What should you do if the foundation is settling on your 2-year-old home caused by the drought in northern Missouri this year and it will be 27000 dollars to fix?

Answer 1

Actually, there are several solutions to this problem. First there is Augured-Pier additions. There are a lot of companies doing this. Another is called Hydraulic-Jacking. This is done by pumping a concrete type material under the footing slab under high pressure. There are others as well. It should be mentioned that many problems may become even worse, in reverse. Water levels may again be brought up to a point where the supporting ground swells and the modifications are raised by the swelling ground. It is my suggestion that the ground be thoroughly examined by a Geotechnical Engineer. A structural engineer should be brought in to review the Geotech's report and an engineered solution should be implemented. If rising and falling water table is a reoccurring problem, several times over a hundred year period or anually, it may be possible to see this on a continuing basis. A good Geotech will know this and make the appropriate suggestions, like a drain field, pump, etc. Good engineers are expensive, but worth their weight in GOLD! Only an engineer can properly fix an engineering problem. Structural problems, and the ground is a structure by definition as it is supporting a load, your house, can only be solved through proper structural engineering. Some companies can do a quick fix. Quick fixes tend to quickly fail. If you are going to fix this, fix it once, fix it right! If this is an area problem it may be advisable to ask your neighbors if they are having the same problem and how they are fixing it. You may even be able to group a solution and get a group rate repair cost. Terry