The foundation of a building is the basis on which the whole of the structure depends on to maintain its integrity. When there is damage to a foundation the building is on the verge of structural failure. This should indicate the importance of inspecting a foundation.
In Ottawa because of the Rideau and Gatineau rivers the land is prone to floods; this is even with the extensive lock systems that run along the Rideau. Excessive water in the soil will cause the soil to shift which results in damage to the foundation of a building in the form of cracks, bowed footers, or walls, and even tilted and sunken footers or support beams in buildings with crawlspaces.
Difficulty in Opening or Shutting Windows and Doors
These are indications of a settled or damaged foundation. If you find any of these signs, you need to consult with foundation repair specialist and they will study the foundation looking for bowing or buckling, shifting, and cracking in the walls or sunken support beams in the case of a crawlspace. When you have your Ottawa home inspected for flaws in its foundation the repair specialist looks for any signs of dampness or standing water in the basement or crawlspace in addition.
When your windows and doors have issues with sticking it means that the frames have shifted due to a shift in the foundation that is causing the rest of the structure to lean. Sometimes it is visibly obvious while most other times the only sign is in a window that over time becomes hard to open or close. Additionally the interior might begin to manifest cracks of separation around door frames or at the baseboards indicating the need for foundation repair.
Repairing a Cracked, and Shifted Foundation
When it comes to foundation repair in Ottawa, there are a few ways that it can happen. The most prevalent is to use a pier system. What this type of system is comprised of is a series brackets that attaches to tubes or piers that are inserted into the soil deep enough to find solid bedrock strong enough to support the weight of the structure.
Once the piers have been established, the foundation is adjusted back to its original position along with applications that repair the cracks and then possibly add a waterproof barrier to the outside of the foundation to your Ottawa home in order to keep water from entering the structure. Prior to looking at the foundation, the inspection begins by looking for sticky windows and doors and sloped or sagging floors on the interior of the house.
