Arizona Foundation Solutions Q&A

Unfortunately, no.  This is a specialized type of home repair that is outside of our current scope of work. 

Our focus is on the repair of existing permanent foundations and concrete slabs. We also provide basement and crawlspace waterproofing services as well as radon testing & mitigation services.

Wall cracks are not dangerous, but they are a clear sign of a foundation problem that can be a big deal for your wallet and your home's value.

Yes, it can, and that is because it does not matter how new or old the house is but how and where the house got built; usually, brand-new houses start showing foundation problems in a minimum of 2 years, depending on the soil under the house's foundation. Location is crucial to know if the house will face foundation problems in the future because soil such as clay changes its volume extremely depending on the weather, which will provoke the foundation to move.

No; cracks in concrete should not be fixed with tile grout.

Yes, it can! PolyLevel® can lift back to its original position any concrete slab from your home, including rooms, the garage, the patio, or even the driveway. PolyLevel® works by drilling a hole through the sunken slab and then placing an injector port. After getting the foam material ready, the high-density foam is injected into the port, whereupon it expands and lifts the slab. Click here to learn more!

This is a great question... while it isn’t required, it is the best practice.

This insures that you are only dehumidifying the crawl space & drawing in outside air.

Unfortunately, no. 

Leveling a mobile home, park model or modular home that is not on a permanent foundation is not within our current scope of work.  Our tools and equipment are designed to lift & level heavy structures supported by a traditional foundation.

If the modular home has been placed on a radiational foundation, we may be able to help.

Yes, it does exist mainly in Arizona since many houses got built over clay and other expansive soil that affect houses' foundation over time. Click here to learn more about expansive soil!

In most cases, no.  Please consult with your Homeowners Insurance provider with additional questions.

Cracks on the floor, walls, and even the ceiling mean there is a foundation problem. Arizona soil is known for fluctuating its volume based on the weather and the temperature. Arizona Foundation Solutions knows how to repair foundations by delivering high-quality and long-lasting results. Some Homeowners might be facing foundation heave problems or even settlement problems. Lucky for them, AZFS got their back. Click here to learn more... Cosmetic vs. Structural Cracks (foundationaz.com)

In the case of PolyLevel®, leveling the concrete slab is perfect since the PolyLevel® foam material gets injected into the slab and expands until the material pushes the concrete slab back to its original position. Click here to learn more!

The PolyLevel material takes up to 15 minutes to fully expand and solidify.

PolyLevel® Lasts from 5 to 7 years depending on the natural environment where the material got injected.

PolyLevel usually takes up to 15 minutes to fully expand and solidify.

The cost of foundation repairs will vary based on the root cause of the issue.  Only Licensed, Professional Engineers (not salespeople with a commission need) should be composing repair plans and Licensed, Certified Foundation Repair Contractors should complete repair work.

Beware of Foundation Repair Contractors that suggest cutting corners.

PolyLevel® weighs only about 4lbs. per cubic ft., compared to 120lbs. per cubic ft. for standard fill material. PolyLevel® ’s light weight makes it useful where denser fill material might impose an undesirable load on weak soils. Despite its light weight, PolyLevel® can support substantial loads; it typically provides greater lifting power than mudjacking.

In order to determine the cuase of a foundation issue (be it sinking / setteling or an issue with foundation heave), we reccomend a Forensic Engineered Report (a Level 'B' Foundation Inspection).  

Below are items that should be accounted for in your home’s level B investigation:

1. Determine from as many sources as possible what the soil layer compositions and properties are.
2. Gather and understand long term precipitation and its effect on soils at that location.
3. Use of Aerial photography to understand drainage, landscaping (trees vs grass), sunshine, and how they affect the various areas around the house.
4. Understand the original topography and modifications to the soil before house was built (and after).
5. A complete understanding of the structural systems and path loads of a home including truss systems vs non-truss systems, interior load bearing walls, and post tension vs conventional vs pier and beam systems and how they interact with various soil conditions.
6. Age of the structure and its effect on moisture migration under the foundation.
7. Scaled complete floor plan.
8. Complete floor level survey with topological mapping and an understanding of topological patterns and their interpretations.
9. A complete damage map overlaid with the topological map to understand how the damage relates to the observed elevations. Extensive experience understanding nuanced damages and their varied interpretation with even similar symptoms.
10. A complete tilt and deflection analysis with engineering consensus allowables.
11. Written observations and recommendations supported by the data gathered.
12. Complete repair plan with specifications and placement of various recommended elements.
13. Included are guttering and drainage improvement plans, and specifications and placement of those elements.
14. Pictures with a photo numbering plan that corresponds to a floor plan numbering.
15. A review of all the factors to see how their convergence creates a holistic interpretation.
16. Peer review to check assumptions and that conclusions are supported by the data.
17. Entire Report sealed by a licensed professional engineer with observations and recommendations, not just pile spacing for the permitting process.

