Commercial Foundations Case Studies: Foundation Stabilized in Manchester, NJ

Friday, February 26th, 2021 by Casie Novak

Challenge

A homeowner in Manchester, New Jersey noticed their home was sinking and cracking. Foundation settlement may occur because of soil changes. During periods of drought, the soil dries out and shrinks in size. As the soil shrinks in size, it creates an empty space for the home to settle into. During periods of heavy rainfall, the soil becomes soft and gets weak, causing the home to sink into it. Stair-step cracking in a foundation is a common symptom of foundation settlement. As the home continues to settle further, vertical cracks may widen, indicating that the wall is rotating. If gone unrepaired, a settling foundation issue can become costly. Small repairs don't do anything to slow down the damage that is being caused by a more serious problem.

Solution

The homeowner contacted Quality 1st Basement Systems and our System Design Specialist, Jay Alvarez, was able to provide an inspection of the home and help them find a solution to fix this issue. Upon his inspection, Jay saw how the home was sinking and suggested they install a steel pier system to lift and stabilize the home, Our foreman, Jonathan Neira, installed the Steel Push Pier System which is done by first removing the soil around the foundation footing where the piers will be installed. Then, steel brackets are placed under the footing and the steel pier sections are hydraulically driven through the bracket to the stable soil. Next, the weight of the home is transferred from the concrete foundation through the steel bracket and piers to the stable soil. A lift of the home is attempted to bring the home back to its original position. Once the stabilization is complete, the soil is backfilled and the pier system is concealed from eye view. Now, the homeowner has a permanently stabilized home.