks! The only thing that can happen ...
|
| New problem with previous slab leak | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I live in Florida and had a slab leak in April of this year. The water came thru my bedroom closet. ...
A: Based on the description of the problem, I can only give an educated guess that the closet floor is ...
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| Soil is moist under slab. | 9/29/2008 |
Q: While replacing the bat tub I noticed an opening around the drain that measured 2 by 6 foot and the ...
A: I believe that you have a plumbing leak beneath the tub. It is not normal to have saturated soil ...
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| Asphalt driveway against foundation? | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I live in Indianapolis, IN and my house was built in the 40's with a cinder block foundation. I ...
A: It should be fine to pave right up against the foundation. The most important thing is making ...
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| Stone Mortar Foundation | 9/29/2008 |
Q: I am considering purchasing a home that was built in the latter part of the 1890s, and is located in ...
A: You mentioned that some of the stones in the foundation have lost their original placement. That ...
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| Uneven Floors and ceiling cracking | 9/28/2008 |
Q: I have a similar problem as Dale. However, our starts at the entrance of the house. The previous ...
A: From your description of the problems, I believe that you are having foundation settlement issues, ...
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| raising a cottage and adding a foundation | 9/27/2008 |
Q: It is currently sitting on cement blocks and beams on a dry dirt ground. The building is 20'x40', ...
A: You have asked some interesting questions. It is difficult to say what might be considered the most ...
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| repairing foundation | 9/27/2008 |
Q: we recently dug through the foundations of our 3 storey semi detached brick built house to install a ...
A: If I am understanding you correctly, you have a gap between the exterior brick and the foundation ...
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| House Settling | 9/25/2008 |
Q: I have a home that is one story with a crawl space located in Yarmouth, MA. It is about 100 yards ...
A: From your description of the slope in the hallway, and the fact that the concrete looks fine around ...
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| foundation wall repair | 9/23/2008 |
Q: poured concrete basement has cracks that allow water to seap in what product do i use to seal the ...
A: There are many foundation sealing products available these days, and most of them contain flexible ...
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| Home foundation repair | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I have a basement home that the corner of the slab floor has cracked and brick has moved about an ...
A: It depends on the type of basement foundation walls. If the foundation is a poured concrete type, ...
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| cut support beam | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I'm looking to make an offer on a home but noticed a problem with the floors sagging a bit toward ...
A: It is very difficult to say how serious of a problem the missing section of beam might create. The ...
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| Repairing garage floor cracks | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I have a garage floor that is cracked and some of the concrete is coming up. As you know this looks ...
A: The very best thing to do is tear out the broken floor and have some road base material compacted ...
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| fruit cellar | 9/23/2008 |
Q: my fruit cellar has a vent in it, that is way below grade and is cover up not sure with what, but on ...
A: The simplest thing to do is purchase a flat section of galvanized steel, (sheet metal), a little bit ...
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| step cracks | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I will try to be as complete as possible. My house is a walk out basement/garage. On the South/west ...
A: Hopefully the engineer will discover the probable causes of foundation settlement related to the ...
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| Foundation repair | 9/20/2008 |
Q: First of all this house is nearly 80 years old and built with the old cinderblock as a foundation. ...
A: I can see by the photo that there is a definite flow path for groundwater to attack the corner of ...
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| Foundation repair | 9/20/2008 |
Q: First of all this house is nearly 80 years old and built with the old cinderblock as a foundation. ...
A: The biggest problem with older cinder block foundations, is that they eventually oxidize and decay ...
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| step cracks | 9/19/2008 |
Q: I will try to be as complete as possible. My house is a walk out basement/garage. On the South/west ...
A: There is absolutely no doubt that you have foundation settlement problems. You have a spread footing ...
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| Foundation and chimney leak | 9/19/2008 |
Q: We live 2 miles from the Delaware River. I have a 2-story 18-year old home, full basement, poured ...
A: It is not a big risk to drill through a poured foundation as long as the hole not huge in size or ...
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| House built in Waco, 1910. | 9/18/2008 |
Q: We are told there is structural problems in houses due to the soil here. The house built in 1910 ...
A: I would not risk another 5 years of keeping the place the way it is. There is a strong possibility ...
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| water in basement | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I read response about bulging basement wall and needing to keep ground dry next to foundation. ...
A: It is very difficult to say how much pump usage might attribute to foundation settlement, because it ...
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| water in basement | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I read response about bulging basement wall and needing to keep ground dry next to foundation. ...
A: A sump pump could absolutely help control the water from beneath the floor. Usually it is a last ...
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| Backyard slopes | 9/18/2008 |
Q: New Hampshire Region - There is a small creek at the back of my yard which slopes toward the creek. ...
A: Planting bushes would help control erosion but would not help with the flow path of the groundwater. ...
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| Basement cracks and holes | 9/17/2008 |
Q: My modular home sits on a poured concrete, full, unfinished basement, on top of a huge rock, and is ...
A: The reason for the honeycombing areas, is the concrete mix. The contractor must have poured a stiff ...
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| Porch Floor over crawl space | 9/17/2008 |
Q: I am having my brick porch repaired due to a leaning support column. The one side is being taken ...
A: Depending on the condition of the concrete slab, and whether or not the builder used steel within ...
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| slab leakage during heavy rains | 9/17/2008 |
Q: I have a slab home that I've owned for 12 years. I've never had any problems with water getting ...
A: The best thing to do is contact some experienced landscaping companies in your area and ask them ...
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| Basement cracks and holes | 9/17/2008 |
Q: My modular home sits on a poured concrete, full, unfinished basement, on top of a huge rock, and is ...
A: First let me say that your house should be safe in spite of all of the cracking and settling that is ...
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| basement leaks | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I live in an older home, 1923 with stone walls for a basement. We recently had the basement "water ...
A: It is very important to have slope on the driveway that steadily descends away from the house. If ...
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| Backyard slopes | 9/16/2008 |
Q: New Hampshire Region - There is a small creek at the back of my yard which slopes toward the creek. ...
A: That is a great idea! You want to create a positive flow slope away from the house everywhere that ...
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| Possible foundation crack...continued | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I do have another question though. I definitely do have to have the crack on the south side that I ...
A: It is always a good idea to seal up the cracks whenever possible, but keep in mind that the cracks ...
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| water through window wells | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a home built in 1948. Over the weekend we had a terrible storm which flooded ...
A: You need to make certain that there is positive grade slope away from the edge of the window well ...
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| home built on a concrete slab no basement | 9/15/2008 |
Q: how do you fix leaks coming from the outside of a home on a concrete slab with no basement.
A: The first step is identifying the source of the water. Generally, a leak into a slab type foundation ...
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| Sink Hole | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I have a sink hole under my front walkway. Is the builder responsible for this under warranty? What ...
A: If your home is less than 5 years old, I would say that your builder could be responsible for poor ...
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| wall separation | 9/14/2008 |
Q: Our home was built in 1974 and has a concrete foundation. We do not have any exterior cracks in the ...
A: The problem that you have described, indicates some kind of a frame spread at the base of the walls. ...
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| Possible foundation crack | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help me. I live in a 1950s brick bungalo in Chicago. As I'm sure you know, we have ...
A: It is quite possible that you have no foundation crack at all!... You may be experiencing saturation ...
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| basement seepage | 9/13/2008 |
Q: After a downpour of heavy rain, we had water coming up around a floor drain that we had capped off ...
A: The water must be coming from a positive flow path that the heavy rains are collecting around the ...
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| Foundation Walls bowed - and repaired | 9/13/2008 |
Q: I am looking at purchasing a home here in Southeastern Wisconsin, and the only thing holding me up ...
A: It is very difficult for me to give advise on a serious purchase, without examining the foundation ...
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| air circulation in crawl space | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I know this may not be your area of expertise, but you are as close as I can find. We live in ...
A: I believe you will be much better off with a fresh air vent system. The problem with trying to seal ...
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| sill plate | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I recently discover major termite damage to my house. The termites ate the entire wall. I mean the ...
A: From your description of the amount of damage, I would say that you are definitely going to need ...
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| foundation repair OR stabilization | 9/9/2008 |
Q: doors windows don't stick. minor cracks at windows going diganonally. but it's a 1.5 story home ...
A: You should probably have the structure examined by a licensed engineer and go with the ...
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| pool stabilization | 9/9/2008 |
Q: My house was built in 1978, I have a screened in patio w/ pool. I noticed one day while dropping the ...
A: The first thing you should do is identify the pool manufacture, (Name Brand)....Then you should look ...
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| Bilco Doors | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I have big ugly bilco doors that set dead center of where I want to put in a patio and paver wall. ...
A: I'm not sure I follow your plan. You are wanting to put a patio where the stairs are located?.... ...
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| 7 year old house has a crumbling foundation | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I have a townhouse that was built in 2001. My inspector missed a crumbling foundation and I did not ...
A: It is difficult to say how much cost might be involved in repairing the situation without examining ...
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| Cracks in basement floor and walls | 9/6/2008 |
Q: we are in the process of buying a new home. The house that we are interested in has a crack along ...
A: Depending on the year of construction, The location of the home, Whether or not there are problem ...
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| leak in corner of basement floor | 9/5/2008 |
Q: When the rain comes from the southeast,in the corner of the basement wall floor. Water seeps in. ...
A: The very first thing of course, is carefully examining all possibilities of water source. Window ...
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| foundation repair | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I am proceeding with steel pier foundation repair on one corner of my single story brick home. ...
A: The pier spacing is actually just about right. for the year of your home. On older homes the spacing ...
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| Room addition | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I have noticed that our room additon (16x20) has started to seperate from the main house.I have a ...
A: You need to contact foundation piering companies in your area. The problem sections can be lifted ...
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| Moving Foundation Wall | 9/4/2008 |
Q: Purchased a home in 2007, on the basement walls there were 4x4 steel plates with threaded rods and ...
A: Actually, it is really not common at all!....There must have been a problem with the strength of the ...
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| Poured concrete floor | 9/3/2008 |
Q: How do you fix a concrete floor that has come away from the wall and has large cracks in it. The ...
A: You could call mudjacking contractors to take a look at the floor to see if it can be raised and ...
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| Tipped Sill Plate | 9/3/2008 |
Q: I have a two story home built in 1988, approx. 2100 sqft, in Columbus, OH. The house has a full ...
A: I would recommend contacting a good structural engineer to examine the situation. Depending on the ...
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| fuoundation problem | 9/3/2008 |
Q: Our house was built in 1982 and on the wall in the living room area there is a long horizontal ...
A: From your description of the cracking that is taking place, I am thinking that you may need some mid ...
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| settling garage that was built on fill | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Our house was built in 1999 and was dug into a 15% slope. The fill was used for the driveway. In ...
A: Please do not attempt to add water beneath any part of the structure. I promise you it will cause ...
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| corner cunck of fondation missing | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Were looking to buy this house, but it has this foundation problem that I just haven't seen before. ...
A: The corner breakage that you have described is actually quite common. I have seen it in dozens of ...
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| repairing termite damage | 9/2/2008 |
Q: My husband and I just bought a house and have discovered major termite damage, we have started to ...
