Sunday, November 29, 2015

Foundation Repair McKinney | 214-918-2336 | Master Lift Foundation Repair

Hydraulic Manifold Lifting 

In this blog post we'll discuss the difference of lifting a structure using a hydraulic manifold and hydraulic cylinders versus bottle jacks.  Most homeowners or business owner have no idea what the term hydraulic manifold means or how a manifold works.  The use of a manifold allows you to control hydraulic fluid into each individual pier location during the final lift and gives the foundation repair specialist a much better overall lift and better results.  Most structures settle more in one particular area than the other.  Therefore, you would typically begin lifting in the lowest spot and work towards the least effected area with the least amount of slab deflection.  Once you achieve a positive measurement you can then turn those valves off and finish lifting the other areas. This in turn will typically allow the contractor to achieve a level elevation profile in a controlled manner that is safe for the structure with pinpoint accuracy.  Lifting a structure with bottle jacks is the blind way of doing things.  It's less accurate and puts more stress on the structure.  This method also leaves you no way of documenting hydraulic pressure or force it took to lift the structure.  This often causes more damage to the structure and us more difficult to get accurate results.  For more information and for a free on site consultation contact us today at 214-918-2336.




Monday, August 31, 2015

Foundation Repair Plano, TX | 214-918-2336 | Master Lift Foundation Repair

DAMAGE TO FOUNDATIONS FROM EXPANSIVE SOILS
J. David Rogers, Robert Olshansky, and Robert B. Rogers

Expansive soils in many parts of the United States pose a significant hazard to foundations for light buildings. Swelling clays derived from residual soils can exert uplift pressures of as much as 5,500 PSF, which can do considerable damage to lightly-loaded wood-frame structures. Insurance companies pay out millions of dollars yearly to repair homes distressed by expansive soils.

Expansive soils owe their characteristics to the presence of swelling clay minerals. As they get wet, the clay minerals absorb water molecules and expand; conversely, as they dry they shrink, leaving large voids in the soil. Swelling clays can control the behavior of virtually any type of soil if the percentage of clay is more than about 5 percent by weight. Soils with smectite clay minerals, such as montmorillonite, exhibit the most profound swelling properties.

Potentially expansive soils can typically be recognized in the lab by their plastic properties. Inorganic clays of high plasticity, generally those with liquid limits exceeding 50 percent and plasticity index over 30, usually have high inherent swelling capacity. Expansion of soils can also be measured in the lab directly, by immersing a remolded soil sample and measuring its volume change.
In the field, expansive clay soils can be easily recognized in the dry season by the deep cracks, in roughly polygonal patterns, in the ground surface (see Fig. 1). The zone of seasonal moisture content fluctuation can extend from three to forty feet deep (see Fig. 2). This creates cyclic shrink/swell behavior in the upper portion of the soil column, and cracks can extend to much greater depths than imagined by most engineers.

Foundation Damage
The most obvious way in which expansive soils can damage foundations is by uplift as they swell with moisture increases. Swelling soils lift up and crack lightly-loaded, continuous strip footings, and frequently cause distress in floor slabs.
Because of the different building loads on different portions of a structure’s foundation, the resultant uplift will vary in different areas. As shown in Fig. 3, the exterior corners of auniformly-loaded rectangular slab foundation will only exert about one-fourth of the normal pressure on a swelling soil of that exerted at the central portion of the slab. As a result, the corners tend to be lifted up relative to the central portion. This phenomenon can be exacerbated by moisture differentials within soils at the edge of the slab. Such differential movement of the foundation can also cause distress to the framing of a structure.
Dry Ground
Figure 1
Figure 1: Polygonal pattern of surface cracks in the dry season. These cracks are approximately one inch wide at the top. Note sewer manhole in background.
Deep Crack
Figure 2
 Figure 2: This crack is at least 32 inches deep. The yardstick was easily inserted to this depth; narrower, less straight cracks may extend much deeper.

