Foundation Reinforcement Guide & Maintenance Tips

foundation worker in trench

As it is made to carry the load of your home or other building, a weak or damaged foundation can lead to a number of problems. Fortunately, there are foundation reinforcement options available to strengthen the integrity of the structures.

Reinforcing a building’s foundation is especially important if you want to build an addition. You will want to make sure that the foundation is strong enough to handle the additional weight. Reinforcement also makes the material more durable so that it is better able to resist moisture and prevent cracking.

Benefits of Reinforced Concrete

If your foundation is in need of repair, reinforced concrete is a popular option. It’s not necessary to tear down the current foundation, thanks to carbon-fiber Kevlar technology.

Featuring carbon-fiber sheet straps, this type of concrete makes foundation repair easier. Whether the project requires whole sheets of material, straps, or any other reinforced concrete product, the structural components of your home will be strengthened.

Some of the benefits of using reinforced concrete for your foundation include:

  • Inherent material properties. Inherencies include fire resistance, thermal mass, low floor-to-floor heights, etc. It’s easy to exploit this material to create a custom building system that can fit your foundation.
  • Tensile Strength. Concrete and other older masonry materials have a low tensile strength. However, with the inclusion of the reinforcement material, that low tensile strength is counteracted. Reinforced concrete can withstand a surprising amount of tensile strength.
  • Environmental-friendliness and Sustainability. This is an energy-efficient material, as its inherent thermal mass allows for heat to be absorbed during the day and released at night. It therefore reduces the costs of heating and air conditioning. Since it eliminates the need for a new foundation to be constructed, the amount of waste generated is minimized.

Little manufacturing is required for the creation of reinforced concrete, making it a resource-efficient material.

Foundation Maintenance

Knowing how to take good care of your foundation will help prevent the need for reinforcement in the first place.

Following these guidelines can help reduce foundation woes:

  • Don’t let roots get too close to the foundation, as they will compete with the soil for moisture during dry, warm months. This can lead to the foundation to sink unevenly. Avoid this problem by planting deep-rooted trees and shrubs a distance away from the home or office building.
  • Regularly inspect foundation walls and basement floors for cracks. Deal with hairline cracks before they grow and cause problems. You can clean them out and fill them with epoxy glue or a similar material.
  • Monitor drainage. Make sure your downspouts gutters are properly sized and installed so that they can direct water and snow away. It’s ideal that the downspouts discharge water a good five feet or more from the foundation.
  • Arrange for annual plumbing inspections. This should include the entire plumbing system, both on the inside and out. If any leaks are found, they should be repaired and soon as possible to prevent water from draining out into the soil.
  • Use corrosion-control products where necessary. These products can include ground covers, grass, liners, pavers, etc. Erosion is possible in areas where the grade is extreme. Proper grading is also very important, as you will want the ground to slope away from the foundation.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to prevent foundation problems. However, if it’s too late and you feel that foundation reinforcement is required, contact the professionals at Conterra Foundations. We have years of experience with reinforcement and waterproofing.