Call Us: 301-649-3406

Experienced Foundation Repair Specialists

Tag Archives: home foundation contractors

crawl space repair, home structural repair

Five Common Crawl Space Repair Issues and How to Fix Them

Leave a comment

Crawl spaces are a popular subject this time of year. We have discussed them in previous blogs and their importance in the comfort of your home. Crawl spaces also have various issues that can affect the structural integrity and basic health of your home. If you are having structural problems, you may want to examine it as there may be a need for crawl space repairs. 

Spring and summer in Maryland can be quite hot and humid. It’s a good time to have your crawl space checked. ***

Here are five common crawl space repair issues and some ways to address them:

  1. Excessive Moisture: Crawl spaces often have excess moisture, which may lead to mold growth, and and wood rot, and structural damage. So, it’s essential to identify and repair the source of moisture. This may mean repairing leaking pipes, improving drainage around the foundation, installing a vapor barrier on the crawl space floor, or using dehumidifiers and ventilation systems to control humidity levels.
  2. Standing Water: Standing water causes numerous problems, including mold growth, structural damage, and pest infestations. To eliminate standing water, you may need to improve the grading around your home’s foundation, install a sump pump to remove water, and ensure proper downspout and gutter drainage away from the foundation.
  3. Insufficient Insulation: Poor or inadequate insulation in the crawl space can lead to energy loss and temperature imbalances in your home. Consider insulating the walls and floor of the crawl space using foam insulation boards or spray foam insulation. This will improve energy efficiency and maintain more consistent temperatures throughout your home.
  4. Pest Infestations: Crawl spaces are attractive to pests like rodents, termites, and insects. These pests cause damage to the structural components of your home and pose health risks. To address pest infestations, identify and seal any entry points, remove existing pests, and consider implementing ongoing pest control measures.
  5. Structural Issues: Crawl spaces can experience structural problems over time like sagging beams, settling foundations, or deteriorating supports. It’s essential to consult with a crawl space repair contractor or structural engineer to assess the extent of the damage and recommend appropriate repairs. This involves reinforcing or replacing damaged beams, adding supports, or even inspecting home foundation issues that are affecting the crawl space.

Crawl space repair can be complex, so the best approach will depend on the specific issues and conditions in your home. Seeking professional guidance and assistance from a crawl space repair contractor ensures that the repairs are done correctly and effectively. They can do a thorough assessment of your crawl space and give you an objective report. Plus, they can work within your budget.  

If you are having issues with your home comfort, you may need crawl space repair. Contact M. Taylor Enterprise for an inspection. We will analyze it and make recommendations. Our experienced crawl space repair team can make the necessary repairs. Call (301) 649-3406 or at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com for a free consultation. 

We serve the Montgomery County, Maryland area.

*** You can find out more about summer weather on the State of Maryland website. 

 

home structural repair

Should You Buy A Home With Structural Repair Issues?

Leave a comment

Realtors in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Northern Virginia are busy this time of year. People are selling and buying homes as summer is around the corner. ***  

So, if you are planning to buy a home, you may ask: Should I buy it if it has structural repair issues? It’s a good question to ask. Failure to look into this may result in costly repairs or even loss of value on your home. 

If you are interested in buying a home that needs structural repairs, here are some questions to ask: 

  1. What are the causes of the structural damage? While the home inspector has the knowledge to recognize damage in the home foundation or basement, unfortunately, most people may not easily see it. You may see cracks that may be suspicious. It may be a serious structural issue. The cracks may be caused by any number of issues which we have covered in previous blogs: the soil has washed away, clay soil that expands during wet weather and contracts during dry spells, and sinkholes. The cause of the damage determines the type of repairs. A structural engineer can inspect it and consult you on the repair(s) needed for the home. 
  2. What are the costs? The seller or seller’s realtor should give you an estimate from a home foundation repair contractor to the buyer. Be sure to check what is on the estimate. The estimate may include home stabilization, cosmetic repairs to the home exterior, interior crack repairs, doors, and windows replacement and repairs. Also, verify that there is a warranty on all repairs and materials. 
  3. Has the underlying cause of damage been resolved? If the cost of repair is only part of the damage under the home but not the real cause, then the settling is only delayed for a period of time. You will have new repair bills, which could be quite expensive, in the next few years. Have a structural engineer submit a detailed analysis of the repairs that are needed for the long-term that will prevent home foundation damage in the future. 