Slab loaded.
Figure 3.
Figure 3: A rectangular slab, uniformly loaded, will tend to lift up in the corners because there is less confinement.
Piers with damage
Figure 4.
Figure 4: Damage to home supported on shallow piers. (1) At the beginning of the rainy season, the piers are still supported by friction with the soil. When it begins to rain, water enters deep into the soil through the cracks. (2) After 5 to 10 large storms, the soil swells, lifting the house and piers. (3) In the dry season, the groundwater table falls and the soil dries and contracts. As tension cracks grow around the pier, the skin friction is reduced and the effective stress of the soil increases (due to drying). When the building load exceeds the remaining skin friction, or the effective stress of the soil increases to an all-time high, adhesion is broken by this straining, and the pier sinks.
Drilled pier foundations have been used in California, Colorado and Texas since the late 1950s to reduce expansive soil damage. However, these types of foundations can also be adversely affected by expansive soil behavior if the piers are not sufficiently deep. Frequently, the corner piers of apier-supported structure are lifted up during swelling in the wet season, and then break their skin friction bond with the ground when the soil shrinks away from the pier in the following dry season (Fig. 4). Loss of this “skin friction” decreases the pier’s ability to support building loads. This straining to the soil can become great enough that the pier falls. To prevent this style of damage, the piers must be drilled well below the zone of seasonal moisture fluctuation, and they must be designed with the assumption that the upper portions of the pier will lose contact with the adjacent soil.
Shallow pipes, especially plastic pipes, buried in the zone of seasonal moisture fluctuation, are exposed to enormous stresses by shrinking soils. If water or sewage pipes break, then the resultant leaking moisture can exacerbate swelling damage to nearby structures.
Concrete drainage devices can be adversely affected by expansive soils (see Fig. 5). Swelling clays can lift and crack concrete ditches, seriously impairing their ability to convey runoff. Subsequent contraction may leave a void under the concrete, leading to piping and erosion as runoff flows under the ditch.
Void Concrete
Figure 5.
Figure 5: Void created under concrete drainage interceptor ditch by contraction of clay soils.
Expansive soils pose the greatest hazard in regions with pronounced wet and dry seasons. The annual cycle of wetting and drying causes soils to shrink and swell each year. Thus, the arid regions of the country are much more susceptible to damage from expansive soils than regions that maintain moist soil conditions throughout the year.
The biggest problem in expansive soil areas is that of differential water content. Sources of water in developed areas are not limited to temporal weather cycles, but can be introduced by people. A frequent source of damage is the differential swelling caused by pockets of moist soil adjacent to dry soil. For example, lawn and garden watering creates a moist zone on the exterior of a foundation, whereas the interior is dry; this creates differential swelling pressure on foundation elements. There is frequently a moisture differential between the soils beneath a house and those
that are more directly exposed to changes in the weather. Cesspools, leaky pipes, and swimming pools are other common sources of water.
Mitigation Measures

The best way to avoid damage from expansive soils is to extend building foundations beneath the zone of water content fluctuation. The reason is twofold: first, to provide for sufficient skin friction adhesion below the zone of drying; and, second, to resist upward movement when the surface soils become wet and begin to swell.
Successive drought years have demonstrated that the zone of seasonal fluctuation can extend much deeper than previously believed. Piers extending to depths of six feet can withstand normal annual fluctuations, but do not appear adequate when taken over the long haul, such as a two-year drought followed by an extremely wet year.
Another way of mitigating expansive soil problems is to collect surface runoff and to limit surface infiltration during the rainy winter months. In Orange County, California, considerable experience in subdivisions has shown that it is important to provide for positive surface drainage away from all points around building foundations. Much of this experience was incorporated into the Appendix Ch. 18 Excavation and Grading statutes of the Uniform Building Code (UBC), which were not adopted in the 2000 IBC.

Case Study – Swimming Pools
Swimming pools constructed near home foundations in expansive clay soils are frequently sources of damaging moisture. Such swimming pool shells are typically constructed of airblown mortar (gunite). The gunite skin of a swimming pool is rarely designed for swell pressures generated by expansive clays. Furthermore, in all swimming pools the water percolates through the shell and adds significant amounts of water to adjacent soils. Since pools are generally in arid climates, this creates a moisture differential which can be severe enough to differentially lift adjacent pool decks and house foundations, as shown in Fig. 6. It can lead to destruction of the pool itself.
A design for a swimming pool shell in a highly expansive soil environment is presented in Fig 7. Pools of this design have been constructed at several locations in California with great success. Construction begins with overexcavation for the pool. The excavation is lined with a single sheet of Hypalon R or similar HDPE membrane material to provide a barrier for the collection of moisture that seeps naturally through the pool shell. A second line of defense consists of crushable Enkamat K to retard potential swelling pressures against the pool sides. This also serves as a vertical subdrain material to guide water to a central collection drain beneath the pool. This drain between the liner and gunite shell then feeds into a drain pipe to convey water off the site. This system works best in sloping areas that can provide positive drainage from below the pool. The same design, however, could be used in flat terrain through the use of an impervious sump and automatic pump beneath the pool.