A: It depends on the City and the County regulations. Most of the larger Counties require permits for ...
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| bowing foundation | 9/2/2008 |
Q: We recently took down paneling in our basement that had been put up by previous owners and ...
A: From your description, I would say that the foundation is probably safe. There should be rebar in ...
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| Water Infiltration Through Foundation Repair | 9/1/2008 |
Q: We found water had been infiltrating our crawlspace for some time and found the point of entry was ...
A: I would say that would be fine. The most important thing is keeping the water away from the ...
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| Water Infiltration Through Foundation Repair | 9/1/2008 |
Q: We found water had been infiltrating our crawlspace for some time and found the point of entry was ...
A: I follow your thoughts on this, and I can see your objectives. I would not attach the new concrete ...
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| Foundation repair | 8/31/2008 |
Q: We had our basement dug up to find our addition sitting on a 10 inch thick slab that extended away ...
A: The procedure that you are proposing is not as affective as you might think. It is almost impossible ...
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| cottage foundation settled | 8/30/2008 |
Q: My home is a very old cottage built about 1880 near turn of the century as part of an old ...
A: There is a possibility of raising the house off of the foundation and shimming the sill plate, but ...
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| BROKEN FOTTER TILE SLAB HOME | 8/30/2008 |
Q: i AM INSTALLING A FENCE AND DUG A DEEP HOLE FOR POST ALONG SLAB HOUSE. THE CLAY DRAIN TILE WAS ...
A: That is a good question!....Your description of the tile drain being full of roots and dirt, pretty ...
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| Settling on new foundation | 8/29/2008 |
Q: We had a new addition built onto the back of our home. It measures 18' wide by 16' deep. The ...
A: My thoughts are this: Settlement over a filled area is almost unavoidable unless the foundation had ...
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| Crumbling Foundation | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I live in Vancouver Canada. I have a building which was built in 1895. The foundation is made up of ...
A: After a long period of time, the original mortar becomes crumbly and unstable. The cause of this is ...
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| leak from neighbors side on common wall in backyard... | 8/27/2008 |
Q: IT looks as though we have a leak coming through the common wall from the neighbors side..it is ...
A: From your description, I am picturing a grade problem and lack of proper drainage for the run off ...
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| Dirt wall basement | 8/27/2008 |
Q: My house was built in 1912 on a basement that was smaller and the concrete blocks were dug in 4 feet ...
A: You are going to need a structural engineer to examine the situation and submit a plan of repair. ...
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| old hole from gas line | 8/26/2008 |
Q: There is a hole in the side of our new house from where a gas line was running outside for a bbq ...
A: You can use regular mortar mix, or any cement & sand mix to patch the hole. You will need to make ...
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| Sinking garage floor, water seepage | 8/26/2008 |
Q: I have a detached garage with a "floating" concrete floor slab. On the far wall end, the slab has ...
A: I think you have a good plan. The durarock will probably make a long lasting barrier / flashing. You ...
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| cracked brick foundation repair | 8/26/2008 |
Q: My 1998 home has stair step cracked brick on two walls and I think that this one corner is settling. ...
A: There is very little doubt that the brick work that is leaning outward is caused by foundation ...
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| Block foundation repair | 8/25/2008 |
Q: The crack is about 15 feet long and is bowing inward about 1 inch. I belive the cause of the crack ...
A: I am a little bit skeptical about each of these plans. The problem with block walls is the strength ...
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| Concret floor abound pipes | 8/25/2008 |
Q: I have just dug up concrete floor in a 100 year old row house to replace a section of corroded cast ...
A: Yes it is a definite problem. You may need to pour a new floor at a higher elevation, or somehow ...
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| piled Foundation option? | 8/25/2008 |
Q: Hoping I can get some advice..I am looking to build a brand new home in La Salle, Manitoba, Canada. ...
A: Having the foundation piled is a good insurance of stability and longevity, but I can see your ...
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| Concrete slab/Foundation Construction | 8/24/2008 |
Q: Ed, I am building a small home (720 square feet) in south, central Kentucky. Can I pour an 8" ...
A: You would need to check with your County building department to discover their minimum code ...
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| Cracked and bowed basement wall | 8/23/2008 |
Q: My home was built around 1967, it's split level home and one of the basement walls is cracked and ...
A: If your home was built around 1967, It is probably a poured wall on top of a formed footing. The ...
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| Concret floor abound pipes | 8/22/2008 |
Q: I have just dug up concrete floor in a 100 year old row house to replace a section of corroded cast ...
A: The best thing to do is fill in and around the pipe with sand or fine gravel, (pea gravel), lightly ...
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| slab foundation settling | 8/20/2008 |
Q: I have an attached car and a half garage that was added after my house was built. Unfortunately the ...
A: The strongest and most permanent way to correct the sinking problem is with hydraulic pressed steel ...
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| Leaky foundation/holes in cement blocks | 8/20/2008 |
Q: Months ago I had minor leaking in my basement. The previous owners had some sort of a hawian theme ...
A: You may be able to do the work yourself, but it is not going to be easy to get the right consistency ...
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| Exterior Sealing Materials | 8/19/2008 |
Q: We are excavating tomorrow to expose exterior wall cracks. What do you recommend for sealing? I'm ...
A: It depends on the soil type, but I would say that you will be better off with a good Plastic or ...
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| Bow basement | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I am looking to buy a foreclosure house. The house was builted at 1999, the area has a clay soil. ...
A: There is no way to be certain if the house is stabile enough without thorough examination and ...
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| Leaky foundation/holes in cement blocks | 8/18/2008 |
Q: Months ago I had minor leaking in my basement. The previous owners had some sort of a hawian theme ...
A: There is really no reasoning for some things. I would say that somebody had a bad plan. Probably the ...
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| construction of a basement | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I have an "A" frame currently sitting on a block crawl space. I would like to create a full basement ...
A: You should contact a building moving company to ask about installing some carrier beams beneath the ...
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| crack foundation | 8/18/2008 |
Q: I am moving to my new home in a week and found a long crack in the garage foundation. However there ...
A: It is difficult to say whether or not the crack might get wider. I would say that there might be a ...
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| Crawlspace/drainage problems | 8/17/2008 |
Q: We bought a bank-owned ranch home several months ago. AS IS with major structural problems. The ...
A: The first thing you need to do is contact a structural expert and have an inspection of the ...
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| wet foundation | 8/16/2008 |
Q: We live in a raised ranch which has begun to take in some moisture in the bottom floor. We have some ...
A: I would say that a good quality rubber or plastic would serve the same purpose if installed ...
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| plumbing pressure test with piering | 8/16/2008 |
Q: We are in the process of purchasing a home that is requiring some piers for settling of one section ...
A: You shouldn't need to worry about the water line unless there is a known leak and you are trying to ...
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| foundation | 8/13/2008 |
Q: I have a 3200 square foot home with a pier and beam foundation. built in the 60's,in California, ...
A: If we are talking about a small square footage of say 15' X 20' or 30' X 10' = 300 total sq ft, I ...
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| foundation | 8/13/2008 |
Q: I have a 3200 square foot home with a pier and beam foundation. built in the 60's,in California, ...
A: I would recommend the drilled caissons with beam foundation. The most important thing is longevity. ...
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| Cracks in brick | 8/13/2008 |
Q: My house was built in 1995, in Rowlett, Texas. When I purchased it two years ago the inspector told ...
A: It is doubtful that tightening or adjusting the cables would help squeeze the cracks back together ...
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| foundation water leak | 8/12/2008 |
Q: 2 story brick home built on cement slab in 1996. No problems until Sat. we discovered water coming ...
A: It does sound like a broken water pipe. There is a certain path that has allowed the water to ...
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| Structural Questions | 8/11/2008 |
Q: Ed, we have two weird issues. WE moved into our 24 year old house 10 years ago and noticed the back ...
A: Figuring out the problem is like detective work. You have to examine the clues very closely and then ...
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| Repairing Diagonal Subfloor | 8/11/2008 |
Q: We are preparing to lay ceramic tile in our kitchen. Our house is over 100 years old, Arts & Crafts ...
A: If you cross cut the diagonal boards at a 90 degree angle to the floor joists, you will have ...
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| Repairing Diagonal Subfloor | 8/11/2008 |
Q: We are preparing to lay ceramic tile in our kitchen. Our house is over 100 years old, Arts & Crafts ...
A: I follow you...You are proposing sectional patches. The best thing to do is install stud blocking ...
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| Foundation gaps around house | 8/11/2008 |
Q: I live in Carrollton Tx, in a prior river bed, clay soil. My house was built in 1999, slab ...
A: What you are experiencing is slab settling and some frame distortion. It is probably minor at this ...
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| Repairing Diagonal Subfloor | 8/11/2008 |
Q: We are preparing to lay ceramic tile in our kitchen. Our house is over 100 years old, Arts & Crafts ...
A: You should use floor grade tongue & grove plywood and lay the sheets lengthwise across the floor ...
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| Foundation Repair | 8/10/2008 |
Q: What do you think the best type of foundation repair is best for a house on Texas clay soils. ...
A: Your question is a very good one. The best type of foundation repair can only be determined by the ...
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| Leaky Window well | 8/10/2008 |
Q: We had a heavy rain and it soaked down and leaked in to the side of the window well 18" down. I ...
A: You could use a good quality silicone calking, (35 year type), to seal the window well from the ...
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| porch column repair | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I live in a 90 year old 2 story home. It has a very large L shaped porch. I noticed a couple of ...
A: You will need to find a foundation piering company in your area. Try looking in your local directory ...
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| Brick to grade - Builder oversight | 8/6/2008 |
Q: I'm currently building a new home. The foundation is 13 courses of cinderblock. The initial specs ...
A: Unfortunately, bolting on a steel angle bar mantel may be the only option at this point. Getting the ...
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| Granite Block/Rock Foundation Repair | 8/5/2008 |
Q: My home in Massachusetts is over 100 years old, and it's foundation is granite block. In some ...
A: I would think that a conventional mortar mix should used to re-tuck the old mortar joints. Loose ...
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| termite repair | 8/5/2008 |
Q: I RECENTLY HAD MY HOUSE TREATED FOR TERMITES AND JUST STARTED THE REPAIRS ON THE INTERIOR WALLS. AND ...
A: You would be better off removing the windows that have damaged studs around them. You will need to ...
|
| Bentonite Waterproof | 8/4/2008 |
Q: I saw your response to another question and would like your opinion on this application. My chimney ...
A: Bentonite should only be used in controlled environments that have specific moisture content that ...
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| crumbling foundation in old house | 8/4/2008 |
Q: The foundation walls in my basement are slowly crumbling away. The house was built in 1920 as a two ...
A: You need to be very careful with old crumbling foundations. If you are experiencing loose, falling ...
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| Craters next to slab and under walkway | 8/2/2008 |
Q: Our home was built in 1995 in North Central Texas (DFW area). It is slab on grade. Several years ...
A: I have seen similar problems around many homes in Colorado. The pavers set in sand, often times trap ...
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| cutting concrete | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I don't know if this is your area of expertise but give it a try. I have a small vent/access hole ...
