Foundation "solutions" that DON'T work

Total foundation replacement:

What is it? With total foundation replacement. the soil is first excavated from around your foundation walls. The, the house is jacked up and the slab floor and foundation walls are removed. Finally, the foundation is rebuilt and the soil is replaced.

Why might people choose this? If my foundation is broken, it seems logical to replace it with a new one rather than to repair the existing one.

Why this doesn't work: Not only is replacement extremely disruptive and expensive, the real problem is that it doesn't address the issue. The foundation isn't the problem; the soil is the problem. You've simply built a new foundation in the same troublesome soil, so you can expect your new foundation will 'break' just like the old one!

Concrete Underpinning:

What is it? After soil is excavated from around the foundation, larger concrete footings are poured beneath the existing footings. Once the concrete has cured, the soil is backfilled. 

Why might people choose this? If a footing is designed to carry the weight of the home, the a bigger footing should be better...right?! Contractors who know just a little may not know any other way.

Why this doesn't work: Most of the time, concrete underpinning does not extend past the 'active zone' and beyond the troubled soils. In other words, the soil beneath these newly beefed-up footings may still be moving, causing the home above to continue to move. Additionally, concrete shrinks as it cures, potentially creating small gaps between the new footing and the old one. Open gaps beneath a home are never a good thing.

When the underpinning is used as a solution and the problem continues, it is MUCH more expensive to repair as all of the added concrete will need to be removed and re-supported by a new, more substantial foundation system. 

Concrete Piers:

What is it? Short, blunt concrete cylinders are pushed into the soil on top of one another and are held together by a wire. Shims are then placed on top of the uppermost concrete cylinder, and the soil is backfilled.

Why might people chose this? Concrete seems like a pretty strong material, so it must work, right?!

Why this doesn't work: The blunt concrete cylinders are wide in diameter (about 6-8 inches), making it difficult to push the sections deep into the ground and past the troubled soil. There is also nothing to guide the direction of the pier, so they may not be installed straight. Finally, although concrete is strong, we've all seen concrete crack and break under pressure and during changes in temperature. Just take a look at all the cracks in concrete streets and parking lots! If concrete piers were a great idea, all manufacturers of foundation repair products would offer them. Instead, only a few companies struggle with this approach. 

For more information on solutions that DO work, click here.