Having a proper drainage system ensures that your home stays in good condition at all times. It is the solution to fundamental home problems such as water pooling, which is the leading cause of landscape destruction, mold, and foundation issues. Poor drainage leads to hefty home repair costs, and hence it should be corrected well on time.

If you have a spring, standing water, wet basement, or a river or swamp through your yard, you may want to hire a professional drainage contractor. At Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair, we offer professional foundation repair services for commercial properties and residential homeowners in the Dallas metroplex and the surrounding areas. We have the needed knowledge and experience to help you adjust your existing drainage condition or create a completely new one.

Drainage Methods 

We employ the newest drainage systems to correct drainage problems, including French drains, Swales, Channel drains, Atrium drains, Area drains, and Grade work. However, this may require soil testing of the slope your home sits on.

Other potential areas of drainage correction that may arise include rain barrels, downspout drainage, dry wells, and other necessary installations associated with drainage systems. Whatever the circumstances, there are various reasons for drainage corrections. Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair is ready to confront all your needs with an exceptional level of professionalism, guaranteeing you the best outcome.

Why Drainage Corrections?

If you’ve by any chance had a soggy lawn, then you’re aware of how such unfortunate situations are more than just simple nuisances and annoyances, especially at times where it seems like a river was passing through your yard.

They can also possibly destroy or damage your home’s foundation and other facets, which can lead to even more problems.

Get Ahead of Your Drainage Issues with Help from Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair

If you suspect a drainage issue within your yard, don’t wait for the expensive proof to show up. Instead, get ahead of your drainage issues by getting in touch with our team of professionals. We will help you with a proper drainage solution, no matter the size. Contact us today or request a free estimate from our website.

There are a number of different materials and tools for your foundation construction and repair needs, depending on building types, soil condition, and the foundation type utilized for your home, business, or industrial building. Of the wide variety of foundation materials, steel pipe piers are used in many types of construction.

Hargrave’s steel pipe pier is used for both exterior and interior foundation stabilization. These piers provide trouble-free foundation stability for the lifetime of your home and, in almost all cases, are backed by our lifetime, transferable warranty. Steel piers are also recommended by structural engineers and are accepted by VA, FHA and conventional loan companies.

What are Steel Foundation Piers?

Steel pipe piers are long columns made of concrete driven into the ground to support the foundation of your house. Unlike drilled helical piers, concrete piers are installed faster since curing time is not necessary.

These piers are made of steel and provide the strength needed for the concrete piers to support the foundation and the building above it.

How Are Steel Pipe Piers Installed?

Steel piers are hydraulically advanced to rock or other suitable load bearing stratum which, in most locations, will be deeper than either drilled concrete piers or pressed concrete pilings.

Work With Professionals

Are you in need of professional foundation repair services for your home or commercial property within the Dallas metroplex? Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair is your ultimate solution, offering a variety of foundation repairs. Please contact us for the best foundation repair services. You can also visit our blog for more details about our work.

 

House leveling is the process of repairing the house foundation, lifting the structure to its original position. Invasive tree roots, poor construction, and excessive moisture are among the leading causes of a sloping home. Because house leveling is crucial in maintaining your property’s value and keeping your family safe, it is essential to proceed with caution to avoid further damages to the structure. That said, here are professional tips on how to level a house;

PINPOINT UNEVEN AREAS ON THE FLOOR

Among the top warning signs that your house requires leveling is when it has uneven or sloping floors. At times, you may fail to notice these signs immediately. However, you can test it by dropping marbles on the floor and watch how they move. If they roll and rest on a particular area or corner, it means that your house has heaves and dips. This helps you know how to reposition and work on your piers or basement foundation for a perfect house-level practice.

UNDERSTAND FOUNDATION FACTORS

When your house’s foundation begins to tilt, the entire structure may as well shift and cause other problems; cracks on walls, uneven floor, doors not closing, and sticking windows. This problem is often due to lateral pressure from the soil or the sinking of foundation footings.

Once you notice such events, it is essential to consult a structural engineer to inspect and diagnose your house’s foundation. Waiting for a long time can make repairs costly or even damage the entire structure. Besides, foundation repairs may become worthless; hence crucial to level your home sooner.

