Foundation repair in SC

Mount Valley Foundation Services Joins Foundation Supportworks Network

Mon, September 19 2011, 00:00:00 -500

Columbia, SC - Mount Valley Foundation Services has teamed up with Foundation Supportworks, Inc. to provide expert foundation repair to the residents of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Mount Valley Foundation Services is a locally owned company with 25 years of experience. They have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and are fully licensed and insured in all three states they service.

Foundation Supportworks is an international network of the most knowledgeable and experienced foundation repair contractors in North America and Canada. They have independently owned and operated dealerships to research and implement the best foundation solutions in the industry.

Mount Valley Foundation Services is a locally-owned foundation repair company that has been servicing its local area for over 25 years. They specialize in installing sump pumps, helical piles and providing structural repair in Columbia, SC and throughout South Carolina, including Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, and Augusta, GA.

Mount Valley Foundation Team Volunteers at Local School

Tue, August 2 2011, 00:00:00 -500

As an part of our ongoing effort to improve our community, Mount Valley Foundation Services recently volunteered a crew of workers to improve the playground environment at St. John Neumann Catholic School in Columbia, SC. The crew spread sand, filled in holes, and removed weeds in the playground.

Mount Valley Foundation Services, now celebrating 25 years in service, is committed to helping out the community and residents of the Greater Columbia area. We offer expert residential and commercial foundation repair services and products, proven for their effectiveness and robust performance. As a member of the Foundation Supportworks network of national foundation repair contractors, they offer transferrable warranties on many of their products and stand behind the excellent reputation of their work and outstanding customer service.

Call or contact them today for a free foundation repair inspection in Greater Columbia, SC and throughout the Carolinas.

Solid Wood is Unsuitable for Crawl Space Floor Framing

Tue, July 19 2011, 02:42:47 -500

Don’t get the wrong idea. Solid wood lumber in the form of “2x” studs and joists still qualifies as premium framing material for use in house construction. But in the last 20 years or so, engineered lumber has brought about a revolution in building.

The Thrust Joist I Beam

Today, the majority of builders and architects prefer to frame floors with TJI’s, or truss-joist I beams made from composite wood. TJI’s are essentially wood I-beams with a center “web” made from OSB (oriented strand board) and identically sized top and bottom chords made from plywood or other composite lumber.

Like other engineered wood products, TJI’s are more uniform and dimensionally stable than old-fashioned solid wood joists. The solid wood joists used for floor framing in older houses can be weakened by knots and cracks; individual joists can warp, bend and bow. This “real wood” lumber will also shrink and swell in response to changes in humidity. A floor framed with TJI’s doesn’t suffer from these defects or dimensional variability.

Wood Girder

In many older homes with crawl space foundations, there will be solid wood floor joists that are supported at mid-span by a wood girder. The girder is often made from several 2x joists that are nailed together. Girder ends are supported by the foundation, while wood posts bolster the girder at regular intervals in the middle of the foundation.

The cumulative result of joists weakened by knots, cracks or decay, in addition to joists that have warped or shrunk, is a floor that may sag, tilt, or bounce, making life difficult for building inhabitants. Another structural problem has to do with the post-and-girder assembly that provides mid-span support for the floor.

Because of decayed posts, inadequate post footings, or an undersized girder, the overall floor structure can weaken and bow downwards. If the girder shifts or sinks, the entire upstairs floor structure is often affected. Wallboard typically cracks, while door and window openings become skewed so that doors and windows become difficult to open and close.

The Alternative

As mentioned above, new construction using engineered lumber for floor framing offers improvements in floor flatness, strength and longevity. But what can be done with a floor whose joists and mid-span support have weakened? Fortunately, there’s a good one-word answer: Plenty. Foundation repair specialists are familiar with all the above-mentioned problems. What’s more, they have access to well-engineered products designed to repair sagging, bouncy floors.

Foundation repair experts can replace undersized, deteriorated wood posts with certain steel posts that can (in many cases) actually jack a sagging floor back to its proper flat, level position. Individual joists that have been weakened by knots or cracks can be strengthened with new “sistered” joists. It’s even possible for repair technicians to install an entirely new post-and-girder assembly using steel posts, and a beefed-up girder. This retrofit provides a secure and permanent solution when many of the original floor joists are sagging because they are undersized for their span and load-bearing requirements.

Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. is your resource for foundation repair. As the trusted foundation contractor in South Carolina, they are trained and prepared to help!

