Diagnosing Foundation Problems

Foundation settlement is one of the leading causes of building damage in the world.  The causes are due mostly to moisture changes in the bearing soils. Foundation Settlement and Foundation Heave in Arizona many times are thought to be the same thing. Although they are related. If left unchecked, damage could exceed practical repair abilities.  So a proper evaluation is essential to maintaining the value of your structure.

The Arizona Ramjack Difference

  • Our report is objective. We are paid to provide an analysis -- so we don't need to find a way to rationalize piling to pay for our visit.
  • We use industry standards from the Foundation Performance Association and try to take as much subjectivity out of our analysis as we can.
  • It is accurate. Many contractors and engineers have gotten heave and settlement confused. Showing up to take a few floor readings is not accurate enough to understand patterns or deflection.
  • We can sharpen our pencils. If we can eliminate 1 pile with careful analysis the survey has paid for itself.
  • The homeowner can use this report as a baseline for future reference to document performance over time whether or not any work is done.
     

Ok so you are ready for a foundation report. What does that exactly entail?

A detailed report with objective analysis can help avoid jumping to conclusions and possible errors. Foundation heave, settlement and thermal movement are carefully analyzed. Stopping and starting points and be obtained by using industry standards and consensus opinions. Subjectivity is minimized and you are free to have whom ever you please to examine it and vet its conclusions.

We use the following steps to evaluate your foundation issue.  This conforms to the level B investigation per the Foundation Performance Association.

1. Draw up a floor plan of the house. Arizona Foundation Repair Estimate Company Phoenix
2. Take floor readings in the corner of each room and the middle of larger rooms. Structural Engineer Geotechnical Arizona
3. Record distress types and locations on the floor plan. Foundation repair floorplan
4. Return and download all data to one plan and plot topographical elevations. repair arizona foundation plan
5. Produce summary of observations and data in written format. foundation repair plan survey study

6. Back up any conclusions with industry consensus information.

See the link to the document published by the Foundation Performance Association. This is a peer reviewed document that establishes consensus for allowable movement in a foundation.

Guidelines for the Evaluation of Foundation Movement
 

  

7. If the data is appropriate provide a written repair plan and estimate.

 arizona foundation repair plan