Conclusion – A Problem That Can Be Solved
Expansive soils cause major damage to light foundations and associated structures. However, engineers have the ability to recognize swelling clay soils and to design structures that can withstand the effects. Enlightened design of deep foundations, and effective drainage of landscape irrigation and swimming pool leakage could dramatically reduce damage to new homes. Grading codes and building codes need to recognize the hazards of expansive soils and provide explicit mitigations.
Pool Shells Leak
Figure 6.
Figure 6: Pool shells always leak some amount of water from natural percolation through the structural gunite skin. If the pool is close enough to adjacent foundations, the entire building can be lifted differentially.
Swimming Pool
Figure 7.
Figure 7: A design for a swimming pool placed in expansive soils. A liner prevents pool leakage from seeping into adjacent soils. The leakage is collected in a gravel drain beneath the pool and conveyed offsite via a drain pipe. The crushable Enkamat R retards soil swelling pressures against the sides of the pool and also aids vertical drainage.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

Foundation Repair Dallas | 214-918-2336 | Master Lift Foundation Repair

DALLAS  |  FORT WORTH  |  PLANO  |  MESQUITE  |  IRVING  |  DENTON  |  ALLEN 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Master Lift Foundation Repair offers a wide variety of high quality foundation repair and drainage services for both residential, commercial and industrial properties.  We deliver quality without compromise and are recognized and highly regarded as a leader in the structural repair and drainage solution industry.
 
Master Lift Foundation Repair Contractors are a family owned and operated foundation repair company with over 20 years of experience and we are proud to offer our services to all of our fellow neighbors in and around Dallas and Fort Worth Texas.  The foundation repair industry is demanding, timelines are tight and competition is fierce.  Foundation Repair and Foundation Drainage techniques are constantly evolving and our clients have precise needs.  It’s for these reasons that Master Lift Foundation Repair thrives as a structural repair and foundation drainage contractor in the DFW Metroplex.  We accept every challenge and view them as opportunities for growth and professional advancement for our company and for our clients. 
 
We’re loyally dedicated to our customers and aim to make each customer a life long client by adding value to the repair process and guarantee 100% satisfaction.  Superior quality, attention to detail, safety and a partnering approach define our blueprint for every foundation repair project.  We believe in sound communication and proper project management.  Whether our foundation repair projects are residential or commercial, large or small, they all follow the same systems and procedures.  We want our clients to completely understand the repair process and believe our clients have a substantial impact on the success of the project.  We ensure the job gets done right the first time, every time.  You’ll be glad you are just as involved in the foundation repair process as we are.  We work side by side with you every step of the way ensuring 100% satisfaction.  
 
We treat every foundation crack repair project as if it were our own home or commercial property.  With certified Master Lift Foundation Repair Professionals on the job you will be assured your home or commercial property is well taken care of.  Master Lift only employs the most experienced and highly advanced Foundation Repair Technicians and can repair any foundation repair issues you’re experiencing.  Whether your structural repairs are residential home foundation repairs or commercial and building foundation repair problems, concrete slab or crawl space pier and beam, Master Lift Foundation Repair will repair it in a professional and timely manner while keeping your landscaping intact.  We provide the highest quality Foundation Repair Service In Dallas and Fort Worth money can buy at prices that are hard to beat.  We install the strongest Foundation Repair Piers using steel pipe.  We’re very confident in the services we provide and understand that you’re home is your biggest investment and believe it should remain that way, given it’s an invaluable asset. 
 
We offer financing when needed and a Lifetime Transferable Warranty.  We are happy to schedule an appointment with you at your convenience.  Whether it’s Foundation Repair, French Drains, Crawl Space Repair, Slab Repair, Sagging Foundation or Pier and Beam Repair we get the job done.  We will meet with you, analyze your job requirements and provide you with a free foundation repair quote.  Take advantage of our Free Service Consultation and let us give you a FREE, on the spot, FOUNDATION REPAIR QUOTE.  See for yourself why so many home and business owners in the Greater Dallas And Fort Worth Area have turned to Master Lift Foundation Repair for their foundation repair solutions. 
 
We provide the highest quality Foundation Repair Service money can buy at prices that are hard to beat.  Along with your FREE FOUNDATION REPAIR QUOTE, we will provide you with a detailed scope of your homes foundation including elevations using our Zip Level.  

Paying too much for Foundation Repair Piers ?

Master Lift Foundation Repair doesn’t pay for celebrity endorsements to boost our sales.  We rely on word of mouth and our many satisfied customers continue to be our greatest salespeople and spread the word.  Thank you for making Master Lift a trusted name in the DFW Foundation Repair Market!  Master Lift continues to make our customers the number one priority and that’s why we continue to be the #1 foundation repair company in the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex.

