Commercial and residential construction have relied upon concrete slab foundations for more than 50 years now. All buildings, with or without basements, require a concrete foundation. It is also just as important that all foundations meet the requirements that will prevent foundation failure in the long run. Meeting these standards prevents the need for residential or commercial foundation repair.
Foundation Development
At the base of any construction project is the foundation. If the foundation is not built properly, foundation failure can occur with age or changes to the land or even a lack of moisture control. Therefore, the original foundation of any building must be poured properly in order to prevent the long-term need for foundation repair services. Pouring a foundation may include the need for different experts, both for the land you are building on and the design you are building, and one is a certified geologist on staff. This could include knowledge of the good or potentially problematic soil types in your current land.
Both commercial foundations and residential foundations have to match certain specifications in order to withstand the changes of the land as well as the weight of the building. Some of these key design specs include:
- Soakers must remain at least a foot away from a house foundation.
- There are about 60 soil types, with soil analysis being hard.
- Pier and beam foundations, where joints must be spaced up to 18 inches apart.
- Additionally, foundation beams may be up to 12 feet apart.
Without following all of these standards throughout a construction project, there is the potential for the need for commercial or residential repair services much later on. At that point, it is much more expensive to update a foundation.
Foundation Repair Services
These factors may be completed at the initial construction, hopefully preventing the need for residential or commercial foundation repair services in the long run. Because foundation repair can be time-consuming and expensive, it is nice to know when you build or buy a home that the foundation is in proper working condition. This can be determined during the inspection that is required before any purchase, but you should likely take a look on your own to help make sure that everything seems appropriate.
Expert Soil Analysis
One way to prevent foundation failure is with expert soil analysis before construction. You can determine the long-term effects of the soil on a concrete foundation and the potential failure. This would also help predict the potential need for residential or commercial foundation repair down the road, helping to decide if any changes to the construction plan are needed or a different piece of land, It is also important to make sure that things are taken care of like avoiding clay-rich soils, that you control moisture levels, and also avoid land with limestone and shale. This makes soil analysis important before beginning construction.
Weather changes can alter the soil around a building, also causing issues to the foundation, requiring commercial or residential foundation repair. This may require further inspections as time goes on, especially if you continue to live in the same home for many years. The life of a building may be affected as things like temperature, water levels, and more start to change over time. It is important to take these into consideration during construction. This can also be helpful when purchasing a home, especially in the inspections completed before closing the deal. With all of this completed properly, there is less likelihood of failure or the need for residential or commercial foundation repair.