Purchasing a new home is probably the most significant financial decision you will make in your entire life. In 2023, the average home in the Bethesda, MD area costs $1.2 million dollars. Homes sold after 32 days on the market. *** At that listing price, imagine what foundation repairs would cost! It’s worth the time and effort. Please make sure you have the home you want to buy inspected by a structural engineer. 

M Taylor Enterprise can inspect your home foundation to see if you have any home structural issues. Call our home foundation and structural repair experts in Maryland at (301) 649-3406 or matt@mtaylorenterprise.com. We will do a free consultation, make recommendations, then do any needed repairs quickly and efficiently. 

We serve Montgomery County, MD, parts of Prince George’s, MD, and Howard County, MD.

*** For more information on the Bethesda, MD housing market, visit the Redfin website.

Foundation Repair

Keep Your Gutters Cleared or Home Foundation Damage May Appear

Leave a comment

In the midst of this Coronavirus/COVID-19 crisis, a lot of things may be pushed aside. That is understandable. This experience is all new to us.

But, since we have a lot of time at home right now, there are some things you can do to keep your home foundation in good shape. One task that you can do is clean the gutters. 

As we have discussed in past blogs, a cluttered or impacted gutter can cause the following problems for your home foundation:

  1. Water damage from gutter overflow: When gutters are filled with leaves, soil, and other debris, they will overflow. Gutters are designed to send rainwater away from the foundation. However, when they are cluttered, the water will instead fall on the home and foundation, thus causing cracks in it.
  2. Water in the foundation cracks: Once water infiltrates the home foundation cracks, it will freeze in the winter. When it freezes it expands the cracks which allow for even more water to enter. 
  3. Standing water attracts mosquitos: When gutters spill onto the ground they can create little ponds. These ponds then attract bugs, mainly mosquitos, which can nest and reproduce in the water. They then will infiltrate your home.
  4. Soil erosion: The constant running of water on the side of a home foundation will erode the soil and cause the home to shift. This will crack the foundation and cause all sorts of interior damage to the home.
  5. Home siding damage: Water will also stain siding, painting, and rotting. 

So, as you can see, your gutters do a crucial job of keeping your foundation clean and preserved. They must be cleaned regularly or much home foundation damage will result.

Here is are some tips on how to clean your gutters:

  1. Use a small garden trowel or your gloved hands to scoop out the leaves and debris. Start at the downspout and make your way backward. 
  2. Once you have done this first part, make your way down the gutter, carefully cleaning out each section. You can throw the debris into a bag or toss it to the ground and clean it up afterward.
  3. Using a hose, flush out the deeper and smaller debris. If there is only a trickle in your downspout, you may have a serious clog. Aim the gun nozzle down the spout and use the highest pressure to force the debris off the gutter walls and down the downspout. 
  4. Clean up all of the debris that was flushed out of the gutters.
  5. And, as always, be careful on the ladder. Have someone hold the ladder sides while you do the gutter cleaning. 

If this task seems dangerous to you or you are unable to do it, have a gutter cleaning company do it for you. It is recommended that you do it at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall after most of the leaves have fallen.

Should you notice any home foundation issues, call a professional, licensed home foundation repair contractor. M Taylor Enterprise is an experienced and licensed home repair foundation contractor. We can inspect, analyze, and repair your home foundation correctly and efficiently.   We serve the counties of Prince George and Silver Spring, MD area. Call us for a consultation at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com.    

Foundation Repair

Foundation Repair: Should You Repair or Replace?

Leave a comment

There are many questions we face in life. Who should we marry? What should be my occupation? Where do we live? 

Another question, though maybe not in the major questions people ask, one that is quite important if you’re a homeowner: Should I repair our home foundation or repair it?

