Wall Cracks
The presence of wall cracks throughout the home raised structural concerns. These fractures in the drywall often signify underlying movement within the foundation walls. Following a comprehensive inspection, our System Design Specialist determined that the home was experiencing settlement, compromising its structural stability.
Exterior Foundation Trenching
To initiate the project, the production team excavated the exterior perimeter of the foundation to expose the footing and provide access for structural reinforcement beneath the home.
Interior Foundation Trenching
Due to exterior obstructions, including gas lines and HVAC equipment, certain push piers were strategically designed for interior installation. This approach ensured proper load transfer while accommodating site constraints and maintaining structural integrity.
Push Piers Driven into Soil
Push piers were hydraulically driven to depths reaching competent, load-bearing strata. This process transfers the structural weight of the home from unstable soils prone to voids and settlement to dense, stable layers capable of supporting the foundation long-term.
Push Piers Pressurized
After all push piers were advanced to competent load-bearing strata and securely bracketed to the foundation footing, the system was hydraulically synchronized and pressurized to achieve controlled lifting of the settled foundation. This process restored the structure to its intended elevation and provided permanent stabilization by transferring loads to stable soil layers.
Interior Backfill and Concrete Replacement
Following the successful installation of the push pier system, all excavated areas were properly backfilled to restore grade. For interior pier installations, the previously removed concrete slab sections were replaced and finished to match the original elevation, ensuring a clean and structurally sound surface.
Exterior Push Pier Backfill
The exterior excavation was properly backfilled and compacted to restore grade and maintain site stability.
Sagging Floor
The floor system above the basement began to exhibit sagging due to insufficient intermediate supports. The existing main beam alone was unable to adequately distribute the structural load, resulting in excessive deflection. This lack of support caused the floors to become uneven and exhibit noticeable bounce.
Concrete Removal for Footings
Concrete and underlying soil were excavated to create properly dimensioned footings for the SmartJack system, ensuring a stable bearing surface and enhancing long-term structural performance.
Footings Reinforced with Rebar
Footings are reinforced with rebar to improve their structural strength and durability. Concrete alone is strong in compression but weak in tension; adding steel reinforcement provides tensile strength, helping the footing resist cracking and distribute loads more effectively over time.
Leveled Footings
The concrete footings were precisely leveled prior to curing to ensure a uniform, stable bearing surface for accurate SmartJack placement and optimal load transfer.
SmartJacks Installed to Main Beam
The SmartJacks were securely installed beneath the main beam and precisely adjusted to optimize load transfer and restore the floor system to its intended elevation. Each unit was then permanently anchored into the foundation floor with a concrete encasement, providing additional reinforcement and long-term structural stability.
