ATLANTA FOUNDATION REPAIR CONTRACTORS

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Often, a foundation settlement problem first appears as a small crack, a sticking door, or a jammed window.  If not addressed properly, these problems usually get worse with time.  The more damage that is done before the problem is addressed, the more expensive the repair.  If the problem is ignored, more serious problems, such as ruptured water and sewer lines, damaged electrical lines, tripping hazards, and major structural damage, may develop.  Eventually, the house may become uninhabitable.  Obviously, all of these problems have an adverse effect on property value.

Causes of foundation settlement

Foundation problems in the metro-Atlanta area are most often caused by unstable soil.  Many houses are not built firmly on bedrock or high-load compacted dirt.  Instead, they are built on relatively loose fill dirt.  Fill dirt is soil that has been moved or disturbed during the building process.  The fill dirt under a house settles over time.  Unfortunately, fill dirt under different parts of the same house often settles at different rates.  If one part of the house settles more quickly than another, stresses in the foundation and structure develop.  These stresses lead to cracks in the foundation, cracks in internal walls, and sinking, buckling, or leaning foundations.

Excessive ground or storm water entering the fill dirt near the house exacerbates the problem.  Additionally, organic matter left in the fill dirt during original construction, such as scraps of wood, decomposes over time.  As it decomposes, it takes up less physical space, and the fill dirt sinks into the space it used to occupy.

Fixing the problem

Many tools are available to slow, fix, or stop a settlement, foundation, or structural problem.  Each specific problem calls for its own specific solution.  A large tree causing cracks in the foundation calls for tree work.  Gutters that direct water next to the foundation, thus saturating the ground, call for gutter work.  Unfortunately, in some cases even high-quality contractors disagree on the proper solution.  If multiple high-quality contractors disagree, consider seeking the advice of a competent engineer.

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