Our Foundation Repair Company Dallas

Guarantees       

You CAN afford to fix your foundation!  Master Lift Foundation Repair brings structural integrity to residential foundations and commercial building foundations while repairing settling, bowing, cracked, and damaged foundations.  Master Lift repairs your home’s foundation problems therefore restoring your home’s value.  We understand today's economy, and that’s why we’re in the business of helping our fellow tulsans by providing them with the lowest foundation repair costs possible. We offer Guaranteed Financing with a Lifetime Transferable Warranty to back our foundation repairs.  This ensures confidence and peace of mind for you and those that come after you.                                                                  

How Master Lift Foundation Repair Fort Worth works

We don't use a “one size fit’s all” approach to fix your home foundation problems; we utilize the newest and latest foundation repair technology & equipment the industry has to offer.  We provide excellent customer service in foundation repair and french drains to all of our Dallas and Fort Worth, TX customers.
 
Foundation settling and shifting can be caused by building a structure on expanding or contracting soil or clay, improperly compacted fill soils, or from poor or erroneous maintenance of the earth around the foundation.  Whatever the cause of a settling foundation, this settlement can ruin a home or building’s value and even render it unsafe or unlivable.
 
Master Lift Foundation Repair stabilizes failing or settling foundations, repairs cracked walls, cracked concrete slabs, and reinforces settling foundations with our proven and fully warranted pier foundation systems designed by professional engineers. Our Foundation Repair Process has been tested and proven time and time again.
 
Master Lift Foundation Repair leads Dallas,  and all surrounding DFW areas in foundation repair stabilization and is fully equipped with the most complete team of foundation repair technicians and support staff in the industry.
 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
CALL TODAY  214-918-2336

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

French Drains Tulsa | 918-565-8544 | Free Estimates


Protecting Your Investment



The professionals at French Drains Of Tulsa can help protect your home or commercial property against diverse water intrusion issues, from crawl space moisture to basement leaks to poor yard drainage.  We serve customers in Tulsa, OK and surrounding areas within a 200 mile radius.  You are a unique individual, living in a unique home, on a unique piece of property.  This is why we believe that your water issue deserves a unique solution.  It is true that there are similarities among homes and properties but it is also true that there are vast differences.  Beyond that, you and your neighbor may have a similar problem with a similar home, but your budgets and your plans for your home may be totally different.  We are sensitive toward that and want to provide you with a solution that makes sense.  We have designed more than 1000 high-quality, energy efficient waterproofing solutions for homes in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and many other surrounding communities.  We provide professional advice, superior products, and 5-star installation and service.  If you are experiencing problems with leaks, poor drainage, musty smells, or other water-related issues, contact French Drains Of Tulsa and let us design a repair solution customized for your home or commercial property and budget.
 
 
French Drains Of Tulsa offers a wide variety of high quality drainage services for both residential and commercial properties.  We deliver quality without compromise and are recognized and highly regarded as a leader in the structural repair, drainage and waterproofing industry.  We are a family owned and operated foundation repair company with over 20 years of experience and we are proud to offer our services to all of our fellow neighbors in and around Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
 
We’re loyally dedicated to our customers and aim to make each customer a life long client by adding value to the repair process and guarantee 100% satisfaction.  Superior quality, attention to detail, safety and a partnering approach define our blueprint for every repair project.  We believe in sound communication and proper project management.  Whether our repair projects are residential or commercial, large or small, they all follow the same systems and procedures.  We want our clients to completely understand the repair process and believe our clients have a substantial impact on the success of the project.  We ensure the job gets done right the first time, every time.  You’ll be glad you are just as involved in the repair process as we are.  We work side by side with you every step of the way ensuring 100% satisfaction.
 
We treat every project as if it were our own home or commercial property.  With certified French Drain Repair Professionals on the job you will be assured your home or commercial property is well taken care of.  French Drains Of Tulsa only employs the most experienced and highly advanced Repair Technicians in Tulsa, OK and can repair any drainage or waterproofing issue you’re experiencing.
 
For more information or to schedule your free consultation contact us today at 918-565-8544

Monday, March 9, 2015

Foundation Repair Tulsa | 918-565-8544 | Master Lift Foundation Repair

Master Lift Foundation Repair $5,000.00 Free Drawing At The 2015 Home And Garden Show Booth 140 March 12th-15th!  Come Down To The Expo And Register For Your Chance To Win $5,000.00 Towards Your Structural Repairs.  Visit Our Website At www.MasterLiftFoundation.com