A: If you use a skill saw with a 7-1/4" diamond blade, you can cut a depth of approx 3-1/4"....You will ...
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| main support beam | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I am building a new home. I need to know what type of center beam should be used in a crawl space ...
A: The 3 2X10 boards nailed together, should be fine if that is what the building plans show as a mid ...
|
| corner of cabin sinking | 7/30/2008 |
Q: My cabin has sunk in one corner about 3 inches. It is sitting on a clay base with 6 inches of rock ...
A: Depending on the type of construction, Frame, Log, etc,...The affected corner will need to be lifted ...
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| Old rock foundation... | 7/30/2008 |
Q: My boyfriend and I are considering purchasing a 91 year old house that has old rock foundation. 3 ...
A: There are several options aside from installing a new foundation. The most important thing is ...
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| foundation repair and drainage | 7/30/2008 |
Q: I'm a building contactor in Maine. Recently we completed a home, and are finding that the basement ...
A: It sounds like you are going to need a lift station installed. A sump pump installed below the ...
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| how to repair main support beam that has a hole | 7/29/2008 |
Q: a friends house has a main support beam where a contractor cut a 4 inch diameter hole in it to run a ...
A: You have some good ideas of possible repairs to the weakened beam, but it will depend on the ...
|
| Cracked tile floor after foundation repair | 7/29/2008 |
Q: Our house is a single story ranch style home built in 1958 in Dallas, Texas. The person we ...
A: It would be a good idea to have the previous repair company come out to take a look. The piers may ...
|
| water in my basement | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I have water on my basement floor. At first I thought it was from the washer but I had someone out ...
A: From your description of the area and the type of seepage, I am thinking that you may have a drain ...
|
| Sinking floors | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I just bought an old (1968) colonial home. It has concrete flooring. I see now that a part of the ...
A: I'm sorry that I do not know any structural engineers in your area. Our firm is located in Colorado. ...
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| basement wall leak | 7/27/2008 |
Q: I have a similar leak as the previous poster. A leak coming from the basement concrete wall at the ...
A: You want to drill the small diameter hole directly at the corroded tie wire location. The carbide ...
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| water in basement from cinder block wall | 7/27/2008 |
Q: Water is coming into the basement via a cinder block wall. We have exhausted all other options of ...
A: Filling the cinder blocks with any type of material will not stop water from coming through the ...
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| Sinking | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I have a home in Wisconsin on a Lake, and the home is about 20x40 and 60 years old, and has a cinder ...
A: I believe the well tank rupture definitely caused the foundation to sink. There should be a spread ...
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| basement wall leak | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I have a similar leak as the previous poster. A leak coming from the basement concrete wall at the ...
A: There are many ways to stop the water from coming through the wall, but the most important thing is ...
|
| room separating from house | 7/21/2008 |
Q: The house is approx. 30 yrs old 2 story with concrete block foundation. The upstairs sitting room is ...
A: The cracking and separating that you are noticing is caused by foundation settling. There must be a ...
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| sudden foundation shift | 7/21/2008 |
Q: We just recently moved into a house in central Texas, about 2 months ago. We have expansive clay ...
A: The best way to examine a drain pipe is with a camera on a cable that is slowly pushed down through ...
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| Limestone foundation | 7/21/2008 |
Q: We have a house built in 1914. I think the limestone foundation is structurally sound, but the ...
A: I believe the Quickcrete products should do nicely. If there is a concern about intrusive moisture, ...
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| sudden foundation shift | 7/20/2008 |
Q: We just recently moved into a house in central Texas, about 2 months ago. We have expansive clay ...
A: You should stop using the soaker hose immediately. I know that there is a lot of information out ...
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| Limestone foundation | 7/20/2008 |
Q: We have a house built in 1914. I think the limestone foundation is structurally sound, but the ...
A: The type of products that I am thinking about are portland cement based mixtures that are available ...
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| Support beams taken out of basement | 7/20/2008 |
Q: Our house was built in 1911, has a concrete foundation, is two stories and has a basement you can ...
A: You may be able to install new support columns yourselves,but you will need to have the appropriate ...
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| Limestone foundation | 7/20/2008 |
Q: We have a house built in 1914. I think the limestone foundation is structurally sound, but the ...
A: You will need to remove all loose material by scraping and cleaning lime stone with wire brushes or ...
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| Foundation | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I have a sunroom attached to the existing home, the home was built in the early 70's in the ...
A: You need piering attached to the footer. The piers are hydraulically pressed or spiral driven ...
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| Foundation | 7/19/2008 |
Q: I have a sunroom attached to the existing home, the home was built in the early 70's in the ...
A: The separation was definitely caused by soil softening at some time after the footer was poured and ...
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| Converting a temporary foundation into a permanent one. | 7/19/2008 |
Q: My wife and I are currently looking to acquire a new home. We have found a single story family home ...
A: I agree with your thinking. You will need to make certain that the footing is at the proper depth ...
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| dirt basements | 7/19/2008 |
Q: Good day sir we live in Calgary Alberta Canada and are very serious about buying a house that has a ...
A: Depending on the soil type and the method of construction, there may or may not be difficulties with ...
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| slab foundation | 7/19/2008 |
Q: we are looking at a lovely house on the Miramichi river where I would like to retire/It is an old ...
A: I don't think you have any particular worries with a slab foundation as long as the soil is stabile ...
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| Foundation surface | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I'd like some advice to repair/resurface our basement walls. The house is in Montreal and was built ...
A: The crumbling and flaking concrete that you are describing, indicates oxidization and deteriorating ...
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| Repair Center Beam | 7/18/2008 |
Q: A contractor told me that my center beam in the crawl space of my house was rotted and needed to be ...
A: As long as there is ventilation, (fresh air), there shouldn't be any particular problem with trapped ...
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| Sinking floors | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I just bought an old (1968) colonial home. It has concrete flooring. I see now that a part of the ...
A: The type of settlement you have described, indicates moisture problems beneath the sinking areas. ...
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| cracks from house settling or start of a sinkhole | 7/18/2008 |
Q: My house is 5 years old and I can't tell if the cracks in my foundation is from the house being ...
A: Your house may still be under a structural warranty. If you are seeing cracks in the foundation, you ...
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| Repair Center Beam | 7/17/2008 |
Q: A contractor told me that my center beam in the crawl space of my house was rotted and needed to be ...
A: The only way a cost could be determined for the replacement of a center beam, would be after a ...
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| Foundation issues | 7/17/2008 |
Q: Ed Eckley, I'm buying a new home with a builder and it's in last stage (final phase ready for ...
A: The problems that you have described may be serious and could very well represent poor quality ...
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| Minor cracking/bowing in basement walls | 7/17/2008 |
Q: We had our 11 course block foundation inspected by an independent inspector in March of this year. ...
A: The reason you are noticing the wall relaxing and looking better, is because of the clay soil drying ...
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| Support beams taken out of basement | 7/17/2008 |
Q: We just purchased a home where someone removed some of the posts in the basement that support the ...
A: You should contact close by foundation repair companies and talk to them about the mid beam ...
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| Leaking basement | 7/16/2008 |
Q: We live 45 min east of Toronto (Ontario), and are building a new house. This has been a wet ...
A: You should probably have the situation examined by a professional. If there is water coming in ...
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| doggy door in cinderblock building | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I would like to add some doggy doors 14 (kennel) in my building, what type of headers do I use, ...
A: I believe you will need to have some custom made steel jambs. You will need to purchase the doors ...
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| cement fertilizer stain | 7/15/2008 |
Q: How do you remove the orange lawn fertilizer color from cement?
A: It depends on the type of fertilizer and the chemical composition. I would try using strong ...
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| Backfill Question | 7/15/2008 |
Q: Hey Ed, I received an email that you had answered my question, but the link doesn't take me to the ...
A: I think you will be better off using sand as the bed to place the pavers because gravel may be ...
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| limestone repair | 7/14/2008 |
Q: could you tell me what kind of mix recipe i can use on limesone rock so the mortar doesnt crack. ...
A: You should be fine with a conventional mortar mix that you can purchase at the local hardware ...
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| Room addition leaking | 7/14/2008 |
Q: Ed, We live in a house that was built in 1971. At a later date the living room was expanded.This ...
A: I believe your husband is right about jacking the addition up into proper position to keep it ...
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| Leaking basement | 7/14/2008 |
Q: We live 45 min east of Toronto (Ontario), and are building a new house. This has been a wet ...
A: I'm not sure from your description if the water is coming in from the roof not being finished, or ...
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| more information on question 7/13/2008 | 7/13/2008 |
Q: Ranch house on slab--bottom of hill 1950 built--garage added after house making it 95 ft.long--use ...
A: You will be in good hands if you get a structural engineer involved because, a report from an ...
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| leak in foundation | 7/13/2008 |
Q: Daughter bought ranch 3 months ago house vacant 1 year--back yard very wet --had the back piped so ...
A: From your description of the foundation becoming wet after the bathroom shower is used, my thoughts ...
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| Cutting Foundation | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I want to cut a hole in my basement foundation wall to install an egress window. My foundation is ...
A: It depends on the direction of the floor joists. If they run parallel to the wall, you should not ...
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| Cracked Floor | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I have build a house which has a raised foundation front foundation wall 1.5(meters) high & rear 0.5 ...
A: You should call a foundation repair company in your area. Look up the ones that specialize in ...
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| Old house with floors caving in?! | 7/9/2008 |
Q: The house the my mother lives in was built around 1907 and has two stories with an attic. The ...
A: The best place to start is contacting a good structural engineer and having a thorough examination ...
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| sill plate | 7/9/2008 |
Q: There is 10 ft section of rotten sill plate on the foundation. Do I need to replace it? Is it just ...
A: The problem with setting a frame on the basement floor, is that there is a great chance of movement ...
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| sill plate | 7/9/2008 |
Q: There is 10 ft section of rotten sill plate on the foundation. Do I need to replace it? Is it just ...
A: You should replace the bad section of sill plate. Installation of an inner frame wall is a good ...
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| Fix foundation or leave it alone | 7/9/2008 |
Q: In 2006 I had an estimate on foundation work (Austin, TX) and at that time was told there was only ...
A: The problem with all service related industries, is the rising operations costs. Every week that ...
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| Wet basement | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I had a home built 4 years ago this May. I have experienced some dampness that is isolated to a ...
A: Yes it is quite possible that you have a collective low spot that cannot drain. Your perimeter ...
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| Basement Seepage | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I live in a city close to Detroit. My home was built in the 1930s. About 10 years ago our city ...
A: The very best thing you could do is install a concrete apron along the area(s) that do not deflect ...
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| foundation and drainage | 7/2/2008 |
Q: My gutters became disconnected from the perimeter drains and the ground was sloping back to the ...
A: You need to keep watch on the foundation settlement for several months as the surrounding soil fully ...
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| Foundation movement | 7/1/2008 |
Q: I am considering about buying a 28 year old house that was built on a cornfield. One of the walls is ...
A: Whenever you see cracked mortar lines and inward bowing of block type foundations, It is a serious ...
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| Foundation movement | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I am considering about buying a 28 year old house that was built on a cornfield. One of the walls is ...
