Repairing Stucco

Stucco, also known as Portland cement plaster, is a popular finish for many commercial and residential structures. It was originally made from lime, sand and water. Today it is made from Portland cement, aggregate (sand) and water. Cement, a word that dates back to the Romans, is the binder that holds the materials together.

Portland cement is one of the key ingredients of concrete, and can be found in structures such as high-rise buildings and freeways.

Stucco is applied wet to a surface, where it hardens. Typically two to three thin layers are applied. A trowel is used for the first layer (scratch coat) to create the scratches needed for the second layer (brown coat). The final, third layer is the “finish coat.”

Stucco can also be applied to brick, stone, concrete and adobe, as well as a wood frame or other types of material.

Builders often use stucco for exterior work because of its strength and toughness in a variety of weather conditions. It also has a high resistance to rust and fire. Because stucco is breathable, moisture can pass through the material, which help prevents rot. Additionally, Portland cement plaster is extremely economical.

Another advantage to using stucco on a building is its adaptability to many different types of architectural styles. Pigment can be added to stucco to change its color, and textures can be created to make the plaster look like brick, stone or wood. In ancient times, it was used to create architectural designs (reliefs). Sometimes additional materials are added to the stucco to increase its durability and flexibility.

Many homes in Southern California have stucco siding, especially buildings with a Mediterranean or Spanish style. Stucco is also used as an interior finish.

Like most building materials, stucco can become damaged over time. Cracks can appear, as well as holes. There can also be chipping, especially around or near corners. Cracking is usually the result of settlement. Although stucco cracking can be a normal part of a building’s aging process, It can also be a sign of more serious foundation problems. Any stucco damage should be inspected by a foundation repair expert to make sure the cause of the cracking is properly identified and fully corrected.

Whenever a hole or crack appears, it needs to be repaired quickly to prevent further damage and deterioration. Water can enter the building through stucco wall cracks, causing rot and other structural issues, which will eventually require more extensive and costly repairs. The rate at which water will enter a building through a stucco crack will depend on its size and depth of the crack, and where it is located. The amount of wind in the area can also influence the degree of water penetration.

Home repair of stucco can be difficult, particularly if you need to match textures and colors. The repair also needs to be waterproof. You will also want to make sure that any underlying structural issues or conditions causing the cracking are addressed as well. A foundation repair expert can thoroughly inspect your property and give you valuable feedback regarding stucco repairs and any other building issues that may need to be corrected.

Replacing a Foundation

by Shawn Kyles

Replacing a foundation can be a complicated and involved process depending on the size of the structure, its location and the extent of the damage.

Fully understanding the cause of your foundation problem is the first step in the replacement process. There are many reasons why foundations fail. Bad design, poor soil conditions and moisture issues are some of the more common causes of foundation instability and collapse.

Examples of an improperly designed foundation include inadequate support and reinforcement, cement that hasn’t been cured correctly and a foundation that is too thin. Poor soil conditions typically involve soil that expands when wet and contracts when dry. Plumbing leaks and inadequate drainage can also create havoc with a foundation.

Whether the problem is design, soil or moisture, the result will be foundation settlement. Indicators of settlement include wall cracks and sloping floors, as well as doors and windows that won’t open or close properly

Resolving these underlying issues before replacing your current foundation is critical in order to prevent future foundation deterioration.

Replacing a foundation typically involves replacing both the foundation walls and cement slab. In some cases, the first floor of the structure may need to be removed as well.

When replacing foundation walls, the house will need to be lifted several feet above the foundation. Your utilities will need to be turned off, and your water and sewer lines shut down. A trench will need to be dug around your home and shored in order for the cripple walls to be removed. After the cripple walls have been taken out, your basement slab can be removed.

If the dirt under the slab wasn’t properly compacted, it may need to be excavated and replaced.

New cement walls will need to be poured and given time to cure. Sometimes steel beams or similar types of reinforcement may be necessary to provide additional support for your home. In some situations, more extensive temporary support may be needed during the project, especially with structures that have more than one floor.

Once the new slab has been laid, underground utilities will need to be brought up and reconnected. The excavation around the walls will require filling and proper grading as well.

At this point, the house can be put back on the foundation. Any remaining utilities will need to be reconnected, and the last interior and exterior repairs completed.

Depending on the extent of the work that needs to get done, you may be able to live in your home while the foundation is being replaced. An experienced foundation repair expert can tell you how long the job will take and what to expect at each stage of the project.

