Slab Foundation vs Pier and Beam Foundation Repair
The strength of your home lies in the foundation. Here in North Texas, we deal with foundation problems every day. There are multiple reasons to explain why the foundations for our Texas homes often fail. Fluctuating moisture changes in the soil, surrounding landscape, old plumbing, as well as construction and drainage issues are common causes of failing foundations.
How Do I Know if My Foundation Has Failed?
There are a few symptoms you should be able to spot visually if your home is having foundation problems.
- Your interior or exterior doors are sticking.
- There are new cracks in the drywall.
- The caulk around your windows is separating.
- There are cracks in your home’s stone or brick exterior.
- The floor has become uneven.
If you’ve noticed one or more of these issues at your home, you likely have a foundation issue.
How Do I Fix My Foundation Problems?
The repair for your foundation problem depends on the type of foundation your home was built on. Two types of foundation commonly found in our area are poured concrete slabs and pier and beam foundations.
What’s a Slab Foundation?
Slab foundations are thick slabs of concrete that are poured directly onto the ground all at once. The center of slabs is usually thinner than the edge; the edges of the slab are thicker to provide extra strength to the perimeter of the house or construction. Sometimes foundations are reinforced with steel rods or tension cables to ensure the slab is capable of bearing the weight of the structure.
Concrete slabs are typically used for homes that are built on flat lots and commonly used for construction in warm climates like ours. Slab foundations don’t work so well in colder climates because the slabs that are continuously exposed to sub-freezing weather would certainly crack. That’s not to say that slab foundations don’t fail in our region either. In fact, even when the proper steps are taken to pour a concrete slab, over time, geological events and weather can cause the slab to shift, buckle, and eventually crack.
What’s a Pier and Beam Foundation?
Pier and beam foundations, also known as post and beam foundations, are typically found in older homes, those built prior to the 1960s. This kind of foundation isn’t commonly used in modern construction because it’s more expensive than slab foundations, but they are worth considering in areas with substantial soil expansion and contraction or when building on hills or in flood zones.
They differ from slab foundations in that they are slightly raised off the ground, imagine a house built on stilts. Pier and beam foundations are built by driving rebar and concrete beams deep into the ground until the beam reaches bedrock. Beams that extend from one pier to another are added to provide support for the joists and flooring of the home or structure.
If you can’t tell what kind of foundation your home is built on an expert can certainly help.
What’s the Difference Between Slab Foundation Repair and Pier & Beam Foundation Repair?
Here’s what you need to know about how the foundation repair process is different for these two different types of foundations.
Repairing Slab Foundations
Slab foundation repairs focus on leveling the foundation to prevent deterioration. Cracks in the foundation leave gaps that can grow and create bigger problems like sinking houses. When your foundation is repaired gaps are closed and your floors are leveled.
Failed foundations can cause problems with the overall structure of your home so it’s best to resolve these issues before the structure begins sloping.
Repairing Pier and Beam Foundations
Sagging, sloping, and buckling floors are common issues with pier and beam foundations. The type of repair for pier and beam foundations depends on what exactly the problem is.
Repairing a pier and beam foundation may require replacing rotten wood or installing new beams and joists or even re-shimming the foundation. Today’s shims are made of steel which is a great alternative to wooden shims that were used in older construction.
To learn about different foundation repair methods, check out our article: Types of Foundation Repair.
Get the Foundation Repair Services You Need
No matter what kind of foundation you have or what type of foundation repair services are best for your Texas home, you can rely on the professionals at Ecoscape Foundation & Home Services for the comprehensive foundation repair services you need. Contact us today to learn more about our foundation repair services and to request a free evaluation. Financing options are also available for qualified homeowners.
