Every house is built upon foundations of one type or another, and a century ago, limestone formations were common for foundations and basements, and now, Texan homes younger than 50 years are built on top of slab foundations. A home’s construction always starts with the foundation, and a good foundation will have little trouble lasting for a long time. But foundation failure can call for foundation repair, and this may especially be the case for a home built on top of limestone formations. A foundation repair contractor crew can be found and hired locally, such as “foundation repair Austin” for residents of Austin, Texas, or “limestone formations repair Burlington VT.” Limestone formations are an older type of foundation. Do they hold up today, or are they a liability under a homeowner’s feet? And what can go wrong with a basement or foundation, at any rate?
The Problems
Foundations and basements can sometimes suffer water damage, whether from inside or outside the home, and this is often especially troublesome for limestone formations. If the home’s plumbing is faulty, then pipes will steadily drip water into the basement, and given enough time, this water can accumulate into pools in the lowest point on the floor. Other times, a home may experience heavy rain or even flooding, if the area is prone to flash flooding, and a faulty foundation will allow a lot of this water to leak right into the basement. Unfortunately for owners of older homes, limestone formations do not fare well. Limestone formations are built from limestone bricks that are held together with mortar, but such formations often bulge inwards, crack, and otherwise suffer damage over time, especially when the soil behind them is expanding with water. Limestone formations will crack easily as they buckle inwards, and this means that a lot of water gets into the home. Modern foundations may leak like this if they are poorly built.
When water gets inside the home, it can cause some issues. Standing water can damage furniture or items stored down in the basement, and it is well known that standing water adds a lot of moisture to the basement that will foster growth of molds. Mold in the home gives off spores and other biological agents that can set off asthma or allergies among the home’s occupants.
Another issue is radon gas. This is a naturally occurring, radioactive gas that often leaks from soil and into the open air, and this may happen in a home whose foundation or other structures are cracked and allow this gas to get into the air. As the concentration builds, radon gas can become dangerously potent, and it can even cause lung cancer to anyone who breathes it in once the concentration in the air is high enough. What can be done about radon gas and leaking water?
Foundation Repair
A faulty or damaged foundation will require professionals to visit and fix damage found there, and this can help prevent any more water from leaking into the home and can also help prevent so much radon gas from getting into the air. Foundation crews can deal with compromised limestone formations by building concrete walls that will contain the bulging and leaking limestone, and this prevents more bulging or leaking. Metal braces will not work as well, since the wall may simply bulge out from between the metal braces. Owners of very old homes may have to invest in limestone formations repair, since the foundation’s mortar will erode over time and the structure will warp. Crews may also refill missing mortar over time if there is a smaller case of foundation damage, rather than build an entire concrete wall.
Foundation repair can help prevent water from leaking into the house again, and this can be vital for homeowners who lives in areas that are prone to flash flooding. What is more, plumbers can be hired to fix leaking pipes or install a sump pump that will draw up loose water in the basement and move it outside the home. Radon gas can be tested for, and the basement can have cracks and holes sealed up so that the gas does not have as much ingress to the basement’s air. This can even help save lives.