A: It sounds like a minor problem in the frame studding and possibly poor drywall taping. You will need ...
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| Hole reapearing next to foundation | 6/30/2008 |
Q: A hole 2x4 wide was dug down past the foundation and underneath the foundation appears to be a mushy ...
A: The only thing you can do is remove as much of the organic material as you can find, and then fill ...
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| Pouring Cement in Existing Garage | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I have a two car garage that is of typical pole barn construction. The main posts are sunk into the ...
A: It is true that wooden posts will eventually rot out if they are not kept above ground. If they are ...
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| moisture in basement and cracking of drywall | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I was reading your answer to Liz and it sounded so much like my problem that I was stunned. I am ...
A: I would recommend contacting a a good structural engineer to examine the foundation and frame before ...
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| support post "sinking" | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I have a 40yo ranch with a double garage and two separate wooden garage doors. the two doors are ...
A: The best thing to do is remove the mortar from the previously repaired areas. You may need to dig it ...
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| Raising a house with a limestone foundation? | 6/27/2008 |
Q: Here’s the background: my home is in an historic district in St. Louis, MO, and is a 3-story brick ...
A: From your description of the structure, I would say that any type of lifting or manipulation of the ...
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| Repair Termite Damaged Rafter | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I have a regular A frame type of garage. 1 of the rafters have some extensive termite damage, (only ...
A: Yes of course it would look much nicer with the original damaged rafter removed and then replaced ...
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| Basement partial refinishing | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I am trying to have my basement walls repaired, dried. I just bought a house in Germantown/Mt. ...
A: I am sorry that I cannot begin to guess the qualifications or skills of contractors in your area. ...
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| Repair Termite Damaged Rafter | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I have a regular A frame type of garage. 1 of the rafters have some extensive termite damage, (only ...
A: The most important thing is to make certain that the termites are eliminated, and then of course, ...
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| House sagging in the middle | 6/25/2008 |
Q: My home is 116 years old and has seen a lot of settling, mostly directly under the center of the ...
A: You can certainly add support to the failing areas of your mid beam, but the process involves ...
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| ideas to fill ac hole in cinder block wall | 6/25/2008 |
Q: aside from window and cinder block (the 2 obvious choices) are there any kits/standard items for ...
A: I don't know of any kits, or patch plates for such an application. I would say that you are going to ...
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| Exterior of concrete foundation crumbling | 6/24/2008 |
Q: I live on the east coast of Canada (north of Maine). Last year I bought a small old house, probably ...
A: Your thoughts about applying a skim coat of new cement, is a good idea except for one possible ...
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| Erosion in the crawl space | 6/20/2008 |
Q: We live in a ranch home in central Ohio. It has a block crawl space and at the bottom of the block ...
A: I think you can probably fill the hole back in with soil and then compact it very tightly with a ...
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| OLD House | 6/19/2008 |
Q: Our 800 sq ft house was built back in 1937 and over the years the clay soil has taken its toll on ...
A: The most important thing is to identify where the water is entering the perimeter.....You may need ...
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| brick wall leaning away from house | 6/18/2008 |
Q: We have a walk-out basement house with a reclaimed brick half-wall around it. At the front of the ...
A: There must be some failure in the block foundation that has caused the brick to pull away from the ...
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| 3 foot hole in outer foundation wall. | 6/17/2008 |
Q: I am a young homeowner that recently purchased my grandfathers house, constructed in 1924. From what ...
A: You will need to construct a concrete form that will be shaped around the central air piping, and ...
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| horizontal cracks with 5/8" coming in | 6/17/2008 |
Q: there is a 58 years old house I like that we want to make an offer but it has 3 horizontal cracks on ...
A: Generally speaking, I would say that 5/8" bow in the block wall is not a serious problem as long as ...
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| House leaning | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Ed, I am in the process of buying a home in North East Texas.We had an inspection on the house and ...
A: From your description of the original house, and noting that there are no visible cracks, I would ...
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| I think my foundation is sinking! | 6/17/2008 |
Q: Ed, Not sure where to begin here but here is a brief description of my situation. I have a single ...
A: Your best option would be contacting a reputable foundation piering company in your area. They ...
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| bulging brick foundation | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I have a 1920's craftsman sitting on a brick foundation. Only two sections of the foundation wall ...
A: I actually like your idea of using treated 6X6 posts instead of blocks with rebar. The posts could ...
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| horizontal cracks in cinder block | 6/16/2008 |
Q: you were very helpful in answering some questions about cracks in the motor between our cinder block ...
A: I am sorry that I cannot even begin to estimate what carbon fiber reinforcement might cost in your ...
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| foundation is braking away. | 6/15/2008 |
Q: it looks like some don't even reach the block .i hae pictures of it if you need a better idea of ...
A: You have got serious problems with your foundation. Whenever block foundations lean outward or ...
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| cutting old house in 6 chunks-moving-re-assembled by non-pro | 6/15/2008 |
Q: when reassembled the house was set on foundation that you can access at ground level in front has 2 ...
A: Your ideas seem logical, and I believe that you have a good plan of layout. The most critical load ...
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| Is this soil suitable for building on | 6/14/2008 |
Q: I am looking to build up some ground to extend the side of a hill. I'm hoping to increase the amount ...
A: I would recommend using more of a conventional clay base with the rocky aggregate mixed in for ...
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| Water seeping thorugh block basement wall | 6/14/2008 |
Q: I've recently noticed this past week (after living in our house for 5 years) that moisture is ...
A: The water source could likely be related to the cistern, if there is a leak in the tank or the ...
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| Basement window well sump pump | 6/12/2008 |
Q: Let me first describe the issue. We have a basement window well that has a drain that goes down into ...
A: I think you will be fine with the inspection, as long as there is no evidence of water damage or ...
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| structural foundation | 6/12/2008 |
Q: This house was built in a lower lying area in a Chicago suburb. The lot rreceives runoff water from ...
A: The continuous running sump pump, indicates a constant water source of either high water table or a ...
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| Wood foundation repair | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I have a 30'x40' barn (at least 50 years old) that was built using 4"x6" timber as the outside ...
A: You should be very careful with a leaning structure because of the risk of collapse if the frame ...
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| Crumbling basement wall | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased an older home in South Central KS. The home was moved onto the existing ...
A: You have a very good plan for the reinforcement of the old concrete. I would say that you will ...
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| Foundation leaking around Pipe | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have a pipe coming through the foundation below grade. It has recently begun dripping at the ...
A: You can easily seal the area with a good quality Siliconized concrete sealant. Available at most ...
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| Structural Repairs to Home | 6/11/2008 |
Q: The seller has agreed to make all repairs to a house that a structural engineer has recommended. ...
A: L. I can understand your concern with choosing the right contractors, materials, and final ...
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| Water in basement and cracks along basement floor | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I live in a 1967 colonial home (basement plus 2 stories) in Maryland (clay soil). I moved into the ...
A: The oak tree could cause problems eventually because of the ever increasing root structure. Yes, the ...
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| Water in basement and cracks along basement floor | 6/10/2008 |
Q: I live in a 1967 colonial home (basement plus 2 stories) in Maryland (clay soil). I moved into the ...
A: Frame movement in the upper levels of the home will be noticeable by cracking of drywall. Doors can ...
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| paver patio | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I recently tried putting a 10'x14' paver patio in my back yard. The day before I dug out the area ...
A: You should be able to wait several days until the area dries up and then you will be able to compact ...
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| concrete (cinder) block/ cultured brick veneer water wick | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I know this is not a foundation issue, but thought you might have some ideas, since it deals with ...
A: From your description of the water seeping down the chimney brick, I would think that there is a ...
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| Water in basement and cracks along basement floor | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I live in a 1967 colonial home (basement plus 2 stories) in Maryland (clay soil). I moved into the ...
A: You may not need to get a structural engineer if you are not seeing any significant cracking in the ...
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| moisture wicking into interior walls | 6/9/2008 |
Q: My 20 year old brick home is in Oklahoma, (hot, cold, wet, dry, hot, wet etc). Moisture is wicking ...
A: You have a bad situation if the grade slopes towards the home. It would be very difficult to create ...
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| Concrete patio support for Portico | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I am building a 9'x5' concrete patio with paver veneer and eventually will add a single story two ...
A: The best plan is to drill approx 1/2 way into the foundation. The holes should be 1/2" diameter, ...
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| gap btw driveway and house | 6/8/2008 |
Q: There is a 1/2 gap between the house and the driveway where they both come together. When our ...
A: The very best thing to use is flexible crack and joint sealant. Silicone based concrete sealant. You ...
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| water leaks in cinder block | 6/8/2008 |
Q: OK, after the 5+ inches of rain here in SE Wisconsin last night we once again found water in the ...
A: You could use a perforated tube in the bottom of the ditch if you desire. You would need to wrap the ...
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| water leaks in cinder block | 6/8/2008 |
Q: OK, after the 5+ inches of rain here in SE Wisconsin last night we once again found water in the ...
A: I can visualize the situation and I can see where the trapped water can and will attack your home. ...
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| water leaks in cinder block | 6/8/2008 |
Q: OK, after the 5+ inches of rain here in SE Wisconsin last night we once again found water in the ...
A: I believe your thoughts are correct about increasing the size of your gutters and down spouts. You ...
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| Concrete patio support for Portico | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I am building a 9'x5' concrete patio with paver veneer and eventually will add a single story two ...
A: From your description of your plan, I believe you are going to be in pretty good shape with the ...
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| Water finding it way into basement | 6/6/2008 |
Q: Last night during a heavy rain I noticed 2 places where water was entering the basement. 1) Water ...
A: From your description of the water problems around your home, I am picturing negative grade issues. ...
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| bowed basement walls/anchors | 6/6/2008 |
Q: We are under agreement to buy a house. The basement consists of a two car garage, a small laundry ...
A: I would say that the structural engineer probably has a good plan and the suggested remedies will ...
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| Perimeter Drainage Problem | 6/6/2008 |
Q: I have an issue with the perimeter drainage around my property and would appreciate some expert ...
A: From your description of the problems that you are experiencing, I would think that you have a ...
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| using topsoil in backfilling | 6/6/2008 |
Q: The big pile of topsoil that was to be reserved for my yard was used (along with excavated clay) to ...
A: That is a very good question... You may or may not experience some settling of the soil within the ...
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| basement leak | 6/5/2008 |
Q: Last night we had a very small hole leak ( little stream of water came out form wall) in the ...
A: The small hole might be from the form ties that perhaps snapped off deep into the concrete wall, and ...
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| Somewhat leaky basement | 6/5/2008 |
Q: We have a finished basement with nature stone flooring. I noticed that during heavy rains, the floor ...
A: You mentioned that the moisture seems to occur during heavy rains, and that would indicate a direct ...
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| bowed walls/anchors | 6/5/2008 |
Q: One more question to add. How can you tell if a bowed wall is a continuing problem or has not moved ...
A: There is always the possibility of bowing during construction if the forms were flimsy and the mix ...
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| bowed basement walls/anchors | 6/5/2008 |
Q: We are under agreement to buy a house. The basement consists of a two car garage, a small laundry ...
