Commercial Foundation Repair in Mankato, MN

Monday, March 1st, 2021 by Kal Aldrich

Challenge

Signs of a foundation that is settling can be hard to determine at first, and long-term foundation settlement leads to severe problems. Some signs of foundation settlement include stair-step cracking in your foundation, tilting chimneys, damaged doors and windows, and cracking in the floor. Typically, there are several different layers of soil beneath a home. Foundation settlement and house movement happens when one of the soil layers can no longer support the weight of the home. Along with foundation settlement, foundation cracks can also be indicators. Foundation cracks occur due to the soil expanding as it absorbs water. With that said, it can expand large enough to put too much pressure on the wall to the point the wall cracks or bows inward. This kind of damage can worsen until the wall fails completely.

An apartment complex in Mankato, MN had a cracked and settling foundation that needed to be examined at hand. Our Design Specialist, Dylan Woitas, went to the apartment, carefully inspected the foundation, and diagnosed the symptoms he saw. After a thorough inspection, Dylan drew out a proposal of our Push Pier and Helical C-Channel Anchor Systems. Once the quote and price were approved, our logistics team scheduled a date for the installation.

Solution

Our Foremen, Jose and Matt, and their crews spent nearly a week completing the project from start to finish. To begin the project, our team installed nine of our Helical C-Channel Anchors, which are designed to provide support to the foundation walls with undistributed pressures. In this situation, our Helical C-Channel Anchors are screwed into the ground with the application of torque, which stabilizes the wall. To achieve a straight wall, other factors such as excavation are required. Some advantages of our Helical Anchors include their all-year-round and all-weather installations, and they can be installed in tight spaces with minimal disruption to your property and structure.

Next, our team dug out the soil surrounding the foundation of the apartment and installed 24 of our Push Piers. Our Push Pier System is designed to lift and stabilize foundations to provide a permanent solution. The pier is hydraulically driven underground until it hits load-bearing strata.

Next, our team installed our SentrySeal on the outside of the foundation wall which is designed like a rubber membrane. Its purpose is to keep moisture from making its way into the structure. Followed by that, our crew installed our SilverGlo Wall Insulation System over the SentrySeal. Our SilverGlo is a thick, silver, heat barrier that provides extra comfort to the property and can potentially reduce the cost of energy bills. The last final touch our team performed was the application of our PolyLevel for frost protection. This provides a thermal break between the footing and soil to prevent frost heave. To complete the entire installation, our team backfilled all parts of the soil they dug out, compacted it throughout, and left the outside of the property looking neater than when they found it.

At American Waterworks, we don’t only perform work on foundations. We also provide services in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair/encapsulation, radon testing/mitigation, and concrete repair/lifting. Call us today for more information or click HERE to request your free estimate!