The soil conditions in and around Pensacola are prone to causing homes to settle so much that cracks in the interior and exterior walls start to show and continue to widen. Parts of homes have been known to settle into the ground. This condition is usually caused by the sinking of poorly compacted soils and clay which has been loosened by the drought. The weight of certain parts of the house will bear down in the area where the soil is not on firm strata. This means there is nothing holding the house up.
The symptoms of the home beginning to sink are the horizontal cracks in the walls, doors sticking, windows will not open easily, the drywall separates at the ceiling, and other indications of the home being distressed by unexplained causes. The outside of the home will show more dramatic signs. The brick will separate and the cracks will grow wider. The heaviest part of the home may separate and sink further than other parts.
The first step to be taken by the homeowner who has this problem should be to call the professionals at Foundation Repair in Pensacola to visit the home and assess the cause of the damage. This person will be an experienced engineer who understands the problem and how to fix it. There are multiple methods and the soil composition will determine the best method for restoring the foundation so the house is lifted back to a level position.
There is nothing that can be done about the soil at this point in time, so the procedure is to drive support beams until they reach stable strata and then place a support bar on top of the beam to widen the support base for the house. The house will be jacked up and then set back down on helical pier support beams.
Known as the ram jack system, it operates on a hydraulic cylinder which will lift the house up so the support beam can be driven into the ground at the point needing support. More than one jack can be used if a larger area of the home must be lifted.
This is just one method and more methods can be found .