Foundation Problems With Home Additions

Tue, July 19 2011, 02:25:09 -500

Sooner or later, every house undergoes remodeling work. Sometimes, remodeling happens because rooms, especially kitchens and bathrooms, need updating. Other times, homeowners want to upgrade wall-to-wall carpeting with wood flooring, or adding ceiling fans, or installing skylights.

Expanding a home’s living space by building an addition is a remodeling category that deserves special attention. Rather than working within the existing “footprint” of a house, building an addition calls for a new foundation, which must be properly designed, constructed, and joined to the existing foundation. Given the small size of many older houses, it’s not uncommon to find houses that have been through such a remodeling process more than once.

Joining new to old can cause problems

It’s not uncommon for homes with additions to develop structural problems, especially foundation problems. There are a number of reasons for this. The contractor who builds the addition is usually not the contractor who built the house, so he may not be familiar with soil conditions that can cause foundation damage, such as expansive clay soils.

If the budget for the addition is tight, some contractors take shortcuts to ensure a profit –examples include placing footings at shallow depths, omitting steel reinforcement that can make the foundation stronger, and “scrimping” on gravel and drainage tile that helps move water away from the new foundation.

Water Intrusion

Other foundation problems that can come up with house additions include water intrusion because of missing or improper gutters and downspouts, and moisture issues related to dirt-floored crawl spaces.

Crawl space foundations are very popular for additions because they are inexpensive, and they can be built with minimal excavation. Unfortunately, many contractors choose to build crawl space foundations that are vented to the outside and have dirt floors. They then install fiberglass insulation between the floor joists of the crawl space. This construction technique is almost certain to result in excessive moisture that introduces mold into the living space above, corrodes ductwork and other HVAC components located in the crawl space, and degrades fiberglass insulation.

Solutions to Foundation Problems

Fortunately, all of the above-mentioned problems can be corrected. But instead of calling on the contractor who built the addition to make foundation repairs, it’s smarter to call in a foundation repair specialist.

Even if the addition’s foundation has cracked and settled, a foundation repair specialist has the tools, materials and training to repair these problems rather than demolishing and replacing the damaged foundation. Foundation repair experts often install steel piers to stabilize settled foundation walls and also to raise settled sections back to their original positions. General contractors who build home additions aren’t trained to make foundation repairs, and don’t have access to steel piers, foundation wall brackets, wall anchors and similar foundation repair materials. Also, they don’t have the hydraulic equipment to install piers and actually raise settled slabs, footings and walls.

Even if the foundation for a home addition hasn’t sustained damage such as cracking, bowing or settling, there may be other problems that need to be addressed. For example, a vented, dirt-floored crawl space should really be sealed and insulated to avoid moisture-related problems such as mold, rotted framing and sheathing, and energy loss due to inadequate insulation. By sealing the crawl space, insulating the walls with rigid foam, and installing a drainage system if necessary, the addition is certain to be more comfortable, more energy efficient, and free of durability issues that often plague structures with vented, dirt-floored crawl spaces.

Contact the foundation experts at Mount Valley™ Foundation Services, Inc. today for a free estimate for structural repair in South Carolina.

Training at Mount Valley

Thu, July 7 2011, 10:25:33 -500

Here at Mount Valley Foundation Services, we feel that it is important to continue our training and education so that we have the best installers in the industry. For this reason, all of our crews and customer representatives spent last week in extensive training with Foundation Support Works. Our crews were trained and certified by Foundation Support Works on up to date installation practices. Partnering with Dave Thrasher and Josh Kaiser of Foundation Support Works, our customer representatives learned how to better offer foundation settlement solutions with new and improved foundation diagnostic software. This software and training ensure that every foundation repair plan proposed by Mount Valley Foundation Services is performed with the most recently available technology.

Super Service Award

Fri, July 1 2011, 03:41:16 -500

Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. has been awarded the Super Service Award by Angie's List in the foundation repair category. Angie's List is a consumer review website where customers rate their experiences with businesses. Only about 5% of companies currently on Angie's List meet the requirements for this award. Angie's List insists that Super Service Award winning companies maintain an "A" grade rating in their customer service feedback. The customers determine grades with no input by companies. This system has made Angie's List one of the top rated service recommendation sites on the web. Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. is very pleased to have met and continue to meet all our customers' repair needs. Please check out our reviews on Angie's List or our website: www.fixmyfoundation.com.

Foundation Inspection Tips for Buyers and Sellers

Mon, June 13 2011, 04:36:21 -500

Buyers

Read your Home Inspection report very carefully. Foundation settlement is a structural concern and can diminish the value of any home. If there is the slightest indication of a foundation issue, call Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. for assistance. We will give you a fair and honest assessment of the property.

