Your home may be the foundation of your family and even your life, but your home relies on a different kind of support. This is why it is important to recognize the signs that indicate that you might need foundation repair serving San Antonio. Before you can call a contractor, you must know what to look for and understand what you are seeing. Here is your look at a few tips on evaluating whether or not your home needs foundation repairs.

Recognizing Household Changes
While a small amount of unevenness due to settling may not be an issue, certain issues that you may notice around the house might suggest otherwise. Some indicators, like cracks in your walls, are more obvious. These cracks typically appear near windows and doors as well as in the areas where ceilings and walls meet. You may also find them in tile over concrete. If you notice that your doors and windows are not opening and closing as easily as they used to, this may also be a sign that your foundation is in need of repair. You can also walk around your house and check to see if any of your walls are leaning.

Understanding Foundation Cracks
The sight of a single crack in your concrete may alarm you, but it is important to remember that not all concrete cracks are problematic. Since concrete shrinks as it cures, it is common to see a few small cracks in your foundation. Hairline cracks and cracks found at perpendicular junctures may not be signs of trouble with your structural integrity. Cracks that are horizontal or resemble a set of stairs , on the other hand, may warrant your concern. If you see larger cracks like these, it is a good idea to call a professional.

Calling In the Pros
Understanding these signs of trouble can allow you to call for a professional foundation repair service sooner rather than later. This is a significant job that must be done with the utmost care and professionalism, so it is important to find a trustworthy foundation repair service in your area.

If you are building a new home in the San Antonio area, you are probably trying to decide whether to use a pier and beam foundation or a concrete slab foundation. Both types of foundations are common in this area, and they both have their advantages and disadvantages. Before you call a contractor in San Antonio and settle on one foundation type over the other, you should carefully consider the pros and cons of each. Here are some of the things you should think about.

Pier and Beam Foundation

As the name of the pier and beam foundation would suggest, it relies upon a pier and beam structure to hold your home up. Piers extend deep down into the earth and rest on top of stones, and they support beams that hold up your home. The big advantage to using this type of foundation is that it will not shift around as a result of the soil underneath of your home. Because the piers are resting on stone, your foundation will be very strong and small adjustments can be made to fix your foundation if you ever need to have general contractors do foundation repair to your pier and beam foundation. With all of that being said, this type of foundation is more expensive than a concrete slab.

Concrete Slab Foundation

While a pier and beam foundation will rest on the stone located deep below your home, a concrete slab will rest directly on the ground. For that reason, concrete slabs are ideal for homes that are being built on flat lots. Concrete slabs can be constructed very easily and are cheaper than pier and beam foundations. However, you should know that repairing and maintaining a concrete slab can be more expensive in the long run than taking care of a pier and beam foundation.

Regardless of which type of foundation you choose, you should make sure that it’s the right one for your specific situation. Pick the one that works best for you and your family and speak with a foundation repair specialist if you have any additional questions.

Many homeowners don’t spend a whole lot of time learning about their concrete slab foundation unless they experience a problem with it. You should familiarize yourself with your foundation so that, if you ever need San Antonio foundation repair, you will know what to expect from it. A contractor in San Antonio can inspect your foundation to let you know if there are any issues with it. Here are some of the things you should know about your concrete slab foundation.

Construction

When a concrete slab foundation is built, general contractors will begin by removing topsoil and then grading the lot in order to prevent water from doing damage to the foundation in the future. A proper drainage system is essential because moisture can cause a foundation to crack and wreak havoc on a home. Additionally, concrete slab foundations should feature a capillary break underneath of them that serves as a barrier between the foundation and the moisture that exists in the soil beneath it.

Advantages

There are many advantages to having a concrete slab foundation. These types of foundations are effective when it comes to keeping pests and insects out of your home. They are also great at providing insulation for your home, which will help you save money on your energy bills. They can usually be constructed more quickly than other types of foundations and will last you for years before you need foundation repair done.

Repairs

From time to time, you may need foundation repair done if your foundation experiences cracking as a result of moisture or some other circumstances. You will also need to have foundation repair done if you ever experience a plumbing or electrical problem in the pipes installed in your foundation, and you will need to make sure that tree roots don’t grow under your home and cause issues. Find a trusted foundation repair company in San Antonio to take care of any potential problems, and your concrete slab foundation should keep your home standing strong well into the future.