Construction & Contractors Blog
Constructing and maintaining commercial buildings is a complex endeavor. Among the most critical aspects is ensuring a structurally sound foundation. However, despite meticulous planning and execution, foundation issues may emerge over time, necessitating professional repairs.
What Are The Common Causes Of Commercial Structure Foundation Damage?
Varying geographical locations have different soil compositions that can affect a building's foundation. For instance, highly expansive clay soils often expand or contract depending on moisture levels creating pressure on foundations. Likewise, inadequately compacted soil can settle unevenly over time, leading to structural distress.
Excess water poses a threat to any structure's integrity. Improper drainage systems can create hydrostatic pressure buildup around foundations resulting in cracks and underground leaks. Water infiltration could also lead to soil erosion underneath the building and basement flooding.
Unfortunately, some buildings may have been built with foundations that are not adequately designed for the area's soil. Large-scale foundation repairs may be essential for these structures to keep the building safe and limit future problems.
What Are The Risks Of Ignoring Foundation Issues In A Commercial Building?
Foundation issues can escalate into severe structural damage that causes walls to collapse or ceilings to crack, compromising aesthetics and safety.
Buildings with severe foundation issues can also be vulnerable to interior flooding. This occurs due to the shifting building putting a strain on the plumbing pipes. Eventually, these pipes can break or develop leaks that may quickly cause widespread water damage inside the building.
Unresolved foundational problems spell doom for property values when selling a property. As a result, a business will also need to complete these repairs to protect the value of its building as an asset.
Can You Repair A Commercial Structure Foundation Without Disrupting Business Operations?
Not all foundation repairs require invasive techniques or heavy equipment. Contractors now offer innovative, non-invasive methods like carbon fiber reinforcement options and wall anchor systems for stabilizing commercial structures without significant disruptions to operations. In cases where disruption is inevitable, commercial property owners can coordinate with repair contractors to work after business hours or during weekends minimizing operational interference.
For projects demanding extensive repairs, it may require the building to be vacated. If this is the case, relocation plans should be implemented in advance, ensuring minimal disturbance to regular employees and customer service levels.
What Are The Most Effective Methods For Fixing Commercial Building Foundation Issues?
Slabjacking is a method that utilizes a specially designed grout mixture injected beneath the settling slab. This technique is relatively cost-effective and minimally invasive while providing rapid results for moderate settling issues.
A durable solution for significant settling problems involves installing steel pier supports. These supports are driven deep into the ground, where they can reach more stable soil.
To learn more, contact a commercial structure foundation repair service in your area.
Share12 June 2023
Construction contractors have a very important job. They literally build the structures we live in, work in, and entertain ourselves in. They have control over how these spaces look, and also over how safe these spaces are. Some contractors lay flooring. Others install flooring. Some are generalists and do a bit of everything, from roofing to painting. When you start to understand the nature of a contractor's job, you start to really appreciate all of the buildings around you. It's that appreciation that we really hope shines through as we write this blog to share with you all, our loyal readers.