Examples of some of the warning statements in a home inspection report:

Some evidence of settling was observed.
Foundation movement may exceed FHA/VA standards.
Cracking of floor slab noted.
Cracks in brick/floor/wall/ceiling.
Fascia/trim separation.
Windows difficult to open.
Caulk separation at windows or doors.
Recommend contacting a foundation repair contractor.

Don't be fooled by a Home Inspection report, which is typically written in more general terms and may occasionally gloss over foundation problems. Remember that the home inspector's role is to report on the general conditions of a home not provide a structural report.

Sellers:

Here are some helpful things to remember:

Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. can typically complete a repair within 1-2 days.
FHA/VA and conventional loan approvals are no problem when the foundation is properly repaired and backed up by our Transferable Life Time Warranty!
The best way to avoid last minute closing problems is to have the foundation inspected before you put the house on the market. We will be happy to provide you with a no cost evaluation and assessment.
If you are owner financing the sale, you may sell the property without foundation repairs as long as you disclose what you know about the foundation. Homes that need foundation repairs generally sell at a discount far below the cost of repairs.

Mount Valley Foundation Services, Inc. has over a quarter of a century experience stabilizing and repairing residential foundations in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn't Simply Fill Wall Cracks

Mon, June 13 2011, 04:35:11 -500

One of the most common questions we encounter from homeowners is “why not just fill the cracks?” When homeowners see foundation cracks or wall cracks, they determine they have foundation problems, and then they learn about foundation repair cost—they’re often quick to look for a cheaper alternative. So why not just replace bricks, fill in cracks, or make cosmetic repairs?

You’d be hiding a symptom rather than solving the real problem. If you went to the doctor and found out you had pneumonia, you’d never say, “Oh, I don’t need antibiotics, just give me a cough drop.” The pneumonia would just get worse, even if you didn’t cough as much! It’s the same with your home. Covering up symptoms does not mean fixing the root problem.
You increase your own liability if you sell the home. In the selling of a home, if you don’t disclose that you’ve had cracked brick or other wall cracks—especially if they’re well hidden by new brickwork and the home inspector can’t easily notice—you could be liable for future repairs due to nondisclosure.
You’re putting your home at risk for more serious problems. If caught early, foundation repair can sometimes mean preventing more damaging settlement. Let’s imagine one corner of your home includes a new tile floor. If that corner settles enough, it could cause tiles to crack, the interior wall to crack, and much more. This doesn’t always happen, but we’ve seen it many times.
There are potential safety risks. Let’s say your chimney is leaning away from the house slightly. What may look like a slight lean can be a serious risk. A chimney is usually the heaviest portion of a home. If it falls, there’s a serious risk of personal injury or property damage. Mount Valley once repaired a home where, before the repair, the back door would not open at all, causing a serious fire safety hazard.

We make these points, not to scare you into making repairs, but to educate you of the risks. Our goal is to educate you as best we can, and to offer our assistance in making a decision. If you don’t have a problem, we’ll tell you that. But if you’re thinking about covering up a serious foundation problem, we’d rather offer you a permanent solution, backed by a lifetime transferrable warranty.

Winter Months are Wetter Months

Mon, June 13 2011, 04:34:10 -500

As we progress into winter, the lower temperatures have a way of getting our attention. We crank up the heat, build fires, and wear warmer clothes. However, the lower temperatures also tend to distract us from something that warrants our attention here in SC NC and GA. Winter months are typically wetter months. Wet, expansive soil such as clay (which most of our homes are built on) is a major cause of foundation failure, and clay tends to expand during winter months with higher water content, causing foundation settlement.

Another problem is that signs of foundation failure often occur on the outside of a home or structure. With cooler temperatures, we tend to spend less time outside, letting signs like cracked bricks or leaning chimneys go unnoticed.

So this winter, stay warm and safe. Cozy up to the fire and enjoy good times with your family and friends. But remember--instead of making a mad dash to and from your car--occasionally take a close look at your home for signs of foundation failure…it may be trying to tell you something!

Foundation Repair in Charlotte NC

Mon, June 13 2011, 04:32:48 -500

Foundation Problems and Charlotte NC Home Values:

According to the "National Insurance Service", foundation settlement has caused a "greater financial loss to homeowners than floods, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and tornados combined." The American Society of Civil Engineers estimates that at least 1/4 of all homes in the United States have experienced some damage due to foundation settlement. That's a lot of damage!

Charlotte, North Carolina is not an exception. In fact, foundation settlement is a common occurrence in and around the Charlotte area.

What Causes Foundation Failure?