A: Some of your questions would be very difficult to answer without thorough examination of the type of ...
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| olshans hydrogo exterior water mgmt system | 6/5/2008 |
Q: What do you think about the Olshan hydrogo water mgmt system? It's a double barrel system designed ...
A: I am sorry that I cannot comment on any particular system that I am unfamiliar with. It would be a ...
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| efflorescence in basement cement work | 6/4/2008 |
Q: I was having drain tile issues around my house so I had a secondary drain tile system installed on ...
A: I would say that your best bet would be to go with a commercial grade Epoxy coating similar to ...
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| house foundations | 6/3/2008 |
Q: a house Im looking to buy has a crack running from the top of the foundation on the left side to the ...
A: The type of crack that you have described is a torsion break caused by differential soil movement of ...
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| efflorescence in basement cement work | 6/3/2008 |
Q: I was having drain tile issues around my house so I had a secondary drain tile system installed on ...
A: The white residue that is forming along the concrete joints is a hard water mineral of some sort. ...
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| Garage Cracked | 6/2/2008 |
Q: Mortar Blocks around garage foundation cracking and side of house dropped about a foot?
A: I am assuming that you have a block foundation beneath the house as well as the block foundation ...
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| Basement bowing crack | 6/1/2008 |
Q: Type: Full basement - Block Hi, I am trying to buy a 4 yr old house but during inspection, a ...
A: I can understand your concern about repair methods and the results of each. You are obviously trying ...
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| concrete block crumbling under garage | 5/31/2008 |
Q: I'm interested in purchasing a home but noticed the garage had corroding block, which the garage is ...
A: Very good questions! There is always a possibility of roof damage if there is foundation settlement ...
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| cracked foundation house not level | 5/31/2008 |
Q: I was interested in buying a house originally built in the 50's. But there is a noticeable crack in ...
A: There are several things that can cause the floor to slope, and it may or may not be a problem with ...
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| repairing camp foundation | 5/29/2008 |
Q: I own a small camp on a pond in central Maine. The original structure was built about 60 years ...
A: Actually no....Because there is no particular problem with saturation or penetration like you would ...
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| re-enforcing stacked stone foundation wall | 5/29/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of digging out a crawl space under the back room of our house. The room was ...
A: There are a couple of possibilities. You could pour a sister wall along the edge of the existing ...
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| repairing camp foundation | 5/29/2008 |
Q: I own a small camp on a pond in central Maine. The original structure was built about 60 years ...
A: From your description, I am picturing a fairly light structure that is probably simple frame ...
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| centre floor beam | 5/28/2008 |
Q: how can i replace this centre floor beam, or fix it, from bottom of crawl space, bottom of floor, ...
A: There are many things to consider when planning to replace a center beam, and there are certain ...
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| Plastering foundation | 5/28/2008 |
Q: I have a 38 year old two-story home with full basement. The foundation is hollow block with the ...
A: I think you will do fine without any lathe work. Since the house is only 38 years old, and the ...
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| Expoy crack repair product | 5/28/2008 |
Q: ..now a question about cracks. I have a hairline crack in a 25-yr old, 8-inch, poured concrete ...
A: My opinion of epoxy repairs to cracked foundation walls is two fold: Good and Bad......Epoxy ...
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| House Leveling and foundation repair | 5/27/2008 |
Q: I'm thinking about buying a cottage that has about a 4 inch drop towards the front of the house. ...
A: You mention the front of the house having a 4" drop, and a built on overhead addition that protrudes ...
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| Bentonite along foundation for waterproofing | 5/27/2008 |
Q: What is your opinion of using a bentonite / clay band around the foundation of a house to aid in ...
A: I have heard of similar techniques used around dams and commercial pilons, but I am thinking that ...
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| Water Beneath Basement | 5/27/2008 |
Q: Our house seems to be sitting on a spring. We have a sump pump in our basement that pumps out water ...
A: You may be right in assuming that there is a spring or aquifer beneath your basement floor. ...
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| Excavating next to spread footing | 5/26/2008 |
Q: I have a house located 6 ft. above street level. I'd like to build a garage right in front of it, at ...
A: The simplest and most effective way of supporting the short foundation with a spread footing, is to ...
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| cracks and concrete shrinkage | 5/25/2008 |
Q: I live in ocala,fl we had a house build the end of 07 moved in nov.07 started getting cracks in the ...
A: I'm not able to determine what type of garage you are trying to describe...If the walls are ...
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| Foundations | 5/24/2008 |
Q: I've recently acquired a new (old) house. It's a small single story A-frame with a full poured ...
A: You may need to consult with a local Structural Engineer to help devise a plan that will be ...
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| driveway | 5/23/2008 |
Q: we are trying to change our old interlock.after removing all the stones and putting some sand and ...
A: There is probably insufficient base beneath the driveway. You are getting the soft spots because of ...
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| sagging house, windows hard to lock | 5/23/2008 |
Q: At the moment I am waiting for a roof repair technician to come by and inspect my roof. A friend ...
A: There is a good possibility of foundation settling because of the frame problems that are affecting ...
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| New-build foundation issue. | 5/23/2008 |
Q: I am having a new home built in a northern suburb of Phoenix, AZ. I've been trying to keep a close ...
A: I can understand your frustration because of the mistake with the missing floor drain. The area ...
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| question | 5/21/2008 |
Q: As i been asked this question in my test, so i am searching bor the best solution/answer. Question ...
A: This is a very unusual series of questions that appear to be best guess scenario. There are probably ...
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| Old, very old, Concrete sidewalk | 5/21/2008 |
Q: Hope you can help us...Our question is in reguards to a old and uneven,cracking sidewalk. We own a ...
A: You can certainly pour new concrete over the existing concrete, but you must take care to be sure of ...
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| shrinkable clay and possible types of ground floor | 5/20/2008 |
Q: We are currently carrying out the renovation of a brick cottage and adjoining barns. They are under ...
A: Wire mesh would be fine if the ground is fairly stabile, but whenever there is a possibility of ...
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| House Settling, etc | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I am interested in buying a house in Central Virginia. It is approximately 1100 sq ft. with a full ...
A: Based on the details that you have mentioned, I would say that you would be looking at major costs ...
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| old brick foundation failing? | 5/19/2008 |
Q: We've uncovered a really shocking problem with our foundation… First, here’s a little background. A ...
A: The most important thing is to make sure that you do not dig around the foundation unless the frame ...
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| Cracks in foundation/water seepage | 5/19/2008 |
Q: We bought a house in Chicago about 2-1/2 years ago that was built sometime around the 1920's. The ...
A: Often times it is very difficult to determine if there might be a high water table that fluctuates ...
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| 1940s house with moisture, chimney problems, etc. | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of buying a house in S.C. built in 1942, with an addition added in the 1970s. ...
A: L. It sounds like there are many important issues that need to be examined more closely. Some of the ...
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| 1940s house with moisture, chimney problems, etc. | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of buying a house in S.C. built in 1942, with an addition added in the 1970s. ...
A: L. All of the problems that you have mentioned are serious as related to the structure. I would say ...
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| cabin | 5/18/2008 |
Q: Subject: cabin Volunteer Expert: Harvey ChichesterI am fixing up a 1950's cabin and need help in ...
A: I would say that the floors probably need sanding and re-surfacing with a heavy duty coating of some ...
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| Enclosed Porch Slab/Seasonal Foundation Movement | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I have a one-story house in Houston, Texas built in 1952 on a slab foundation. A large number of ...
A: That is a very good question. The thing is: Identifying where any possible moisture might enter. ...
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| cottage cinderblock foundation bowing in | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I have a 12x26, 50's converted cottage (originally, a "duck house") in Montauk, NY, whose ...
A: I'm sorry I didn't specify any particular kind of internal bracing because there are actually ...
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| Enclosed Porch Slab/Seasonal Foundation Movement | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I have a one-story house in Houston, Texas built in 1952 on a slab foundation. A large number of ...
A: I would say that the previous repair was obviously a quick fix, and it certainly didn't have well ...
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| cottage cinderblock foundation bowing in | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 12x26, 50's converted cottage (originally, a "duck house") in Montauk, NY, whose ...
A: You could have the structure supported temporarily, and remove and replace the foundation with a new ...
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| shrinkable clay and possible types of ground floor | 5/17/2008 |
Q: We are currently carrying out the renovation of a brick cottage and adjoining barns. They are under ...
A: I can understand your concerns about possible soil settling and I can see why you are faced with a ...
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| Cutting Lolly column pipe | 5/16/2008 |
Q: Ed, Greetings. I am trying to dismantle an old basketball backboard and pole. The backboard was ...
A: Probably the easiest way to remove the pipe is by cutting it off with a cutting torch and then ...
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| penetrating cinder block foundation | 5/14/2008 |
Q: In order to install a new drain I need to cut a 3" hole in the top or second tier of my cinder ...
A: Your concern is a legitimate one....Most people don't even think about such things when they plan ...
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| Cracked and bowing basement walls | 5/13/2008 |
Q: Our house is 30+ years old in Overland Park, KS, suburb of Kansas City, MO. It is a split level ...
A: Whenever I am asked this particular question about my choice between Steel and Carbon Fiber, I offer ...
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| bulging basement wall | 5/13/2008 |
Q: Ed, I have lived in my 35 yr old home for the past 6 years. I do not spend much time in the ...
A: The problem that you are experiencing is actually quite common among older block foundations...The ...
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| 1948 house foundation repairing | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I try to buy one small house on top of the hills with view, I found in house have foundation ...
A: You will need to contact a local structural engineer and have them examine the foundation ...
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| house is leaning | 5/11/2008 |
Q: We live in the city of Chicago where homes are built right next to eachother. Is there anything we ...
A: It is very difficult to say whether or not any particular plan might work , without knowing more ...
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| crawl space foundation repair | 5/10/2008 |
Q: We are having a water penetration issue on a smaller home with a crawl space in the front and a ...
A: I'm not familiar with the method that you have described. I would say that the contractor proposing ...
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| replacing home foundation | 5/9/2008 |
Q: Me and my husband are looking into buying out first home. We found one we really love. We were ...
A: The biggest danger factor of a leaning building is determined by the frame strength. Depending on ...
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| Rock foundation caving | 5/8/2008 |
Q: Ed, We live in an old school house that was built in 1910. In the 70's the house was remodeled into ...
A: There is another option that would cost much less, and cause less structural fatigue on the frame. ...
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| foundation | 5/8/2008 |
Q: my husband and I are building a track home with a well established builder and are concerned because ...
A: I can understand your concern about added concrete slab sections. It could be a problem if the added ...
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| That sinking feeling | 5/6/2008 |
Q: Boy, am I having trouble describing the loadbearing on our house! We have a 1973 sort of a zig-zag ...
A: You have described some common problems with soil softening and foundation sinking. I would ...
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| Concrete Block / Boathouse | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I have a Boathouse made of Concrete Block with a poured slab on top for a patio. The corner blocks ...
A: I like your plan... I believe that pouring in new concrete would be a much better remedy than ...
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| conditions and densities of the insitu soils | 5/6/2008 |
Q: We just received information on a house we are interested in purchasing so we had a foundation ...
