Thrasher Foundation Repair Case Studies: Residential Foundation Piering in Lawrence, KS | Case Study
Challenge
Thrasher was chosen to fix a failed repair performed by others.
These Lawrence homeowners requested that all foundation piering be done from inside the basement.
Unfortunately for the homeowners, they had already piered most of their house utilizing another foundation repair contractor. The work that was done by this contractor was failing. The homeowners hired an engineer to help them decide how to fix their continuing foundation problems and, more importantly, who they should use to do the work this time. The engineer contacted Thrasher and asked us to meet with him and the homeowners to develop a foundation repair design and proposal for correcting the foundation issues. After meeting with our field consultant, the homeowners and the engineer decided that the products and expertise Thrasher offered were exactly what they were looking for.
The homeowners wanted all of the work to be done from inside the basement. They had spent about $10,000, replacing the exterior landscaping and retaining walls after the other foundation repair contractor completed their work. Thrasher installed 34 piers, of 5 different types, throughout the basement and under load-bearing walls restoring this home to a structurally sound condition.
Common Foundation Problems
Foundation problems are more than an eyesore; they can put your home's safety and value at risk. Foundation problems are a required disclosure when selling your home. What might start as a small crack, a very slight sag in the floor or some surface moisture gathering could grow into a costly repair.
When your home was built, the foundation should have been properly set on compact, load-bearing soil. Over time, and with the seasons, that changes, shifting moisture levels and temperatures causing loosening soils to expand or contract, exerting significant hydrostatic pressure. That process is often accelerated by changes outside your home, including erosion, tree growth and new structures. This can lead to several foundation problems, including sinking or heaving floors, buckling, bowing and cracking walls, basement water issues and leaning chimneys.
Thrasher's team of certified foundation repair experts is backed by 45+ years of experience and a team of structural engineers. We offer unparalleled expertise, superior installation methods and patented industry-leading products. Our processes set the standard for foundation repairs everywhere, backed by the best, transferrable warranties.
Foundation Repair Solutions
Your entire house sits on its foundation, so making sure your home is structurally sound and protected starts with making sure its foundation is solid and intact. When your foundation needs repair, you are investing in protecting your biggest asset, as well as the health and safety of its occupants. Ignored too long, you risk foundation collapse, causing significant structural issues and costly and time-consuming repairs.
Foundations need repairs for several reasons, mostly involving improper construction, drainage issues and hydrostatic pressures created by the soil in the moisture expanding and contracting with seasonal changes over time. The first signs you might need foundation repairs can be relatively minor – a window or door sticking, a small crack in the floor or wall, maybe some moisture gathering or condensing in a window.
As these problems worsen, this can lead to cracking, bowing or leaning walls, as well as sagging or heaving floors, allowing moisture, foul odors and other infestations into your basement. Foundation problems rarely go away and almost always worsen left unaddressed.
Foundation repair solutions are unique to your home and its setting, ranging from anchors, braces and Carbon Fiber straps for walls to push or helical piers for floors and footings.
Foundation Piering Solutions
Foundations piering solutions are a system of piers restoring and stabilizing your foundation by shifting weight to the piers anchored in load-bearing soil.
They are commonly used to fix foundation issues caused by an improperly set foundation or unstable soil underpinnings, which can expand, shrink or erode with moisture. This can lead to sinking or buckling floors and sagging basement walls that can severely damage your home, creating openings for moisture and creatures to enter your basement. If not addressed promptly, they can threaten the structural integrity of your entire house.
Both options will permanently stabilize a foundation and provide the opportunity to lift a foundation.
• Push Piers - a Pier is driven by a hydraulic cylinder through a bracket that is placed essentially next to the foundation. The structure must weigh enough to counteract the force being placed on the pier as it is driven.
Helical Piers - the Pier is mechanically screwed into the ground next to the foundation. After the pier is driven into the ground, a bracket is installed next to the foundation connecting the pier and the foundation. No weight is required to install helical piers.
Our Approach to Foundation Piering
Rely on our team of experts, backed by structural engineers, for long-lasting foundation repairs.
We use corrosion-resistant piering materials to level and stabilize your sinking or sagging foundation. And Thrasher's patented Push Pier System even prevents buckling and rotating commonly found in other solutions.
Your satisfaction matters to us, and we want to make sure you are happy with our foundation piering stabilization service. And that's why we offer a 25-year transferable warranty as well as guarantees on satisfaction, efficiency, and property protection.
When you're ready for Thrasher to take a closer look at stabilizing your foundation, set up an appointment that works with your schedule, and we will deliver a same-day, no-obligation estimate with transparent pricing.
