Failing Foundation in Sandborn, IN due to Water Intrusion

Challenge

Most foundation problems are caused by one thing: water.  Whether it's too much water, or not enough, it's water that drives the soil changes that affect foundations.  In this Sandborn, IN home, the foundation is failing and it's due to excessive amounts of water.  This lovely 1300 square foot home sits on a block foundation wall with a dirt crawlspace.  The homeowners had been combating a flooding crawlspace filled with mud and mold for years.  "At one point, I looked at him [my husband] and said maybe a river just runs under the house," joked Darla.  

The amount of groundwater surging through the crawlspace was river-like in proportion and the homeowners installed a "rock and sock" large pipe through the crawlspace center in a trench to capture moisture.  It was successful in collecting and moving the water, but the amount of soil that moved with the water caused part of the block foundation wall to be undermined and collapse.  

Solution

Daniel Crews, a foundation expert with Healthy Spaces, came out to assess the situation and help thehomeowners get the foundation back to level condition.  He approach was two-fold: repair the foundation and prevent future damage and problems by removing the flooding concerns.  

Daniel recommended that the foundation wall be reinforced using a push pier application around the undermined section to offweight the foundation from the soil and onto rugged steel piers.  The piers will then be locked into the correct position and the foundation will be permenantly stabilized.  

After that piering is installed, a more comprehensive waterproofing system comprised of EZFlow drainage channels will be installed and a crawlspace friendly sump pump will remove water from the area.  

Project Summary

Owner: Tim Runyon

Project Manager: Daniel Crews

Project Foreman: Greg Sackers