DETERMINE THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM

Before repairing your foundation, it’s crucial to determine the underlying cause of the problem. Finding out why your house isn’t level gives you a general idea of how to perform repairs correctly. If you are unfamiliar with how it works, consulting a professional comes in handy.  Thorough assessments of your entire basement or piers and foundation help you take the necessary steps towards leveling your home correctly and affordably.

WE CAN HELP YOU

If you have an inclined floor, cracked walls, or sticking doors and windows, Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair is your go-to firm. We offer professional, friendly, and quality foundation repair services in the entire Dallas metroplex. Contact us to learn more or schedule your foundation repair job with us today!

The foundation is the most important yet often overlooked part of a home. While other aspects such as windows and rooftop matter a great deal, the foundation bears a significant influence on the integrity and longevity of your home.  Making sure it is stable should be high on your list of priorities. In most cases, foundational repairs are usually costly and beyond the scope of DIY intervention. However, they are far easier to prevent than fix.  Below are five preventive care measures that you can take to prevent foundation problems.

1. Ensure Proper Drainage

Without proper drainage, water will eventually find its way to the house’s foundation, resulting in upheaval. To prevent this, you can install a surface drain or erect gutters and downspouts that discharge water 5 to 7 feet from your foundation.

2. Regular Plumbing Checks

Conducting regular inspections of your home’s plumbing system(in and out) is one of the most important preventive care measures for your home’s foundation. Check for plumbing leaks even in the most unexpected places. In case of any suspected leaks, contact a licensed plumber to address the situation immediately.

3. Keep Root Plants Far Away From Your House.

Plant roots that are too close to the perimeter of your home can potentially eat into the subterranean walls of your home’s foundation. Avoid planting trees and shrubs near your home. The ideal length from the house perimeter should be the anticipated height of that plant.

4. Landscape Wisely

Since you are trying to control the amount of water around your foundation, ensure that your yard slopes away from your house gently. This will prevent rainwater from gathering around your home.

Take Charge of Your Home’s Foundation

Foundation repairs are pretty expensive. However, with proper preventive care and maintenance, most issues can be eliminated. For more advice on how you can prevent or minimize potential foundation issues, please contact us.

 

House leveling is the process of restructuring your home back to its original position. In most instances, after a prolonged time, the integrity of your home will be compromised, leading to a home that is sinking at one or multiple ends.

Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair seeks to correct such a problem. However, it is integral to identify the root cause of the problem. Some of the issues that cause uneven foundations include:

Soil Problems

Soil types such as clay soil swell when it rains and shrinks when it dries. The soil tends to shift in position due to the inconsistent swelling and shrinking of the soil. Typically, these factors lead to foundation movement.

Excessive Moisture

Underground piping may break, and water begins to leak, causing the soil to swell and expand. Consequently, the water loses its integrity and can no longer adequately support a foundation.

Improperly Built Foundation

A foundation that has compromised architectural integrity will not correctly support a building. Structural damage will progressively lead to a building that is sinking.

How to Level a House?

Push Piers

Push piers are hollow pipes that are fit on the ground using a hydraulic ram. Pier brackets are then used to anchor the push piers into position. These structures add significant weight and push the piers into position. The resistance created helps in lifting your foundation, creating stability, and leveling the foundation.

Helical Piers

Helical piers are steel pipes that have screw-like edges. The installed helices work by pulling the piers into position rather than pushing. Helical piers used in house raising Wylie level your foundation into position.

Concrete Slab Leveling

Over time the concrete will sink or crack due to a myriad of external factors. Concrete slab leveling aims at repairing the concrete slab and restructuring it to an even position. The cracks or any visible holes on the slabs are caulked.

Are you Looking for ”House Leveling Near Me?”

Cracks on ceilings or walls, sticking doors, and uneven floors are significant signs of an uneven home. If you note such signs, address them immediately before they compromise the structural integrity of your home. Contact us at Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair for professional house leveling services.

Pier and Beam foundations are prevalent in modern homes due to their ability to offer robust support, are aesthetically appealing, and mitigate fewer repairs. The raised wooden foundations sit securely on concrete piers and should be repaired as soon as you note any signs of damage.

