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Does My House Have Helical Piers?

The great thing about Cantsink helical piers foundation supports is that, once installed, they are virtually undetectable.

   Homeowners, however, may wonder if their homes have the permanent, ICC-certified protection of Cantsink’s engineered steel support under their foundations. Time will tell, of course, if these homes remain level and show none of the signs of foundation settling, such as cracks in the concrete or uneven floors.

  If the house is fairly new, or has been renovated in recent years, Cantsink will have records on where its foundation supports have been installed. The company’s friendly staff is happy to check and let a homeowner know if their address is in records on file.

  Cantsink, however, has been in business since 1988 and cannot keep every record the company has ever generated indefinitely. The good news is that wherever Cantsink’s patented helical piers are in place, even as far back as the 1990s, those homes will still maintain their structural integrity.

  Precisely engineered and easily installed, Cantsink helical piers are the cost-effective method for permanent peace of mind. This durable support under a home’s foundation resists weather and geographic conditions such as rain-saturated ground, freezing winter temperatures and shifting soil conditions. All of these can wreck a home’s structural alignment and integrity.

  Certainly, any homeowner who notices the telltale signs of a sinking foundation should contact Cantsink for a free assessment to determine if additional support is needed. Doors that are hard to open and close, windows that won’t open all the way, floors that sag or tilt, and diagonal hairline cracks along interior drywall all indicate problems in the foundation.

  Eventually, more serious signs may develop, such as fissures in the foundation wall. These signs should not be ignored and may be dangerous if not remedied.

   Outdoor structures also suffer from settling soil in the ground underneath them. Allowing these problems to continue unresolved can lead to dangerous conditions or unsightly surroundings that affect a home’s market value.

  Decks, in particular, are vulnerable to changing soil conditions. Unsupported wooden decks may shift and tilt, causing boards to bulge, nails to pop up, and joints to separate. Left unaddressed over time, a settling deck may collapse under heavy weight such as an outdoor party or family cookout.

  Cantsink’s expert staff can assess damage and consult with our engineers to devise a customized, economical solution that will last through the life of the home. Once the Cantsink supports have been installed, no one except the homeowner knows they are there because their sturdy, reliable protection is deep underground.

     With products engineered to specific soil and climate conditions, Cantsink maintains property value with easy, cost-effective repairs. A single call to Cantsink is all that’s needed to schedule a free home inspection.

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Could a Small Cement Crack Be Something More?

Every house experiences some minor cracking in its foundation as it ages over time, but could a small cement crack be something more.

  Homeowners are rightly concerned when they see cracks in the cement of their foundations, but knowing whether those cracks signal more serious damage can be difficult. Housing codes have specific guidance about when signs of foundation settling should be addressed.

  Foundation and cement cracks wide enough to allow water to seep through are a clear sign of pending distress. Water intrusion not only erodes existing cracks, but can exacerbate unseen weaknesses to further undermine a home’s foundation.

  Other signs that a home’s fundamental support is unstable include evidence ground is eroding under the foundation or pulling away from the structural support. This includes visible gaps between the foundation and the ground, depressions or sinkholes under the home, and discernable differences in ground height between one side of the home and another.

  Cantsink experts can examine such signs and determine if a home’s foundation needs the added support of the company’s permanent, underground helical piers. Simply filling cracks with mortar or cement won’t solve the issue. With support from Cantsink’s ICC-certified supports, though, foundation settling is halted for the life of the home.

  Any number of factors can cause a home’s foundation to settle and cause the cement to crack, and a homeowner can’t always know when those conditions are present. The presence of improperly compacted backfill soils under the house, for e

Cement Crack, After Foundation Repair

xample, can create conditions that undermine the foundation. Homes close to bodies of water such as lakes, streams or rivers also are at high risk because of higher moisture content in the soil.

  Finally, tree roots can create problems under a foundation, either by growth and extension of a healthy tree’s root system under the home or the biodegradation of a root system from a tree that died or was cut down.

