SLAB FOUNDATION REPAIR

Slab Foundations Explained

Slab Foundations are the most popular foundations you see in New Braunfels, TX and surrounding areas. A slab foundation is a concrete foundation, meaning the foundation is constructed of concrete with poured concrete beams. A slab foundation sits directly on the soil (slab on grade) meaning that there is no crawl space. The plumbing for a slab foundation is placed underground, beneath the slab. The most common reason that a slab foundation will shift is because of the expansive soil that it sits on here in the Central Texas region. Plumbing leaks or foundation leaks are another cause that can lead to severe damage of a slab foundation, especially when unnoticed and untreated for a long period of time. In this region, other potential reasons for slab foundation movement include:

tree roots impacting or pressing against the slab
loadbearing walls not ailing with concrete beams of the slab
cracks in the slab’s concrete beams

These can all result in weakening of the slab foundation. Once your concrete slab foundation is compromised, the support for the rest of your structure is now compromised—the slab foundation is what supports the entire building or home.

Our team has seen it all when dealing with a compromised slab foundation. If the slab foundation is not properly stabilized, it can jeopardize the integrity of the structure.

Signs of foundation settlement:

cracks in brick resembling stair-steps
separation in expansion joints
doors and windows do not shut and lock properly
cracked walls and floors

If you notice any of these signs, call FiveStar Foundation & Construction to find the most reliable solution to stabilize your slab foundation. To determine the right foundation repair plan, we will thoroughly evaluate the slab foundation and record the elevations to pinpoint the cause of the slab foundation movement. Based on our findings and knowledge, we will provide an honest opinion on how to best treat your slab foundation issues.

Slab foundation repair consists of digging beneath the structure and installing pressed piling pier systems such as. Our pier installation services include:

Pressed Concrete Piers
Pressed Steel Piers
Steel Combination Piers

Pressed Concrete Piers

Pressed concrete piers are one of the most effective methods for stabilizing, supporting, and leveling slab foundations. Each pier is made with 6" concrete cylinders with a ¾" center hole that allos rebar reinforcement to interlock the stacked cylinders. Installation begins by excavating holes at each pier location. The cylinders are hydraulically driven into the ground until they reach load-bearing resistance. A top cap is added, and the foundation is lifted, leveled, and shimmed for long-term support.

Pressed Steel Piers

Pressed steel piers are another highly effective solution for slab foundation repair, house leveling, and long-term foundation stabilization. These 2¾" steel cylinders are hydraulically driven deep into the ground until reaching solid load-bearing resistance. Designed as sleeve-locking systems, the steel sections securely lock together for maximum strength. Once the proper depth is achieved, a steel cap is installed and the foundation is lifted, leveled, and shimmed for lasting support.

Steel Combination Piers

Steel combination piers are the best option available for foundation repair. It's a pier system that strategically combines steel and concrete in accordance to the high moisture content in the layers of soil. We start the pier system using steel cylinders to drive through the different soils until it hits sturdy rock bed. Once reaching proper depth, the pier will transition to concrete cylinders—concrete can withstand the high moisture in the upper layers of the soil, whereas steel can potentially weaken over time in this environment. This pier system creates the ultimate stability to provide long-lasting results.