Pier and Beam Foundation Repair

FiveStar Foundation & Construction is your trusted pier and beam foundation expert serving New Braunfels, TX and its surrounding areas. If you aren’t sure what a pier and beam foundation is, let us help explain. A Pier and Beam Foundation is constructed of wood beams that run the entire length or width of the structure and supports the floor joist. The beam sits on top of piers which are constructed of reinforced concrete columns. These piers tie into the footings which are constructed of concrete and rebar. The footings are poured and buried beneath the soil to reach a depth that exceeds the expansive soil. Pier and beam foundations have a crawl space underneath the floor of the structure, and some may have a concrete stem wall.

Pier and beam foundations are very common to have in New Braunfels, TX and surrounding areas. Just like slab foundations, pier and beam foundations are very likely to become unstable and shift in the very high levels of expansive soil in the Central Texas region. Aside from the normal movement we experience here in Texas due to the expansive soil, a pier and beam foundation may also shift and become compromised by other common causes like termite damage and too much moisture which also causes deterioration and rot to the beam and joist. If you're noticing signs of a failing pier and beam foundation such as sagging floors, bouncy floors, cracks in the drywall, separation of the walls and floors, counters or cabinets separating from the walls, or a damp crawl space, you may be in need of pier and beam foundation repair.

Before determining the best foundation repair method for your pier and beam foundation, the FiveStar Foundation & Construction team will evaluate the pier and beam foundation by entering the crawl space to inspect the current conditions of the wood beams, joists, and current piers. This will also allow us to determine if there is any excessive moisture beneath the pier and beam foundation, termite damage, or plumbing leaks that need to be addressed. If any rotten wood is discovered, it will need to be replaced upon repairing the foundation. There are multiple ways a pier and beam foundation can be repaired. Some of the most common solutions used to support and level a pier and beam foundation are replacing failed piers with sonotube piers, block and base replacement, beam or joist replacement, and subfloor replacement. Let us educate you on these common pier and beam foundation repair methods.

Pier and beam foundation repair can be conducted by installing sonotube piers. Sonotube Piers are piers that are installed beneath the pier and beam foundation by excavating a 2ft by 2ft hole into the ground and building a footing using 5,000PSI concrete and #4 rebar. The rebar is first placed in a grid like setting, followed by the concrete to form the footing. A hollow concrete form will then be placed on top of the footing and tied to the footing using the same 5,000PSI concrete and #4 rebar. A Simpson Strap is set inside of the form to attach the beam to the newly poured sonotube pier. Sonotube piers can range in diameter (8", 10", 12", 18", 24".) The size of the sonotube pier to be used is determined by the size of the beam and how far off of the ground the structure sits.

Block and Base is a type of pier and beam foundation. These block and base foundations are typically seen most commonly in rural areas and not so much in city areas. Block and base foundations, or pad and block foundations, are constructed of a 16"x16"x4" concrete pad with 8"x8"x16" concrete cylinder blocks placed on top. Once placed, this is what supports the wood beams of the block and base foundation. To conduct block and base foundation repair, new block and base stations may need to be added, or repairs may need to be made to the current block and base stations. The structure will be leveled and shimmed off of the block and base stations, and any rotten beam or joist will be replaced as well.

When it comes to pier and beam foundations, FiveStar Foundation & Construction is your go-to local foundation pro. Give us a call today for your free pier and beam foundation inspection. 

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