  This year’s El Niño rains may cause or accelerate foundation settling and undermine a previously unaffected foundation. Sudden downpours create unanticipated runoff that can saturate soil and cause it to shift in unexpected ways. Water patterns that builders may not have foreseen during construction could wash away protective layers of soil around or under the house allowing intrusion that causes the foundation to sink.

     Cantsink’s customized solutions can fix these problems discreetly, accurately, and cost-effectively. Sinking foundations that disrupt level alignment and structural integrity are restored to permanent stability with minimal disruption to landscaping. Once Cantsink’s easily installed helical piers are in place well below ground and the installation crew is gone, only the homeowner will know the lasting protection is there. Cantsink guarantees its helical piers ensure foundations that last.

  With products engineered to specific soil and climate conditions, Cantsink protects property value with easy, economical repairs. A single call to Cantsink is all that’s needed to schedule a free home inspection that can stabilize and protect foundations, decks, pools and other landscape features.

  Cantsink’s trained and experienced professionals will assess the level of damage, review any cement crack and devise a cost-effective solution and guarantee the result. When answers are that easy, there’s no reason to wait.

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Cement Cracks and Other Signs of a Sinking Foundation

The signs of a sinking foundation can be subtle at first: doors that are hard to open and close, windows that won’t open all the way, or diagonal hairline cracks along interior drywall.

   Some homeowners shrug these symptoms off as weather-related or temporary. Although weather can affect foundation stability, these effects endure and permanently alter a home’s structural integrity.

  Eventually, more serious signs emerge, such as fissures in the foundation wall, cracked or crumbling cement, sagging or uneven floors and porch steps that tilt or split apart. These signs are harder to ignore and may be dangerous if they are not remedied.

   Outdoor structures also suffer from settling soil in the ground underneath them. Allowing these problems to continue unresolved can lead to dangerous conditions or unsightly surroundings that affect a home’s market value.

  Decks, in particular, are vulnerable to changing soil conditions. Unsupported wooden decks may shift and tilt, causing boards to bulge, nails to pop up, and joints to separate. Left unaddressed over time, a settling deck may collapse under heavy weight such as an outdoor party or family cookout.

  Swimming pools and pool patios are subject to foundation settling caused by freezing ground in the winter. The weight of concrete in and around the pool added to the weight of water when the pool is full brings out the worst attributes of poor or shifting soil conditions. Hairline cracks in pool cement can affect the pool’s water quality.

  If water quality in the pool seems to require more and more treatment or the water level requires frequent adjustment, the cement should be checked for cracks.

  Similarly, fluctuating soil conditions under pool patios are caused by freezing and thawing as seasons change. Over time, the patio surface may become uneven and cracked in ways that look uninviting or even disrupt the arrangement of poolside décor.

  Other landscape features such as retaining walls, patios and gazebos also can settle and shift. This affects their alignment, aesthetic appeal and value. Cracked or crumbling retaining walls can result in garden soil erosion as well. Misaligned landscape features due to a sinking foundation can diminish resale value and make outdoor living less inviting.

  Cantsink helical supports help correct these problems and protect a sinking foundation against further damage.

  Cantsink’s customized solutions offer discreet, accurate, cost-effective foundation repair that levels and stabilizes sinking structures and guarantees support that lasts a lifetime. With patented products engineered to specific soil and climate conditions, Cantsink protects property value with easy, economical repairs. With Cantsink, repairs are accomplished with minimal disruption to surrounding landscaping.

  Once Cantsink’s easily installed helical piers are in place well below ground and the installation crew is gone, only the homeowner will know the lasting protection is there. Call Cantsink at 678-280-7453 or Contact Us to schedule a free home inspection and find out what Cantsink can do to stabilize and protect a sinking foundation, decks, pools and other landscape features.

  Cantsink’s trained and experienced professionals will assess the level of damage, devise an economical solution and guarantee the result. With answers to a sinking foundation that are easy to understand, there’s no reason to wait.

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