A: It is a bit unusual that the pad is suspected of being placed upon organic materials...The proper ...
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| Crack in the drywall | 5/5/2008 |
Q: We have an approximately 36 years old house. Just recently I noticed a crack on the drywall in our ...
A: Any cracking should be cause for concern, particularly if there is a noticeable increase in size as ...
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| Building new concrete stairs tied to existing foundation | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I am working on a project which requires building stairs (two steps) down from the living room to ...
A: I am assuming that you have installed a new doorway out to a planned patio area, or that a previous ...
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| garage floor cracking | 5/4/2008 |
Q: Mr. Eckley, I live in Racine,Wisconsin and I have a garage floor that has two large cracks in the ...
A: From your description of the side access door and the way the floor has broken and heaved, I would ...
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| high water table | 5/3/2008 |
Q: Back in March we had a bad flood, had rained all that day and heavy snow thaw. The house is 8 years ...
A: From your description of the previous problems, and movement, etc,..I would think that the water is ...
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| Some Cracks and bowing | 5/3/2008 |
Q: we may be closing on a home soon. I am trying to get some perspective on the condition of the ...
A: Your question about what is considered bad as far as bowing is concerned, is really a very good ...
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| Foundation | 4/16/2008 |
Q: Eckley, I have a home built in the mid 40's and it is built currently on pillars. It was in pretty ...
A: Depending on the overall condition of the frame, and the position of the house on the lot, A new ...
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| termite damage in main support beam | 4/16/2008 |
Q: We have an ohio home built in 1874 with some pretty extensive termite damage in the main support ...
A: I like your idea much better than sistered wood plates. The thing to use beneath temp support ...
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| home | 4/15/2008 |
Q: We have lived in our home for 25 years. Our basement does not leak and we have no crack on the ...
A: Usually the only things that will lift back up when moisture is present, are large pads such as: ...
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| Extensive termite damage...what to do? | 4/14/2008 |
Q: Living on Long Island, I have had termite treatment to my home every year, however they would always ...
A: I would guess that the project should be less than $4,000....But it depends on how difficult the ...
|
| Jack posts resting on construction debris | 4/14/2008 |
Q: In a basement of a newly constructed house, is it appropriate to see four of six adjustable jack ...
A: From your description of the jack posts, and their relationship with the unknown bases, I would have ...
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| Extensive termite damage...what to do? | 4/14/2008 |
Q: Living on Long Island, I have had termite treatment to my home every year, however they would always ...
A: You will need to lift and support the area just enough to provide clearance to slide in the new sill ...
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| main foundation support | 4/14/2008 |
Q: We are in the process of buying a new construction. After we were told the framing was done, we ...
A: Your concern about the steel beams is well founded... Whenever two beams are butted and placed on a ...
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| cracked and bowed basement wall | 4/14/2008 |
Q: Our home is 15 yrs. old and located in Kentucky where the soil is clay. Our basement wall has a ...
A: I would have to agree with the repair company that offered steel beams as a remedy. I strongly ...
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| Front oorch falling apart | 4/13/2008 |
Q: Hope you can help me out with this one. My front porch, specifically my step leading to the porch ...
A: There are ways to patch the concrete, but depending on the overall condition of the old concrete, ...
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| Concrete Block | 4/13/2008 |
Q: Our house was built in the 50's. We bought it in 2005. It was in good shape and move in condition. ...
A: If the blocks are standing uniformly, and appear to be in sturdy condition, then of course you are ...
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| piers | 4/13/2008 |
Q: looking at a house that had 15 piers installed how long is that good for and would i have to do it ...
A: You have asked a very good question.... Depending on the pier type: Helical, Compression, etc... ...
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| Foundation Wrap or Tar - Cost difference? | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I have a block foundation in the crawl space beneath my backsplit home. At least one wall is ...
A: I would go with a foundation wrap because of the fact that it is a block foundation. If it were a ...
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| Replacing foundation | 4/12/2008 |
Q: I live in a 1-story house built in the 1940's. Previous owner dug out a section of crawlspace on ...
A: I'm not following your question about jacking up the floor joists and the wall independently. The ...
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| Foundation | 4/11/2008 |
Q: The foundation of my house was repaired a year ago with 59 piers drilled down to about 20ft. the ...
A: I would think that the foundation is definitely cracked already, especially if there are 59 piers ...
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| Porch Supports | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I had some front porch work done 3 years ago and the contractor did not dig down below the frost ...
A: The best way to go is with concrete caissons poured to a depth of: below frost line. They should ...
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| Termite damage | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I purchased a home in NW Alabama last year that had a prior infestation of termites that is being ...
A: I would recommend replacement of the defective studs and sill plate sections. You will probably need ...
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| paver overlay on patio | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I live in the Atlanta Georgia area and I have a ranch style house that is 10 years old. In the rear ...
A: Your question leans a little more toward masonry expertise, instead of structural. But, I do have a ...
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| Termite damage | 4/11/2008 |
Q: I purchased a home in NW Alabama last year that had a prior infestation of termites that is being ...
A: You are going to have to remove sections of the siding and backing material to be able to gain ...
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| bowed basement wall repair - which system is best? | 4/10/2008 |
Q: We live in Wheeling, WV. We have major cracking on two (opposite)walls in our basement along with ...
A: That is a very good question... Removing the old walls and replacing them all together, involves ...
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| Foundation | 4/10/2008 |
Q: The foundation of my house was repaired a year ago with 59 piers drilled down to about 20ft. the ...
A: It sounds like you had major issues with the perimeter of your foundation if you had 59 piers ...
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| about foundation | 4/10/2008 |
Q: if i will built 40ft by 20ft building 3floor 10ft each floor 30ft high is it ok if my post is only ...
A: I am not able to determine the needed post size without all of the details pertaining to the ...
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| bowed basement wall repair - which system is best? | 4/9/2008 |
Q: We live in Wheeling, WV. We have major cracking on two (opposite)walls in our basement along with ...
A: The problem that you are describing is quite serious and requires a great deal of strength to hold ...
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| Sagging Floors in 1890s House | 4/9/2008 |
Q: My colonial house was built in 1893 and the floors sag and the door openings are not level. I've ...
A: The only way that you can strengthen the sagging floors is by installing beams and support posts. ...
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| garage floor cracking | 4/9/2008 |
Q: We live in Newnan,Georgia.The house is 20 years old.We do have a basement.The garage floor is ...
A: Slab jacking is always an option as long as the conditions are right. For a badly broken older pad, ...
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| support post footings | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I am planning to remove then replace the existing poured concrete floor in my basement. My house is ...
A: Replacement of the support posts with adjustable steel posts, is a great plan. I would say that a ...
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| sill plate and brick foundation | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I live in central Illinois in a home that is 80 years old give or take a few years. This is a 2 ...
A: The situation that you have described is quite serious, especially since the structure is two story. ...
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| cottage foundations | 4/6/2008 |
Q: i have a small 2 bed wood cottage sitting on sinder blocks. it is around 35+ yrs old. last year we ...
A: You are going to need a footing or beam designed for the structure. there are several determining ...
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| Pier material | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I am very interested in a cabin that has recently been rehabbed. It's obvious that the foundation ...
A: I have seen piers made of every possible type of rock, brick, wood, and steel. The important factors ...
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| Attaching patio to foundation | 4/5/2008 |
Q: We are putting an addition on our house with a full basement underneath. Once the addition is ...
A: The most important things about planning a concrete pad are: making sure that the ground is properly ...
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| Basement floor cracking like an egg shell | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I live in a new (less than 1 year old) home. The house has a poured foundation, with a full ...
A: I would say that the floor has probably settled due to improper soil preparation beneath the pad ...
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| Support of post between garage doors | 3/13/2008 |
Q: I have a home in Georgia built in 1992. Within the past year, I've noticed a small 1/8 to 1/4 inch ...
A: The mud jacking that you had done was probably a good thing to fill the voids beneath the garage ...
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| Foundation Fix | 3/13/2008 |
Q: My wife and I just bought a house that was built around 1925. It has a 3ft crawlspace foundation. ...
A: The type of support that you are asking about is basically a temporary way to carry the building ...
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| Slight bow in wall | 3/13/2008 |
Q: I live in Omaha, NE. I am thinking about buying a house built in 1905 but there is a slight bow in ...
A: It sounds like one of those great old houses that needs a little help. The brick foundations can be ...
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| Cracks in foundation | 3/12/2008 |
Q: I am a resident of WI. We had a pretty bad winter and now that the snow is melting, I am noticing ...
A: I am sorry but I have absolutely no information about piering companies in Wisconsin.... Our firm is ...
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| Cracks in foundation | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I am a resident of WI. We had a pretty bad winter and now that the snow is melting, I am noticing ...
A: I would say that the problem must be minor, based upon what you are explaining, and there is a good ...
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| Slab House | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I have a sinking house slab in basic style 1600 sq ft ranch house. The floor has sank approximately ...
A: That is a very good question.... I would think that you should try to discuss the possibility of ...
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| crack in interior basement wall | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I noticed a leak along a 3-4 foot section of an interior wall in our daylight basement. We live in ...
A: The problem that you are describing is definitely a situation that cannot be allowed to continue. ...
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| Basement floor issues | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I was almost ready to make an offer on a home today when we noticed an issue with the basement ...
A: I can understand your concern about the basement floor and the overlay demonstrates that the floor ...
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| settlements cracks | 3/8/2008 |
Q: Our house is 20 years old and we bought it 1 year back. It is pier and beam. We have noticed a lot ...
A: Any time that cracking and frame distortion is noticed, it is a good idea to have some measurements ...
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| Cracks in foundation | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I am a resident of WI. We had a pretty bad winter and now that the snow is melting, I am noticing ...
A: A forty year old foundation wall should be sitting upon a spread footing. The accumulating snow melt ...
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| water in basement/foundation | 3/8/2008 |
Q: Ed, Thanks for reading my problem. Here I go...I have a new house (2yrs) and finished my basement. ...
A: There are a couple of possibilities for the water that you are noticing. The first possibility is ...
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| cottage foundation | 3/6/2008 |
Q: Can this be repaired? We have made a conditional offer on a cottage. The foundation is the ...
A: The biggest problem with block foundations is that they provide very little support against inward ...
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| Residential Foundation Wall | 3/5/2008 |
Q: My son's house was built in the 1930's. The basement walls have stucco/plaster applied to them. At ...
A: I have seen many foundations over 70 years old that are exactly as you have described. The portland ...
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| Cinder Wall | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I am remodeling my downstairs. I tore out the drywall, and found mold. The mold was very low on the ...
A: I know that you are probably aware of the danger of contacting the mold spores, but I still feel the ...
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| Basement Floor | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I have a 1920's bungalow with a block wall/slab foundation. The floor does not seem to be a ...
A: I would highly recommend removing the old floor slab and checking the old drain system piping very ...
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| Concrete | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I want to redo quite a bit of concrete at my home. The driveway, back porch (about 4' square ...
A: The answer to your question is Yes, you can build over the top of the old concrete. The are a couple ...
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| Seam between floor and foundation walls | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I have 2 related questions pertaining to my 30 year old Split Level home in Massachusetts (with a ...