More often than not, the answer is expansive soil. Most homeowners have never even heard the term before. I think the reason is because the damage is usually done slowly and cannot be attributed to a single event. Therefore, the damage is blamed on poor construction practices or the misconception that all homes experience this type of damage as they age.

So, what is this "expansive soil"? Expansive soils contain minerals, which are capable of absorbing water. When they absorb water, the soil volume increases. When they dry out the soil volume decreases. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, some expansive soils can increase or decrease volume by as much as ten percent.

More than likely you have seen expansive soils and just did not know it. Everyone in the Charlotte, NC area is familiar with the red clay soils. You know, the clay that ruins your white tennis shoes and stains your children's clothes? That's the stuff we are talking about.

During the dry, hot days of summer have you ever seen cracks in the soil under your house or even in your yard? These are technically known as desiccation cracks and they are the result of soil shrinkage due to loss of water.

How Do Expansive Soils Damage My Foundation?

The typical answer is the cycle of shrinking and swelling. During the wet times of the year, the soils will absorb water and begin to swell. As the soil volume increases, upward pressure will be placed on the foundation and in some cases the foundation will actually be lifted. This is known as "soil heave". But what usually happens is some soil oozes around the foundation as it swells. Think of it like mud oozing between your toes.

Now, when the dry seasons come, the soils begin to dry up and shrink. Because some soil oozed around the foundation, some soil volume was lost. Therefore, when it dries and shrinks there is not as much soil under the footing. This cycle of events will eventually cause enough soil loss to allow the foundation to settle.

Clay soils can also lose bearing capacity when they become super saturated. Think of this like standing on hard clay in your yard. If someone where to turn the water hose on at your feet the clay will eventually turn to mud and you will begin to sink. The same thing can happen to your foundation.

Other Possible Causes:

While expansive soils are the most common cause of foundation settlement in the Charlotte area, there are certainly other causes.

It is uncommon, but builder error can certainly lead to foundation settlement. The typical error of builders is the foundation's footings are not large enough or they are not situated deep enough in the ground.

Unconsolidated fill soils are another common builder error. It is totally acceptable to utilize fill soils, however great care must be taken to insure that the soils are properly compacted. If fill soils are not compacted properly, long-term soil consolidation will occur. This condition is guaranteed to lead to foundation settlement.

There are many scenarios which could lead to foundation settlement. If you think you might have foundation settlement, it is not advisable to waste time trying to figure out what caused it. Think of it like a flat tire on your car. It really does not matter if a nail or a screw caused the flat, you still have a flat tire.

How Do I Know If My Home Has Experienced Foundation Settlement?

There are some very common indicators of foundation settlement, which are visible to anyone. The most common, of course, is cracked brick. The cracks usually appear around a window or exterior door and will run in a diagonal stair-step pattern. The cracks are typically wider at the top than the bottom. Another common indicator is separation of window and door brick molds. This is the area where the brick meets the door or window. One side of the window or door will have a gap, which is larger than the other side. There are also the other common problems of leaning chimneys, doors and windows which will not open or shut properly, or cracks in the interior walls. If you have noticed any of these symptoms it is important to have a reputable foundation repair company provide you with a professional diagnosis and plan of repair. Left unattended foundation problems will do nothing but become more expensive.

Will homeowners insurance cover foundation repairs?

Most homeowner's policies exclude coverage for foundation repair. Only in cases where foundation movements have been caused by sudden and accidental discharge of water from a household plumbing system (sewer or supply) is there a possible chance for coverage. It is recommended that you carefully review the exclusion clauses of your policy before you contact your insurance company.

Are You Selling Your House?

Foundation settlement can stop a real estate transaction in its tracks. Many real estate closings go down the tube due to foundation problems. It is typically only after someone has had this happen that they call us to correct the situation. If you are thinking of selling your house, it is extremely advantageous to have any foundation problems corrected before the home is listed. Not only will this prevent closing problems, a lifetime transferrable warranty will actually protect the value of the home, so be sure to ask your foundation repair contractor if they offer this kind of warranty!

Meet Our Team

Mon, February 21 2011, 04:23:55 -500

This week, we got together for a group picture with a good number of our personnel in front of one of our top-notch work trucks, also in front of our 60,000 square foot foot office / fabrication facility. Mount Valley is a locally owned company with over 25 years of experience stabilizing foundations. There are only a few foundation repair companies in the country who can claim this kind of longevity. Not only do we have years of experience, the knowledge and qualifications of our staff and personnel is simply unmatched. We don't think there's a better place to live and work than the southeast, which is why we love working in the Carolina's and Georgia. We also don't think you'll find a better group of experienced, professional, and honest people to fix your foundation.