Piering Fixes Separating Chimney in Cherry Hill

Friday, August 29th, 2014 by Cassandra Santiago

Challenge

The chimney of this Cherry Hill home was separating away from the home. The homeowner contacted Quality 1st Basement Systems and explained that the chimney was falling away from the house which is a sign of foundation settlement. Most chimneys are built on a shorter footing than the rest of the house which makes them more susceptible to settlement and separation from the house. The weight of the chimney on the backfill around the home caused the foundation to settle; that type of soil is not adequate to hold the weight.

Solution

System Design Specialist, Ken Peare, inspected the cracks in the chimney and diagnosed the foundation settlement. Ken recommended the installation of helical piers to stabilize and raise the chimney bringing it back to its original level. Helical piers have helix shaped blades welded to the shaft of the pier to further stabilize the structure. The installation team removed soil from the area around the chimney and installed the helical piers in sections. The weight of the chimney was transferred to the helical piers which are positioned in the deep, competent soil. The chimney is now lifted back to its original position.

Helical piers are a great solution to foundation repair problems because they can stabilize structures regardless of how much it may way. Helical piers can attempt to lift your home or chimney back to its original position. They can also be used to stabilize lighter structures like decks. The installation was completed in one day with minimal disturbance to the home. This homeowner is completely satisfied with the job and can sleep well at night knowing his chimney is stable!