Time Can be a Foundation Problem in Boulder, Colorado (80301)
One of the biggest problems with Home Foundations in the Boulder Colorado area is time. Time is one of the largest contributing factors to how buildings develop wear and tear, which will ultimately require foundation excavation and repair. Time, when combined with the Colorado environment, is even more difficult to work with in home ownership. Living in an arid climate like Colorado can wreak havoc on your homestead, especially if you live in a rural area near the Front Range.
Foundation problems in Boulder Colorado constitute issues with the foundation upon which your home rests. Foundation problems can become serious very quickly, so it is important to address them rapidly and efficiently when they arise. In addition to the problem with foundation entropy in general (Entropy describes the tendency for matter to lose it's order and become more chaotic with time), there are also issues with foundations that are specific to Colorado. Colorado is an arid desert climate with a lot of dryness and difficult soil to manage, particularly when rainfall or snow-melt suddenly impacts soil with low levels of plant root penetration (Plant roots assist with preventing erosion). Colorado home-owners must expect that foundation issues are going to be a part of the normal wear and tear, and excavation may be required to assist with repairs.
Foundation Problems and Excavation Services in Boulder, Colorado
First, you must look into overall tell tale signs that your foundation might be weakening. By knowing what to look for in terms of possible foundation problems, you can address your foundation's changes before they become much larger problems. The first thing that you want to look out for is uneven or cracked flooring. Floors that are sinking in, upraised, or uneven are a telltale sign that your foundation is developing a problem. In addition to this, cracks or separations in the floors is also a huge warning sign that something drastic has shifted in your Boulder, Colorado home's foundation. In addition to cracked floors, also pay attention to your walls. Cracks in the walls are also an indicator that something has moved around within your foundation.
Therefore, make certain to routinely inspect your Boulder home's floors and walls, inside and out, to verify that you aren’t missing anything. The next thing to look out for when assessing foundation problems are your home's doors and windows. Separation between door jams and doors, gaps in windows, doors and windows that won’t close properly may suggest that you have problems with your Colorado home's foundation. Also, pay attention to specific rooms and how they interact in terms of the rest of your Colorado home. Pay attention to molding and seals, which may be cracked or warped. Cracked molds or seals can also indicate foundation problems in Colorado. Pay attention things to plumbing problems that remain consistent despite multiple repairs, visible unevenness in walls or frames, problems with shelving or other furniture in staying level, and changes to your property topography in the land itself.
Check-list for Foundation Problems in Colorado Homes
A good method for working with these things is to make a bi-yearly checklist of all of the things mentioned above and making sure that you check it yourself. Additionally, make sure that you employ the services of a professional Colorado foundation excavator or repair person. A professional foundation excavator will be able to discern things that you might otherwise miss. The name of the game here is diligence and attention to your Colorado foundation problems.
Part II: Foundation Problems in Colorado
The next subject that we want to look in terms of a Colorado foundation's soil composition context is clay. Clay is the enemy of foundations, excavations, and gardening alike. Clay is a very densely packed soil type, which lends itself to extreme difficulties in excavating it for foundation installation and moving the clay soil around. This is particularly true when moisture is added to clay in Colorado. There is a reason that clay has been the go to material for pottery all over the world for hundreds of thousands of years. When made wet, or compressed, clay becomes very difficult to break apart. It is also doubly difficult in the context of Colorado for the opposite reason - That clay expands when it is too dry. It expands, cracks, and moves. This makes things particularly difficult for Coloradan home owners and excavators, because foundations built on expansive clay tend to need foundation repair and excavation fairly frequently, due to the clay expanding and stressing the foundation's integrity. This is also true for other soil types which can be improperly compressed during the installation of your Colorado foundation excavation project. Building on these foundations on clay creates problems when the soil inevitably shifts and creates damage to the foundation.
Factors Contributing to Colorado Foundation Problems: Weather Changes
Another factor to look at for your foundation is weather. The weather in Colorado is notoriously unpredictable, which may impact your foundation excavation project as well as contributing to your foundation's problems. In Colorado, we can literally go from a heavy snowstorm to clear blues skies and seventy-degree temperatures the next day. When the weather is in frequent flux, particularly with regard to surrounding temperature, precipitation, and atmospheric moisture, what you get is a lot of expansion and contraction of your soil, which can cause foundation problems for your Boulder home. It is important to pay attention to the changing weather and the effects it can have on your home.
Whatever the cause, foundation problems can destroy the value of structures and even render them unsafe. If you see signs of foundation problems in Colorado, you need to make sure that you handle the problem quickly and efficiently through the use of an excavator and engineering team. The longer you wait, the more your foundation problems will progress and the higher the cost of repair.
Repairing and Excavating Foundations in Colorado
Whether your Colorado home's foundation has sunk just a few inches or nearly a foot, a foundation repair contractor needs to be employed. It is noteworthy to mention that contractors have different areas of specialization, much like any other field, so it is important to employ someone with a background in foundation repair. Call professional foundation repair contractors for an assessment. They will be able to assess any damage that has occurred and determine the best plan for your situation.
There are two common methods for lifting a sunken concrete foundation in Colorado and beyond: Piering and Slabjacking. Piering fixes concrete foundations in Colorado by placing supports underground that lift and support the concrete. Meanwhile, slabjacking fills the space under the slab with a grout mixture that floats the foundation back to its original position. A professional will be able to asses which repair method is best suited for your Colorado home's foundation problems.
Thus concludes our piece on foundation problems in Colorado. It is our hope that these articles serve you in becoming a more conscientious homeowner. Your home is one of the greatest investments you will ever make and it requires a lot of upkeep and repair. Make sure you are proactive about this and you will find yourself able to live in the home of your dreams, with a solid…foundation. (See what I did there).