If you are not getting all of the items above included with your foundation inspection, then you will likely not have repairs that are designed to remediate the specific issues (soil problems, drainage, weather history, etc.) affecting the performance of your home's foundation.

At Arizona Foundation Solutions, our Forensic Engineered Report (or FER) contains ALL of the 17 items referenced above. We use licensed, professional engineers to interpret the data collected, diagnose the problem, and suggest a repair plan.

Learn more: foundationrepairsaz.com/forensic-engineered-report.html 

The first step is to address the cause of the crack.  Once the cause of the concrete crack has been identified and addressed, you can repair the concrete.

For interior & exterior slab cracks, our Crack Stitching method addresses the crack while allowing for some future movement.  The end result is a repair that lasts.

Learn more about Crack Stitching here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/crack-stitching.html

Before you address the un level concrete, the root cause of the issue will need to be identified and resolved. Otherwise, any repairs made may need to be completed a second time. PolyLevel is one of our favorite tools to lift & level concrete slabs. A proprietary blend, PolyLevels allows even the heaviest slabs to be lifted back into place. Learn more about PolyLevel here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/concrete-lifting/how-polylevel-works.html

Yes, it is thanks to our PolyLevel® Injection Foam System. This material is light, waterproof, and extremely strong that it's able to keep your concrete slabs exactly where they should be.

Yes, PolyLevel® is waterproof and will not wash away. PolyLevel® ’s waterproofing properties can be beneficial in certain applications.

Yes, leveling your driveway with PolyLevel is not only an option but a solution as well.

The most common mistake people do is waiting until the foundation problem becomes more visible and expensive. Some other people do not recognize the symptoms on time, and that usually leads them to have more foundation problems in the future. Click here to learn more: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/foundation-warning-signs.html

The most common symptoms when there is a foundation problem are cracks on the floor, walls, and ceiling, but sometimes there are space gaps between the floor and the baseboards meaning the slabs are sinking. Click here to learn more: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/foundation-warning-signs.html

When concrete gets overexposed to water, it changes its PH, becoming acidic and negatively affecting metals by corroding them, which will lead the concrete stem wall to eventually crack from the inside out.

Horizontal concrete cracks in the stem wall mean that the corrosion problem is damaging the concrete stem wall. The oxidation problem starts in the rebar and then spreads to the rest of the stem wall components. For more information click here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/concrete-stem-wall-repair.html

Concrete cracks are common.  In fact, it is a matter of when not if when discussing concrete cracks!  However, not all cracks indicate an issue.  Small, hairline cracks are simply cosmetic and do not indicate a problem with the concrete.

However, there are some types of concrete cracking you should not ignore.  Horizontal cracks that worsen over time and include concrete crumbling & spalling should be addressed as soon as possible. 

 This is due to the rusting rebar on the inside of the concrete stem wall.  When moisture becomes trapped in the stem wall, the oxidization results in corrosion and ultimately, stem wall failure.

Most of the time, vertical cracks in a stem wall mean that the corrosion problem started in the tie-down straps first.

The polymer consists of two separate liquids that are combined right at the injection nozzle to trigger a chemical reaction that turns the blended ingredients into expanding, high-density foam. For more information go to: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/concrete-lifting/how-polylevel-works.html

Radon testing allows you to determine the radon levels in your home.  Radon test kits may be purchased online or at home improvement stores.  Alternately, Homeowners may secure the services of a Radon Testing Specialist.

The U.S. Surgeon General has recommenced that every home be tested for radon.

Learn more about Radon Testing & Mitigation here: https://www.foundationrepairsaz.com/radon-gas-mitigation/radon-testing.html

The main thing that causes Expansive soil to change its volume is temperature and water exposure. When the soil gets too exposed to water, it just gets bigger, but when it is too dried, it shrinks significantly, making slabs sink. Click here to learn more: Overlay of Concrete to Fix Expansive Soil Heave (foundationaz.com)

We offer competitive pricing as well as a price assurance guarantee. If Homeowners find a lower written estimate for the exact same services, we will meet it!

The reason why concrete stem walls get cracked or deteriorate from the inside out is that the excess moisture in the area causes the metal on the rebar and the tie-down straps to get corroded and damage the stem wall in the process. Click here to learn more: Foundation and Concrete Repair 045 How does water get into a stem wall and rust the rebar? - YouTube

Concrete cracks are the result of a number of causes, including:

- Shrinkage

- Expansion 

- Heave

- Settling

- Excessive weight

- Premature drying

Solutions to prevent concrete cracking will depend on the cause.  The best practices in the prevention of cracking concrete is to not overwater the concrete when mixing, make sure the area was compacted properly & not place excess weight on the slab.

Regardless of the reason for the cracks in your home's concrete, we are the Solution!

The main problem with expansive soil is that they change its volume extremely by shrinking and swelling up. Another factor like the weight of the house also contributes is the affected area if the house is settling.