Ideally, you should first identify the problem as it will determine which type of repair is required. Some of the factors that will indicate a pier and beam foundation damage are:

• Shaky floors
• Spongy floors
• Sagging floors
• Stuck doors
• Cracks on the walls
• Mold on walls or floors
• Stagnant water in the crawl space

Depending on the cause of the damage, you can incorporate the following methods:

Reshimming Process

The reshimming process is the best repair method when there are minor foundation damages. A professional will examine the installed shims’ nature and determine if the shims should be added or removed to create a stable foundation.

Wood Replacement

Termites are the primary causes of wood damage. Rodents can also chew beams and wood posts which can lead to disastrous cracks. Other causes include mildew, algae, and mold, which can lead to rotten foundations and floors. It is recommended to replace all the damaged woods in your pier and beam foundation.

Additionally, you can also manage the rodents and termites infesting your wood and beams before replacing them. The best method is fumigation or constructing physical barriers.

Readjustment Repair

After a time, your foundation will progressively shift its position leading to the boards and floors stretching and contracting. Such a foundation requires readjustment. Adding robust concrete blocks or steel or concrete pilings is the best method to ensure your floor’s integrity. The pilings add the needed strength to support your home for many years.

Expert Foundation Repair by Hargrave Home Repair

If you note any weakness or problem in your pier and beam foundation, ensure you consult a professional to inspect as the damage can compromise your home’s integrity. Hargrave Home Repair is an expert in all types of foundation repairs. Contact us immediately, and we will detect the foundation problems and advise you professionally.

Polyurethane injection involves using a foam rubber seal in injecting the leaking basement. If appropriately done by a professional waterproofing specialist, it gives the crack a permanent seal. Polyurethane foam injection can also be used for various things as far as the concrete repair is concerned. It can be used to raise footings, level and raise concrete slabs, and displaying underground water.

It is also called poly–jacking, which is an alternative method for concrete repair and similar to mud jacking. However, the use of polyurethane foam has many benefits over mud jacking methods.

Advantages of Polyurethane Foam Injection Over Mud Jacking Methods

Polyurethane injection is always quicker, precise, and has a stable structure compared to other alternative methods. When using polyurethane, you can do your work with minor disturbance.

Other benefits include:

• The hole or crack repair gets completely concealed hence becoming unnoticeable.
• Once complete, it only takes about fifteen minutes to dry, and it’s good to go.
• The foam retains its structure and strength; hence the possibility of having new gaps becomes minimal.
• Only a few and smaller holes are required to complete the work.
• It is environmentally friendly as the material doesn’t seep.
• The foam creates a dense and robust base by seeking out the weak voids and soils during the expansion.
• It is strong, dense, and is lightweight.
• The moisture and chemicals found in the soil do not weaken it in any way.

After injecting into the soil, the foam usually gets a path to fill all the gaps and void areas under the concrete, which is generally created by the background water displacement.

On durability matters, you can count on polyurethane as it can resist moisture and decay, unlike the other alternative methods.

What We Do

At Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair, our goal is to provide you with the latest and most advanced types of concrete repairs. For that reason, we prefer polyurethane foam injection over traditional foams as much as possible. Contact us for professional foundation repair services for commercial properties and residential homeowners in the entire Dallas metropole.

When homeowners see cracks in their foundations or experience a few hiccups to do with their foundation, all manner of thoughts run through their minds like it’s expensive to repair. Well, there are many myths when it comes to foundation repair. In this article, we seek to debunk all those myths by shading light and truth.

≠Myth 1: Foundation Repair Never Works

That is a very common saying homeowners hear from people who may have had terrible experiences. More often than not, you may find that there is much more to the actual story. You may find, for instance, the repair professional suggested a particular solution but the property owner sought to go for a temporary solution. Eventually, more problems cropped up. The truth is a foundation repair done correctly, and by an expert, will provide a long-lasting solution.

≠Myth 2: Tiny Cracks Should Not Be a Cause for Alarm

Small cracks in the foundation may be an indicator of an underlying issue. That may be due to water damage or something of the sort. When water seeps through the cracks, this may lead to awful smells, mold, and mildew and thus affecting everyone in the vicinity. When ignored for some time, small rifts evolve to more dangerous cracks. It is advisable to deal with them as soon as they appear.

