วันเสาร์ที่ 1 มกราคม พ.ศ. 2554

Fixing Old House Foundations

People love New England for many reasons. Favorite features include the incredible autumn colors, the rugged beauty of the Maine coastline and even the famously unpredictable weather. This part of the country is also known for the rich selection of historic houses that can be found in nearly every community. If you're an aficionado of old houses, you know how they depend on skilled maintenance and repair work to remain safe, sound and beautiful.

Older foundations have been built differently than new foundations, which can lead to some repair challenges. An inspection by a certified foundation repair expert can help keep your older home in tip-top-shape. Let's discuss some problems your older home repair contractor may discuss with you:

Inadequate Intermediate Support

In most houses, the first floor joists that rest on the foundation walls are also supported by a post-and-beam framework that extends down the center of the basement or crawl space. In older houses, posts may have rotted or they may not have adequate footings. Foundation repair contractors can either reinforce the original post-and-beam assembly or replace it with new lumber erected on new, correctly sized footings.

Excess Moisture

Moisture is sure to be a problem if the foundation has a dirt floor, but leakage through masonry walls and floors can also cause mold and rot in the basement or crawl space area. An experienced foundation repair contractor will know what waterproofing strategies will work best in different situations.

Rotted Sills

The sill lumber that rests directly on the top of the foundation wall is especially prone to moisture damage in the form of rot or insect attack. Old-time carpenters didn't have pressure-treated wood that resists rot and insects. Today we do, and that's the material a foundation repair specialist will use when repairing rotted sills.

Cracked Masonry

If a foundation wall has cracked without shifting or settling, these cracks can often be repaired by the homeowner. However, it's good to get repair advice from an experienced mason, since the original lime-based mortar used between stones or bricks is not the same formulation as the cement-based mortars used today.

Settling and Shifting

A foundation wall that has settled, shifted or collapsed definitely calls for a professional repair. The contractor will probably need to shore up the house framing above the repair area while the soil is stabilized and wall sections are reconstructed. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace a section of stone or brick foundation with poured concrete or concrete block. Your foundation repair contractor can discuss the pros and cons of undertaking an authentic restoration as opposed to a repair using more modern materials.

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