Replacing a foundation is a worst-case scenario when it comes to foundation damage. Regular home inspections will often uncover foundation problems before they become serious. Correcting these issues early-on can save you the time and expense of a full foundation replacement. If you have any concerns about your current foundation, contact a knowledgeable foundation contractor and request a free inspection. The sooner you start any necessary repairs, the better.

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Installation Of A Retaining Wall May Prevent Foundation Damage

Julian Construction Inc Advises Homeowners to Get Educated on the Use of Retaining Walls

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction Inc., (http://julianconstruction.com/) a construction company servicing the Greater LA Area, has advised the public on the needs of retaining wall construction to stop soil erosion and prevent foundation damage.

A retaining wall is a stabilizing structure built to stop erosion and the downward movement of soil on a slope. To raise awareness on this process, in the interest of preventing foundation damage in homes, Julian Construction presented an article to homeowners giving the reasons why a retaining wall may be needed, and listing some of the different kinds that would be used for different home situations. The full text of the article can be found here: http://julianconstruction.typepad.com/julian-construction-blog/2013/02/buildi...

Shawn Kyles of Julian Construction stated that a retaining wall is commonly built to stop soil movement on a hillside, to create more utilizable space in a yard, and to prevent soil movement from weakening a foundation. There are four kinds of retaining walls: gravity retaining walls, which depend on their own significant weight to keep soil from moving; anchored walls, which are restraining walls constructed using cables (usually extremely strong steel) that are anchored into the soil or rock behind the wall; cantilever walls, which are used to hold back a large amount of soil; sheet piling walls, which can be made from wood, vinyl or steel planks, and are used in places where the space is tight and the soil is soft. The company stressed that a homeowner should consult a specialist to determine which type of retaining wall is needed for a specific situation.

The company urged homeowners to get an inspection from a knowledgeable contractor to find out if a retaining wall is needed and what kind would best suit the situation. “Building a retaining wall”, stated Julian Construction founder Julian De La Torre, “will ensure peace of mind for you and your family, because you know that the soil around your home will be stable, and this will prevent it from causing any problem with your foundation. Foundation repair costs can sometimes be avoided with a retaining wall.”

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.

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Julian Construction Speaks Out On Danger Of Foundation Settlement

Construction Company Highlights Indicators For And Remedies Of Foundation Settlement

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction Inc., (http://julianconstruction.com/) a foundation construction and repair company in the Greater LA Area, recently sent out a warning to homeowners advising on the settling of a house foundation, and the effects it can have on a home. Foundation settlement is caused by weather conditions, soil issues, or moisture problems that then cause a foundation to settle.

The company urged homeowners contact a foundation contractor to receive a safety inspection of their home if foundation settlement is suspected, before foundation repairs are needed. The company also recommended a method that could be used to remedy foundation settlement. The company’s full report can be found here: http://julianconstruction.typepad.com/julian-construction-blog/2013/01/preventing-foundation-settlement-with-piers-piles-and-caissons.html

In order to prevent foundation settlement, the company recommends the use of piers, piles or caissons to strengthen a foundation. Piers are steel pipes driven into the soil and connected to the foundation. Piles are used to either absorb the weight of the structure or to block soil and water, and can be built using wood, concrete and composite materials. Caissons are a type of deep foundation used when soil conditions are extremely poor or the structure involved is large and heavy, and are built by drilling a large, subterranean shaft. According to the company, it takes a trained foundation inspection specialist to determine which of these three methods of foundation reinforcement must be used, and in what manner they must be installed.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated: “There are a number of things to watch for with house settling. Wall cracks, difficulties in opening and closing windows, and sloping floors are a number of common ones. If you notice these then you can suspect you are having foundation settlement problems, and you can find out what type of shoring or strengthening is needed by consulting a foundation repair expert. Once your home and foundation has been properly inspected by a seasoned professional, all of your options will be explained so that you can make the best decision possible regarding your home.”

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.

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Julian Construction Urges Underpinning For Shaky Foundations

Foundation Construction Company Seeks Increased Awareness of Important Home Support

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, (http://www.julianconstruction.com/), a foundation repair and construction company in Los Angeles, is urging homeowners to learn more about the use of underpinning with a home foundation and, second, to learn the signs of foundation problems which indicate a need for underpinning.

Underpinning is the process of strengthening and stabilizing the foundation of an existing building or other structure. Underpinning is accomplished by extending the existing foundation in depth or in breadth so that it either rests on a more supportive soil stratum or distributes its load across a greater area.

Julian Construction noted several reasons a home’s foundation could need underpinning.