A: Your first question about how to remove the old seam sealant, is difficult to answer without knowing ...
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| What Questions to ask Foundation Repair Companies before Hiring | 3/1/2008 |
Q: We are preparing to do some new door installations and other remodel work and the contractor noticed ...
A: You have presented a very well thought out concern. I would say that you are definitely off to a ...
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| cracks on a new post tensioned foundation slab | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I am having a new house built in the southwest where we only get about 9 inches of rain in a year. ...
A: It is difficult to say whether or not the cracks may be considered normal. My first impression, ...
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| cracks in the foundation around the house | 2/29/2008 |
Q: Mr. Eckley, I'm in the process of buying a new home. The home will be a year old this Spring '08. ...
A: It is difficult to say whether or not there may be cause for concern about the spider cracking that ...
|
| Wood floors over crawl space are sagging | 2/28/2008 |
Q: I bought a farmhouse in WV built between 1920-1930. (West Virginia is basically all hillside, and ...
A: From your description of the age of the structure and the 4" differential in the floor elevations, I ...
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| foundation repair | 2/27/2008 |
Q: My wife and I are under contract to buy a house in the St. Louis, MO area. The house is 34 yrs old ...
A: You have presented a couple of very good questions. Your first question about how permanent the pier ...
|
| Cracks in foundation | 2/25/2008 |
Q: my husband and I are looking to make an offer on our first house (it was built in '94). When we were ...
A: The type of crack that you have described, indicates corner settlement on either side of the ...
|
| Cracks in foundation | 2/24/2008 |
Q: I am a resident of WI. We had a pretty bad winter and now that the snow is melting, I am noticing ...
A: Your thoughts are probably correct. If you have heavy amounts of snow against the foundation walls ...
|
| more about the hole in the basement floor | 2/23/2008 |
Q: I'm sorry to be a pest. I just figured out that this is going to be sent by email to you. ...
A: I did get the photos with no problem, and I believe that you will be in good shape if you can find a ...
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| Wet basement -->discovey of a hole in our concrete floor | 2/23/2008 |
Q: I live in London Ontario Canada. Our house was built in the 1950's. We purchased it with a ...
A: You have an interesting situation there. I did look at the photos that you sent, and I'm inclined to ...
|
| Steel Post Jacks under house | 2/21/2008 |
Q: The idiot I bought my house from thought all the steel jacks under the house should be adjusted the ...
A: I don't believe that you should be in any immediate danger of floor collapse or anything that ...
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| Steel Post Jacks under house | 2/20/2008 |
Q: The idiot I bought my house from thought all the steel jacks under the house should be adjusted the ...
A: The most important thing about adjusting the jack posts, is achieving the flattest possible floors. ...
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| Stone Foundation Mortar Repair | 2/20/2008 |
Q: Ed, Our house is over 100 yrs old, foundation is some sort of stone, we are located a half hour west ...
A: Please don't think that I am questioning your ability with repairing stone work, but I am always ...
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| Repair of Major Crack in Stone Foundation | 2/20/2008 |
Q: I live in a 130 year old home on a 40 acre farm north of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. About 20 feet ...
A: The fact that the structure is 130 years old, presents many problems besides the obvious tree root ...
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| Crumbling/failing stone foundation and bulging floors | 2/19/2008 |
Q: My husband and I recently purchased a two story brick house built in about 1910. The foundation is ...
A: It sounds like you have quite a project planned there. To answer the first part of yourI would say ...
|
| Tiles Peaked and cracked | 2/17/2008 |
Q: I live in a 2 story townhouse that's 3 1/2 years old and I live in the Chicago area. I have a full ...
A: There are a couple of possibilities for the problem that you are seeing. The first, and probably the ...
|
| Multiple foundation problems | 2/16/2008 |
Q: Ed, My Mother-In-Law lives in a home that is about 100 y.o. It is a three story home that sits on ...
A: The situation that you are describing is a very serious problem. The fact that the home is a 3 ...
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| House Foundation | 2/15/2008 |
Q: I purchased an old house (built around 1900). I live in Georgia. The house has a crawl space with ...
A: The board that you are describing is called a sill plate, and that is the correct thing to have on ...
|
| Double jackposts in basement, cracking across entire main floor above main beam | 2/14/2008 |
Q: My husband and I are considering buying a resale home (1985) and during our inspection, we ...
A: It is interesting that someone would install double jack posts at various locations side by side. ...
|
| Sagging Floors | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I have an 740 ft home,2 13x12 bedroom,14x14 kitchen,8x11 bath and extension pantry.The sag seem to ...
A: It sounds like you have studied this situation quite well, and you have got some pretty good ideas ...
|
| foundation crack that gets wet on walls | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I have a 6 yr old poured concrete single home. My builder recently jack hammered my front steps up ...
A: From your description of the problem, I am inclined to believe that the removal of the concrete ...
|
| weather related house shifting | 2/11/2008 |
Q: My house is about 4 years old. It is located in Clarkrange Tn. During the late fall and winter ...
A: The problems that you are describing sound like typical clay soil expansion and contraction based ...
|
| Foundation Footings | 2/10/2008 |
Q: We are considering purchasing a 960 sqft. one level home, built in 1948. There appears to be no ...
A: I would say that the foundation is doing very well, given the 60 years that it has held solid. I'm ...
|
| stacked limestone basement walls | 2/9/2008 |
Q: We have a 2 story large farm house in Iowa with walk up attic that was built in around 1900. The ...
A: The most important thing to do first, is identify the source of the water that is getting into the ...
|
| Proposed foundation repair method | 2/7/2008 |
Q: As I suspected, in a home warranty inspection that I requested, my home builder confirmed ...
A: There is about a 50-50 chance that the crack will level out. It depends on whether or not the crack ...
|
| Proposed foundation repair method | 2/7/2008 |
Q: As I suspected, in a home warranty inspection that I requested, my home builder confirmed ...
A: You have presented a very good question! Let me just say this: No....It is not possible to stabilize ...
|
| bulkheads | 2/7/2008 |
Q: My bulkhead has a lot of condensation below the ground line. When it rains for a couple of days the ...
A: I'm trying to imagine what type of bulkhead you are talking about? Is it above a window opening, or ...
|
| Foundation cracks... | 2/7/2008 |
Q: I have a crack in the center back wall of the basement from floor to ceiling. It is a 3 yr old ...
A: My thoughts about the vertical crack along the back foundation wall, have me picturing a great deal ...
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| Wet basement wall do to a flood on the out side of the house | 2/5/2008 |
Q: My Wife called me the other day when I was away for work. She said that she found the garden hose ...
A: I would avoid drilling into the block because of the possibility of weakening or cracking them. The ...
|
| Flooded by neighbor | 2/4/2008 |
Q: The neighbor's gutters were clogged for a long time, and half of her roof water was dropped five ...
A: You definitely have a problem that is going to be a little bit difficult to deal with. Your question ...
|
| Severe Bowing and horizontal/step cracking in foundation wall | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if you could give me some advice about a bowing wall. Here is the situation. The ...
A: I completely understand your frustration. Now days it seems that everybody has a product to sell. ...
|
| Wet basement wall do to a flood on the out side of the house | 2/4/2008 |
Q: My Wife called me the other day when I was away for work. She said that she found the garden hose ...
A: Those are very good questions! Depending on the soil type, The water may dry within a few weeks or ...
|
| wall bowing outward | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I have an 1860 2 story farmhouse with plaster walls. The wall in the living room has bowed outward ...
A: The problem should be examined by a qualified structural engineer.That is going to be very important ...
|
| Standing water in crawl space | 2/2/2008 |
Q: What kind of expert would address standing water in a crawl space after a rain? Everyone from ...
A: It is sometimes difficult to find the right kind of expert to help you with water saturation ...
|
| foundation woes | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I bought my home two years ago in Charlotte North Carolina. The home was built in 1983 on a slab ...
A: It sounds like you probably have some serious structural deficiencies. If there are gaps beneath ...
|
| replacing center beam | 1/29/2008 |
Q: Sir, I recently bought a house built in the 50's that has had an addition added. The addition has a ...
A: There are several determining factors to consider when planning a load carrying beam. You need to ...
|
| Basement | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I live in michigan. I have a cinder block basement in a house built in the 40's. I plan on ...
A: You need to be very careful when mold is present. You should not breath the mold spores, or disrupt ...
|
| water seeping through the foundation wall | 1/28/2008 |
Q: i bought a liquid epoxy seal unit to fill the crack but my problem is the water keeps coming in so i ...
A: There are a couple of ways to draw the water lower than the crack area. You could dig a hole down ...
|
| Floor joist support | 1/27/2008 |
Q: Center floor joist is 2x10 double thick construction. In 50 feet I have a steel post every 8 feet. ...
A: I would not remove one of the posts unless you provide a stronger beam for the 16ft span. The ...
|
| Bowed foundation | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I live in Pittsburgh Pa. I about to sell my house and I have a bowed wall about 3/4 of a inch out in ...
A: I really don't think that the inspector will get too excited about 3/4" bow. You should definitely ...
|
| foundation problems | 1/27/2008 |
Q: This old house i am buying seems very solid inside. There is cracks in the paint on the corners of ...
A: Your question is shared by many folks wondering about the least expensive way to stabilize their ...
|
| Bowed foundation | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I live in Pittsburgh Pa. I about to sell my house and I have a bowed wall about 3/4 of a inch out in ...
A: I believe that you must be describing a block foundation... When you mention a step crack, that ...
|
| Foundations | 1/24/2008 |
Q: Sir, What care should be taken to prevent uplift pressure in pile foundations, is there any methode ...
A: Your question is a very good one! There is really no guaranteed fool proof method for stopping ...
|
| New/Old foundation cracked | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I moved into my house 4-5 years ago. The seller disclosed that they built onto the house about 8 ...
A: My thoughts about your particular problem are based on the details that you have mentioned. I can ...
|
| Verticle drywall crack in home corners | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I live in Charlotte, NC in a 2-story vinyl sided, slab foundation, home built by a track builder in ...
A: From your description of the corner crack, My first thoughts would be that there is a slight ...
|
| Plumbing leak in Foundation ? | 1/20/2008 |
Q: I noticed today my water bill was more than double. I looked around the outside of my old L-shaped ...
A: It sounds to me like a broken water line is certain. You will need to contact a good plumber to ...
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| BASEMENT BLOCK WALL | 1/20/2008 |
Q: I have a basement wall (block) which has water coming through. The water then going down into an ...
A: There are many remedies that can help the situation temporarily, various sealers, epoxy and acrylic ...
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| adding a footer to a porch | 1/19/2008 |
Q: I have an addition across the whole back of my house that consists of a kitchen and an enclosed ...
A: You should be able to dig along the edges of the porch and find a short concrete wall and the ...
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| Plumbing Leak in Slab Foundation | 1/18/2008 |
Q: I have a few rental properties in Lakeland, FL (about 45 east of Tampa). Recently, I had to ...
A: Your question is a very good one....The explanation about corrosion sounds reasonable, because of ...
