Slab Foundation Repair in Flower Mound, TX
How concrete slab foundations settle or heave, the repair methods contractors use, and what a good plan should show.
The Problem
How a Slab Foundation Fails
A slab rests directly on the soil. When the soil under part of it swells, shrinks, or washes out, that part of the slab moves and the rest doesn't.
Settlement leaves a section of slab unsupported and lower than the rest. Heave pushes a section up. Either way the house frame is stressed, and that's what you see as cracks, sticking doors, and uneven floors.
Many homes in the area are built on post-tension slabs, where steel cables run through the concrete under tension. A repair plan for a post-tension slab has to account for those cables, so ask the contractor how they handle them.
Repair Methods
Common Slab Repair Methods
Which method fits depends on the soil, the depth of the problem, and the house. These are general descriptions, not recommendations.
Concrete or Steel Piers
Piers pressed or drilled to deeper, more stable ground and used to lift and support the slab at the points that settled.
Slab Lifting With Fill
Material pumped under the slab to fill voids and raise it. Usually discussed for shallower, more localized problems.
Drainage and Moisture Control
Grading, gutters, downspout extensions, and French drains that keep soil moisture around the slab more even.
Drainage solutions →Plumbing Check
Slab leaks can cause or worsen movement, so a leak test is a common step.
What a Good Plan Includes
Look for These in the Written Estimate
- Elevation readings showing how far different parts of the house have moved
- A diagram or list of repair points, with the number and type of piers
- A plan for drainage or moisture, not only the structural work
- Plain-language warranty terms, including what is excluded
- Notes on any interior work (door adjustment, drywall) that is or isn't included
Cracks in the slab or the walls?
Request a free inspection from a local, independent contractor.
FAQ
Common Questions
What are foundation piers?
What are foundation piers?
Piers are columns pressed or drilled down to deeper, more stable soil. Contractors use them to lift and support a settled slab.
Is a post-tension slab repaired the same way?
Is a post-tension slab repaired the same way?
Not necessarily. Post-tension slabs have tensioned steel cables inside the concrete, and a repair plan has to avoid and account for them. Ask the contractor how they handle that.
Will cracks go away after the repair?
Will cracks go away after the repair?
A repair stabilizes or lifts the foundation. Cosmetic damage such as drywall cracks, brick, and sticking doors may need separate fixes, so ask what is included in the estimate.
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