* Additions to a home, such as adding an additional story, could cause the need for additional support to the foundation.
* Over time a building’s foundation may settle or rotate at certain points, causing strain on the structure.
* If interior changes to the building resulted in the removal of load-bearing walls, the foundation would be affected.

A competent foundation specialist would be able to see if these or any other foundation problems exist during a foundation inspection.

Julian De La Torre, founder of Julian Construction, stated: “Underpinning is a very useful tool for strengthening a building's foundation. It should be noted that each foundation underpinning is unique and should be designed by a professional engineer or an architect. At Julian Construction we can review plans or obtain the engineering necessary for your project and complete the repair. And an underpinning is not a do it yourself type job. You need to bring in a competent foundation contractor to do this type of 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, www.julianconstruction.com. You can see tips and advice about home foundations on their blog, at http://julianconstruction.typepad.com.

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Roof Flashing Issues Noted As Problem In Some Homes

Julian Construction Seeks To Raise Adherence To Industry Standards For Roofing

LOS ANGELES, CA: Julian Construction, (http://www.julianconstruction.com/), a construction and roofing contractor company working in the Southern California area, has brought to attention an important need for homeowners to get their roof flashing inspected. Roof flashing seals and protects the joints and places where the roof of a house intersects with other things, such as pipes, chimneys, vents, etc. The company indicates that it is an important point of home maintenance and safety, as improper flashing allows moisture to get into a home, potentially causing many problems.

Proper flashing deflects moisture from entering into a structure. But Shawn Kyles, Chief Safety Inspector of Julian Construction noted that improper installation or design can lead to actively directing water inside the structure, as opposed to outside. This could result in water entering walls and other parts of the structure, or even seeping into the structure’s foundation causing even further problems. In addition to the health risk of prolonged moisture entering a home, these structural concerns are such that homeowners should definitely take care of roof flashing. Inspection by a competent professional will determine if roof flashing is in need of repair in a home.

Mr. Kyles stated: "Having your roof regularly inspected by a professional contractor is an important part of the home maintenance process. When roof problems are detected early, not only will the repairs usually be less costly, it can help prevent other types of damage to your home. Flashing repair can be done very easily at any time of the year when overseen by a competent construction company."

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 or on top of 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.

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Building a Retaining Wall

by Shawn Kyles

Retaining walls are stabilizing structures built to stop erosion and the downward movement of soil on a slope. The walls are built in a way that redistributes the pressure that comes from the sloping ground. A variety of materials are used to build the walls, such as concrete, steel, stone, brick, composites, wood and even glass.

Retaining walls on residential properties are often constructed to hold back the soil from a hillside, many times to create more usable space. Other uses for a retaining wall include stopping soil from sliding away from a foundation or from damaging the landscape.

There are various kinds of retaining walls, including gravity walls, anchored walls, cantilevers and sheet pile walls.

Gravity restraining walls depend on their own significant weight to keep soil from moving. They are constructed leaning backwards toward the soil. Early gravity walls were built from concrete or stone. Today, they are made from many different types of materials, including steel wire baskets filled with rocks and geosynthetics.

Anchored walls are restraining walls constructed using cables (usually extremely strong steel) that are anchored into the soil or rock behind the wall. They are used when the wall cannot be built strong enough to restrain the load. Constructing an anchored wall is an extremely complex process.

Cantilever walls are used to hold back a large amount of soil. They are made with steel-reinforced concrete that rest on slab foundation. Cantilever walls convert horizontal pressures from the soil to vertical pressures on the ground.

Sheet piling walls, which can be made from wood, vinyl or steel planks, are used in places where the space is tight and the soil is soft. The planks are driven into the ground.

Determining what type of retaining wall construction to use will depend on the type of soil that needs to be retained, the kind of soil the wall will be built on, how much space is available for the wall and the degree of slope above and below the structure. The location of pipes and service lines can also be a factor in construction.

Deciding what material to use will also be based on the environment, as well as budget and preferences regarding color and texture. Large retaining walls will require strong and durable materials.

Another important issue for retaining walls is drainage. Choosing the best method of drainage will increase the strength of the wall. The wrong type of drainage can result in the walls eventual collapse. Sometimes proper drainage can be easily accomplished by simply creating holes in the wall. However, the structure can easily become damaged if the holes get clogged.

The best way to ensure your wall is built right, is to hire a professional foundation contractor who has experience constructing retaining walls on many different types of properties. A knowledgeable builder will evaluate every aspect of the project. You will get reliable advice regarding your options, which can save you considerable time and money. You will also have peace of mind knowing that your wall is sturdy and long-lasting.

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