Recognizing the Signs of Foundation Damage

By Shawn Kyles

Homes are built on foundations that support the building’s structure. When a foundation is damaged, the entire house is often affected. Foundation problems can be divided into two categories; existing damage that needs to be addressed, and issues that can eventually lead to foundation trouble.

When a foundation or foundation wall is cracked, buckled or bowed, it compromises the home’s structural integrity. Once the structure is weakened, not only will the situation become worse over time, it could result in the building’s collapse, especially during an earthquake.

Visually inspecting the foundation is one way to determine if any repairs are needed. Signs of foundation problems include sloping or uneven floors; cracks in flooring or floor tiles; interior and exterior wall cracks, doors and windows that that stick or don’t work properly, and trim or molding that isn’t aligned.

Many foundations are damaged due to water. When rain collects on a roof because of poor drainage, it can drip into a home and basement. Water from plumbing leaks, sprinkler systems and other sources can also seep into a home if it isn’t directed away from the foundation. The accumulation of water inside a structure will not only cause mold and mildew to grow, it will damage wooden supports, enter small cracks and eat away at the foundation.

Foundations can also become damaged due to soil conditions. Certain types of soil, called “expansive soil” will increase in size when wet and contract when dry. When wet soil expands, it will push a foundation up and when it dries, the foundation will settle. This up and down motion, which can occur many times throughout the year, can cause a foundation to crack. While expansive soils exist in every state, they are most commonly found in California, Arizona and Colorado.

Issues that can lead to foundation problems include blocked downspouts (or no downspouts), insufficient grading and trees growing too close to the house. Tree roots can damage a foundation in two ways, by growing under a home and by absorbing the soils moisture, which will cause a foundation to sink.

Conducting foundation inspections is an important part of maintaining your property. Regular inspections can help minimize upkeep expenses by preventing serious structural problems from occurring. Many foundation repair companies offer free inspections conducted by qualified professionals who can spot both existing and potential issues. It’s an easy way to ensure you home retains its value over time.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Rescue Chief Gives Safety Tips On Surviving An Earthquake

Traditional Methods Of Surviving An Earthquake May Or May Not Be Correct

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction is a construction company which specializes in foundation repair and foundation construction. They recently spoke with the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International, Doug Copp, regarding safety during an Earthquake.

Doug Copp has crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings and homes, and has worked on rescue teams in over 60 countries. He gave the following 10 safety points to follow in the event of an earthquake:

1. “Most everyone who simply ‘ducks and covers’ when buildings collapse are crushed to death” and “people who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.”
2. Animals and babies, when in danger crawl into the fetal position. It is a natural instinct and by doing so during a disaster, you are more likely to survive in a smaller “void.” In the fetal position one should, “Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it”.
3. Wooden buildings have proved to be the safest during an earthquake because the wooden structures are flexible and can move with the force of the earthquake.
4. “If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed”.
5. If during an earthquake you cannot escape out of the structure lie in fetal position near a large object.
6. Standing under a doorway is not a safe place and “Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed”.
7. Never seek safety in a stairwell because, “people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads and horribly mutilated”.
8. During an earthquake one should stand near the outer walls of a building or outside the building itself. “The further inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater probability that your escape route will be blocked”.
9. During an earthquake get out of your vehicle and lie near its side, most people whom remain in their cars are crushed.
10. “Larger voids are found surrounding stacks of paper”.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated: “Safety during an earthquake is very important, it is something we take very seriously. Securing the foundations of homes and buildings through retrofitting gives those who reside there have a much greater chance of survival during a large earthquake. So we are happy to do our part to ensure safety for homes.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous

Roof Maintenance Vital To Safety, Warns Construction Company

Julian Construction Taking Stance On Safety In Home Regarding Roof Maintenance

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, a general construction company in Southern California with specialization in foundation repair as well as general construction, recently turned their eye on roof safety and the impact of this on safety in a home. They listed primary concerns of roof maintenance and what can be done about it in a home.

Julian De La Torre, founder of the company, stated “Roofs are designed to protect a structure from the elements, especially water. They can be built using various types of materials such as slate, rubber slate, wood shake, asphalt and metal. Whatever materials are used, a roof will eventually wear out over time and need repair or replacing. Evidence of roof problems can include missing, loose, warped or buckled shingles and tiles, which leave the underlying roofing materials unprotected. Roof leaks are especially serious and should be immediately addressed to prevent dry rot and mold.”

Julian went on to enumerate several factors which could hasten the breaking down of roof safety and their indications. He also stated the method of addressing these safety concerns. The full text can be found at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com/julian-construction-blog/2012/05/is-your-roof-in-good-shape.html

Julian De La Torre continued “The procedure for fixing a roof is very easy if you are trained in it. What is hard is living with a problem that threatens the safety of your home. If we can get people to realize the importance of this and make their homes a safer place then we’ve done our job.”

Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model – no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, http://www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com.

Posted via email from Julian Construction's Posterous