Settling Foundation in Metuchen

Monday, December 13th, 2010 by Marianne Koiva

Challenge

The Phan residence is a split-level wood-framed structure built in 1960’s with a one car garage on the north side of the home. The homeowners had observed the typical warning signs of foundation settlement for some time, mostly along the garage wall. Several years ago, they attempted to have their settlement problem fixed by hiring a contractor to underpin their existing foundation with more concrete.

Unfortunately, the additional concrete continue to settle along with the foundation of the garage. Signs of settlement continue to worsen to the point where the garage doors were difficult to open and close and daylight could be seen around the door frames in the garage. Fearing the settlement problem was becoming dangerous, the homeowners contacted Quality 1st Basement Systems to remedy the problem for good.

Solution

Quality 1st Basement Systems installed twelve (12) Foundation Supportworks™ Model 288 Helical Piers with a 10”-12” double-helix lead section along the perimeter of the garage. Additionally, two (2) Foundation Supportworks™ Model 288 Push Piers were installed on the home’s foundation immediately adjacent to the garage.

L-shaped foundation brackets were positioned against and below the home and garage footings to support the weight of the structure. The heavy-duty, steel piers were installed at spacings of approximately 5’ and to depths of 18-25’ to a competent load-bearing strata. The project took only four days to complete from start to finish.

The installation of the helical and push piers not only permanently stabilized the settled portions of the home, but also lifted the foundation approximately 4 inches back toward its original position. Gaps in the door frames closed, and the doors throughout the garage were able to be opened and closed with ease.

The area around the foundation was backfilled and graded back to level. One of the neighbors also observed the installation of piers on the Phan residence and were so impressed with the results that they immediately contacted Quality 1st Basement Systems to solve the same problem in their home.