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| lowering basement floor 6" | 1/18/2008 |
Q: 1920 3 story house with full unfinished 900 sq foot basement sitting on poured concrete walls. ...
A: I have seen many structures that were built similar to the way that you have described this one. ...
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| Basement Wall | 1/18/2008 |
Q: I own a home in NW Ohio. The house was built in 1944 and sits on a block walled basement. My problem ...
A: The project that you are hoping to take on is quite serious and there are many risks involved. I ...
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| foundation waterproofing (first message had wrong email) | 1/17/2008 |
Q: Ed, I am getting ready to build a small home in Saluda, NC and the first floor will be a cement ...
A: I sent a reply letter, and I went back and clicked on the send to E-Mail link....so I hope it comes ...
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| foundation waterproofing | 1/17/2008 |
Q: Ed, I am getting ready to build a small home in Saluda, NC and the first floor will be a cement ...
A: I've got a good Idea what you are trying to do, and I am concerned about the possible bank pressure ...
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| Spring in Garage | 1/17/2008 |
Q: Our home is 1 year old and since it was new, there has been water in the garage where the slab meets ...
A: Depending on the area that you live, It may or may not be difficult to find a specialist in ...
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| Horizontal cracks on sandy soil | 1/17/2008 |
Q: I have an 87 year-old house built on sand that goes over 10 ft deep. The footings are about 1ft ...
A: Sand usually provides a good base for support as long as the footing is wide enough and deep enough ...
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| collapsed driveway | 1/15/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a foreclosed house with a collapsed driveway. I spoke to 1 of the neighbors who ...
A: The problem that you are describing happens from time to time when the builder or his crew become ...
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| basement walls and floor | 1/15/2008 |
Q: Had a new home built, and move in 5 months ago. Basement walls are poured and their are 8 to 10 ...
A: The new home should not be cracking so quickly unless there is a problem. Often times there will be ...
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| crack in concrete foundation | 1/14/2008 |
Q: Our Lakewood home was built in 1972. We have a poured concrete foundation that has cracked. (Visible ...
A: The crack that you are describing would indicate a soil compression problem. The foundation is ...
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| Basement Foundation Cracks | 1/13/2008 |
Q: My house was built in 1982, has a full unfinished basement.1100 square feet up and down. I live in ...
A: I would say yes, the foundation cracking is something to be concerned about, especially if the ...
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| Considering Purchase of New Home, but . . . | 1/12/2008 |
Q: My husband and I are looking at purchasing a new home that we love. (2 story brick and hardicoat, ...
A: I can understand your concern about a home that is only a little over a year old and showing signs ...
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| slab floor sinking in corners of different rooms | 1/9/2008 |
Q: My parents built a house in 1969. My siblings & I are doing some remodeling work for them. We have ...
A: There are a few different ways to take care of a problem like that.Probably the simplest and ...
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| stepping stair crack | 1/6/2008 |
Q: i live in winston salem nc and have a stepping stair crack in my foundation..i've had two companies ...
A: I'm sorry to hear that you received an inexperienced engineer. Unfortunately there are a lot of them ...
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| Replacing foundation? | 1/5/2008 |
Q: We are considering buying a hundred year old farm house in Cumberland VA. It needs a great deal of ...
A: I personally, respect and cherish the older structures of yesteryear, but, I do not want to sway ...
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| stepping stair crack | 1/5/2008 |
Q: i live in winston salem nc and have a stepping stair crack in my foundation..i've had two companies ...
A: Your question is very difficult to answer without thoroughly examining the problem. I would need the ...
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| Basement stairstep cracks in mortar | 1/5/2008 |
Q: We have horizontal stairstep cracks in mortar only. The home was waterproof sealed in 1986 and drain ...
A: The mortar cracks that you are seeing, are probably due to foundation settling beneath the area that ...
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| Water | 1/4/2008 |
Q: I think our house was built on an underground river. We purchased it in Sept. It has a sump pump ...
A: The way that you describe the pump cycling, I am inclined to agree that you probably have a high ...
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| floor board | 1/2/2008 |
Q: Ed A couple of years ago a construction company was building the house next store. The got one ...
A: It sounds like the wall must have sustained breakage behind the siding. There may be a hole or tear ...
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| Foundation in High Water Elevation | 12/31/2007 |
Q: I am a builder and we have a property that is located next to a pond. Clearly a beautiful location ...
A: Yes I have heard of a water proof concrete from: Glacier Northwest....It is referred to as: Caltite ...
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| Cold air flows from basement into the house | 12/31/2007 |
Q: My solid brick house was built in 1902 on a stacked limestone foundation. The majority of the crawl ...
A: On a lot of the older window jambs, is was common to install from the outside. Most newer windows ...
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| Foundation in High Water Elevation | 12/31/2007 |
Q: I am a builder and we have a property that is located next to a pond. Clearly a beautiful location ...
A: You question is a very good one. Without a definitive soil test, it would be almost impossible to ...
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| Cold air flows from basement into the house | 12/30/2007 |
Q: My solid brick house was built in 1902 on a stacked limestone foundation. The majority of the crawl ...
A: I am a little concerned about the floors not reaching the walls. This would indicate some shifting ...
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| Retrofitting Wood Piers Before Problems | 12/28/2007 |
Q: My cottage sits on 8-foot wood piers that are 20 years old. Is there a standard method for adding ...
A: There are actually several methods for changing out the wooden supports, and exchanging them with ...
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| block foundation | 12/27/2007 |
Q: i have mortar missing in many places on my foundation wall and was wondering if you have any tips on ...
A: It sounds like you are just having minor problems with aging mortar that is falling out of ...
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| New House sinking | 12/26/2007 |
Q: My house was completed in Feb. 07. Two months ago there were no problems when I caulked my driveway ...
A: It is possible that the driveway may be raising up along the edge that you are describing. There ...
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| foundation repair | 12/25/2007 |
Q: I live near Augusta Ga and had work completed by a well known (at least regional) foundation repair ...
A: Merry Christmas! You have a couple of very good questions. First I would have to say that it would ...
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| New House sinking | 12/25/2007 |
Q: My house was completed in Feb. 07. Two months ago there were no problems when I caulked my driveway ...
A: Merry Christmas! You may have a reason to worry, especially if the settling continues. The pad area ...
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| foundation shift? | 12/20/2007 |
Q: originally was a very small all block one story. years ago a 2nd wood frame story was added - just ...
A: I have examined and helped stabilize several similar buildings in old Denver. The problem with ...
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| Concrete cracking | 12/20/2007 |
Q: I have a question about concrete cracks. We have a new home. The slab was poured about 1 and 1/2 ...
A: I'm wondering if perhaps you are describing a monolithic pour?. That would be my first guess based ...
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| Leaning Piers | 12/19/2007 |
Q: My current house was built in 1976. Before we purchased it 4 years ago we noticed some cracks in the ...
A: I'm certain that you will be fine as long as you proceed carefully. You will be able to test the ...
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| Leaning Piers | 12/19/2007 |
Q: My current house was built in 1976. Before we purchased it 4 years ago we noticed some cracks in the ...
A: I would definitely replace the concrete type pillars with adjustable steel ones. The biggest problem ...
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| Leaning Piers | 12/18/2007 |
Q: My current house was built in 1976. Before we purchased it 4 years ago we noticed some cracks in the ...
A: You definitely have reason for concern. If the steel support columns are leaning approx 6", then ...
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| waterproofing | 12/16/2007 |
Q: I have a concrete block basement wall that leaks during heavy rain. It didn't have this problem ...
A: I think your idea is interesting, and perhaps one of the most creative concepts that I have heard in ...
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| Center beam and supports | 12/14/2007 |
Q: I have a Ranch home in Harrisburg, PA that is 38x22 feet (Small, I know). The house was built in ...
A: I can relate to your problem. I have encountered many low beams and ceilings through the years, and ...
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| basement wall cracks... | 12/13/2007 |
Q: A few details about our house: 3 yr old modular on full poured walls concrete basement. Drainage ...
A: You mentioned drainage under the floor and foundation walls. Evidently the drainage is not adequate ...
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| Open Joist Floor | 12/12/2007 |
Q: I was inspecting my house to see what kind of load bearing my floors could take. I have an open ...
A: I'm sorry, but I cannot picture the 2X4's that you are talking about. I have seen 2X4 sill plates ...
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| Cracking Foundation | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I have a house that is almost 25 years old and in the last couple of years I have noticed a wall ...
A: Your description is very good, and I can visualize what you are talking about. To answer yourHow ...
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| leaking egress window | 12/7/2007 |
Q: We recently had an egress window placed in out finished basement. Immediately it began accumulating ...
A: The problem that you are facing is a very common problem in situations like yours. When you hired a ...
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| piers with connectors or just stacked | 12/5/2007 |
Q: My house needs foundation repairs and I am confused. One side of the house is sloping quite a bit - ...
A: Wow! 5" is pretty severe twisting in the frame. Depending upon the amount of patching and other ...
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| piers with connectors or just stacked | 12/5/2007 |
Q: My house needs foundation repairs and I am confused. One side of the house is sloping quite a bit - ...
A: Any settlement greater than 2", is considered severe. The amount of frame stress is tremendous, ...
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| Crawl space main beam | 12/4/2007 |
Q: Sir, I am installing a wooden floor above my crawl space.(new construction) Sill plate,TGIs, sub ...
A: Lots of builders used to pour the vertical columns in place and shim the final position of the beam ...
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| Porch Foundation Repair | 11/27/2007 |
Q: We have a Victorian house in South Dakota. It was moved to the site about 12 years ago and placed ...
A: I'm betting that your Victorian home is beautiful.... The problem that you will have is submitting a ...
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| modular basement dryness... | 11/27/2007 |
Q: I have a 2 1/2 yr old modular on a full concrete basement. Initially, I painted the walls with ...
A: You have a similar problem to many that I have worked on in the past. In your description of your ...
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| what type of contractor to hire for.. | 11/24/2007 |
Q: replacement of a lally column in basement. I have a lally column set in cement. It is holding a ...
A: You can probably find any competent local builder to help you with the column replacement. If you ...
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| New house with cracked foundation | 11/22/2007 |
Q: My husband and I have an accepted offer on a brand new finished townhome in Mount Pleasant, SC. We ...
A: And Happy Thanksgiving! I can understand your concern about a new finished townhome having cracks ...
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| foundation problem | 11/21/2007 |
Q: I noticed a horizontal large crack in my family room drywall and cooresponding cracks on the ...
A: I can relate to your frustration. Similar issues happen all over the country and the various ...
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| basement crack | 11/20/2007 |
Q: When looking at less than two year old home that I like very much I noticed in the basement a fairly ...
A: You are quite welcome Veronica. If you would like to send some photos of the crack to my inbox, I ...
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| straightening basement wall | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I have a 1906 victorian home in Missouri that has one wall comining in. It's about 40 feet long. the ...
A: It sounds like you have quite a project going on there. First I would like to say: Please be very ...
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| repair of foundation crack | 11/19/2007 |
Q: We just bought a house (concrete perimeter foundation, with wooden frame) in California with a 2ft ...
A: You have presented a couple of very good questions. With the steel rebar exposed,of course there is ...
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