Foundation problems can be tricky, but if you look closely enough you’ll be able to spot the early warning signs that indicate foundation damage. It’s best to contact us immediately if you have been seeing any:
- Cracks on your interior and exterior walls
- Misaligned doors that won’t open and close properly like they used to
- Floors that feel off or uneven
- Gaps developing between windows, doors, and even the walls
It’s important to seek professional help in case you notice any of these signs of damage, as ignoring these will create more issues and expenses in the long run.
Just this week, we received a call from a concerned homeowner. While the damage was still in the early stage, it was great that he immediately asked for a professional to work on it. Read on to find out how we fixed it!
Addressing the “Root” Cause of Future Problems
The customer was worried about the slight damage he saw at the corner of his home. He had noticed slab cracks while he was attempting to install new flooring. Worried that this was an early sign of foundation damage, he immediately gave us a call! We completely understood how he wanted his home to be 100% safe, and that he also cared about its beauty and appearance.
After a thorough inspection, we confirmed that the foundation was doing fine, but it was moving a very slight amount more than we want. We were able to pinpoint the root cause of the damage, literally—the trees surrounding their home!
Tree roots are often stubborn and will grow anywhere they want. And because the foundation beneath our houses has moisture and nutrient-packed soil, roots will always want to make their way towards the food source, causing damage to our homes and foundations. We took our time to educate the homeowner on the effects of trees on our foundations, and what we could do.
Solutions for problems like these are what we do best here at Permatech, so we know exactly how to deal with this problem. We’ve resolved plenty of root foundation damage in the past and it helped us develop effective fixes that address the problem and help prevent future damage as well!
Installing a Root Barrier in McKinney TX
Among our available solutions, the homeowner opted to go with a root barrier. The root barrier system is actually a must-have in Texan homes because of the beautiful greeneries that often surround us. While nature can be very amazing and beneficial, it can also get out of control when it encounters anything man-made. In order to help protect our homes, getting a root barrier installed does wonders! This will help remove any roots that are already too close for comfort to the foundation, as well as block any future incoming roots that can cause further damage.
Our crew started by marking the spots where utility lines were buried so we could avoid damaging them. We then dug up a 30-inch deep trench in between the customer’s house and the big tree that was causing the damage. Doing so, we were able to sever the roots that were approaching the house. They will die over time, so we don’t have to worry about them causing more movement by growing any bigger and deeper in the soil.
The team then lined the trench with a 30 mil thick HDPE barrier, which will last forever in this type of clay so the customer can enjoy his barrier for a very long time. New roots will no longer be able to go back towards the house. Since the trees can’t drink a tremendous amount of water beneath the home, the supporting foundation will no longer shrink unevenly.
While we were working, the customer had voiced out his concern about not having enough room for the barrier to be fully installed because his home had a lot of landscaping walls. We already put this into consideration before we started digging, so we were able to squeeze the root barrier in.
This project only took half a day to complete. With the barrier installed, our homeowner won’t have to worry about new roots causing damage to his home for a very long time! He was very pleased with the output and was glad he chose us to work with on this problem.
Resolve your future foundation problems today! Give us a call or text at 214-326-0718 and we’ll get the job done for you ASAP.
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