A sagging foundation in Brossard, Qc
Challenge
Ms. Chong had a big problem with cracks on one of the foundation walls. She had covered her exterior wall with a plastic to prevent water infiltration into her basement.
Three signs were worrying:
1. The stair tread crack that formed on the corner of the brick wall. This type of crack indicates that the foundation wall is sagging and rotating outward.
2. The separation of the window from the foundation wall. It is often the first sign of foundation sagging as it is one of the most fragile places in the foundation.
3. A large crack in the foundation wall. Small or large, these cracks should be examined to determine if they are shrinkage cracks or cracks caused by settlement of the foundation.
But what is the cause? The sagging of the foundation of the house caused by the movement of the ground. Poorly packed backfill soil, clay soil that dries out and shrinks, and wet and soft soil are examples of soil movement.
Ms. Chong was worried that the situation would get worse and severely affect her home.
Solution
She contacted Systèmes Sous-sol Québec in order to have a reliable and permanent solution to her problem.
Our experts have placed 8 Push Piers under the footing. Their role is to stabilize the foundation permanently. These pillars are made of steel and are driven deep into the earth to bedrock or other stable layer. They can present an opportunity to pull the house up to its original position and often caulk cracks. They are installed in 4 steps:
1. We dig around the foundation in order to reach the footing.
2. The supports are attached to the footing to drive the piles into the ground.
3. The weight of the house is then transferred to the competent layer through the stakes.
4. The house is raised and leveled if possible.
With this solution, Ms. Chong will have nothing more to fear as her foundation is stabilized once and for all!
Project Summary
City: Brossard
Specialist: Peter Romaniuk
Foreman: Michel Leclerc
Problem: A sagging foundation
Solution: Push Piers