≠Myth 3: Foundation Repair Is Extremely Costly

A lot of people have the notion that foundation repairs are very costly and thus tend to shy away. However, it is not always the case. The extent of the damage to the foundation will dictate just how much it will cost. Those that have stayed longer are likely to be more expensive.

≠Myth 4: DIY Is Better

People believe they can DIY repair everything, including foundations. Unfortunately, that’s a big lie. Foundation repairs should be left to the professionals for the best results.

≠Myth 5: Cracks Are a Normal Phenomenon

People see cracks and assume them because they think it is a usual occurrence. They reveal underlying discrepancies and should be treated with utmost emergencies.

Foundation repairs are crucial and should be handled by experts in the right way. Why not contact us for more information on foundation repair.

Before there can be any repair, it must first be determined what the problem actually is. This means a foundation inspection is an appointment that must always come first. In fact, a foundation inspection can also be a good idea even if there isn’t already a huge issue because it can catch minor problems before they turn into major expensive repairs.

What to Expect During a Foundation Inspection?

A foundation inspection isn’t something that happens every day. If you are lucky, you will only have cause to get one a handful of times in your lifetime. As such, you may be curious as to what to expect when it does happen.

At a glance, a foundation inspection is just a repair technician looking around your foundation, but as to what they are looking for, this includes:

• Cracking in slabs, veneer, and fascia
• Bowing basement walls
• Pier, beam, and joist inspection in crawlspaces
• Wet or musty signs in basements and crawlspaces
• Measurements to check for sinking
• Interior damage like cracking drywall, sticking doors and windows, and sloping floors

The benefit of having a foundation inspection done is that it is done by a professional. They have seen every sort of foundation damage, and know exactly what even the earliest signs look like. This means they can determine problems that might not be obvious to just the eye, like if one side of a slab has sunk six inches compared to the other side.

The whole process should take no more than an hour, and will determine major problems as well as minor ones. It is a good idea to call for a foundation inspection even if the issue seems small. Often it is used to determine if that new crack in your foundation is harmless or the indicator of a problem.

If you believe your foundation has a problem, but aren’t sure, we can help. Contact us today to see what Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair can do to help.

There is nothing more important to your home than the foundation. If the foundation is not sound, you risk the danger of an unstable house. It is important to know the signs of a weakened foundation so you can know when you need to get it repaired before the problem gets much worse.

Take note of these possible signs that you should call a professional like Hargrave Custom Foundation Repair.

When is Foundation Repair Necessary?

In short, foundation repair is necessary when there is evidence of sinking, settling or cracking. Every house is expected to settle slowly over time when it is built. That is simply the structure adapting to the environment where it is built.

As your house settles, you may notice some cracks in the foundation that are alarming at first. Smaller cracks are often the result of normal settling. However, it is important to keep track of how these cracks progress and to know when to call the professionals.

Watch the Cracks

Put checking on foundation cracks on a regular rotation for home maintenance. Walk around the interior and exterior of your home, making notes about any cracks you see. Record the date and size of the crack. Perhaps take a snapshot. When it is time to check again you will know if the cracks are changing. Any cracks larger than 1/16th of an inch will need to be checked by a professional.

Types of Foundation Cracks

Cracks can come in many sizes and positions. Know which cracks are more dangerous and will need to be repaired as soon as possible.

Static Cracks

Static cracks are typical in your older homes and don’t continue to expand. These are the cracks caused by normal settling and are often found in home inspections. A simple sealant is usually sufficient.

Dynamic Cracks

Dynamic Cracks continue to spread over time and can indicate a bigger structural problem. Most cracks are vertical but some can be horizontal. It is the horizontal cracks that are the most dangerous because the soil beneath your house has most likely contracted to cause there to be space between the hard ground and your foundation. It is these kinds of cracks that can completely destroy a home.

Have you seen some cracks in your home’s foundation and aren’t sure what to think? It’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t hesitate and contact us, so we can help you protect your home and your family.