Your home is where you spend around 75% of your time. It needs to be a safe place for you and your family. If your home foundation is cracked or has other major issues, it may cause serious health problems and damage your personal property.*** 

So, before you have the home foundation repaired or replaced, which is much more costly, do the research first. Find out the following:

    1. Is it the soil?: If the soil is sinking and causing it to settle, then replacing the home foundation with a new one will not change anything. The new home foundation will sink, too. If the dirt is softening, compacting, swelling, drying or shrinking, this will greatly affect the foundation’s condition. Soil issues must be corrected on their own. A replacement home foundation is a waste of money and time. Nothing will change. The home foundation contractor will have to test the soil and add push piers that are set deep below the foundation to the bedrock. This will end the settling and permanently support the home foundation. Helical piers can also be added to the walls so the expansion and cracking will end. 
    2. Is it damaged beyond repair? If the home foundation damage is serious and widespread, replacement may be necessary. The foundation may have been built with inferior materials and poor workmanship. The foundation may then be compromised so much that it is beyond repairs. It is a pretty simple process as the house is raised, the old foundation is demolished and removed. Then the new foundation is then laid under it. However, there is much involved in planning the installation of a new foundation. The soil needs to be tested, zoning permits need to be acquired and any neighborhood requirements must be adhered to, also. A project like this requires large, heavy equipment and plenty of room for disposal receptacles. 

Replacing a home foundation is a serious and expensive move. Before you do that, have a structural engineer or home inspector do a thorough and unbiased inspection of it. Once you have done that, then ask for bids or referrals of licensed and experienced home foundation repair contractors in your area.

If you notice signs of your home foundation cracking, settling or sinking, call our home foundation repair experts at M Taylor Enterprise who can do a thorough analysis of your home foundation and make recommendations. We serve the counties of Prince George and Silver Spring, MD area. Call us for a consultation at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com.  

***For more information on health issues due to home foundation problems, visit furosemide (lasix) this website.

Foundation Repair

Helical Pier Technology & How Helical Tiebacks Work

Leave a comment

Helical piers are so important we are revisiting this blog topic with some new information.

When your suosituimmat steroidimuudit home settles, there is an engineered repair method for home foundation support. Most home foundations will settle after several years or decades depending on the weather, soil or quality of workmanship.

helical piers used in construction

The helical pier technology underpins a settling structure by raising it and supporting it. If the house is heavy, piers will be closely spaced. Load-bearing walls are heavier to underpin, too.

Also, the placement of the helical piers depends on the weight of the home, home foundation condition and the type of pier. Your home foundation repair contractor will consult you on the proper helical pier to use.

One method of helical piers technology is known as “helical tie backs”. Tiebacks anchor or support basement walls that are bowing, leaning or unsound.

Helical tiebacks are installed like this:

  1. A hole is drilled into the basement wall and a helical shaft is inserted.
  2. Then a helical screw anchor is installed.
  3. After finding the correct bearing depth, the wall plate is installed.
  4. The plate is tightened against the helical anchor bringing the wall back to its original location.
  5. The soil is then backfilled to the basement wall.

Helical tiebacks are an effective method of supporting damaged walls. They do not support a home foundation that is settling. You will need to work with a home foundation engineer to correct that. (We covered that topic in this blog.)

However, helical tiebacks are usually installed quickly and efficiently. They are load tested to verify the capacity and they can be loaded immediately after being installed. If your soil is sinking or unstable, helical tiebacks can also be installed.

Helical pier technology has many advantages and methods, more of which we will cover in future blogs. Consult your licensed home foundation engineer for the best method for your home foundation.

M Taylor Enterprise installs both helical piers and helical tiebacks. Call our experienced engineers for a consultation. We will analyze your home foundation issue and efficiently repair it. Call us for a consultation at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com. We serve the Montgomery County, MD area.

Foundation Repair

Don’t Settle for Less: Repairing a Home Foundation that has Settled

1 Comment

Most home foundations settle. It is a fact of life.

settling foundation M Taylor Enterprise

Settling happens when the following occurs:

  1. Time: A home that has existed for several decades, may settle over time. That is only natural. Soil has shifted or sunken. Much of this depends on the soil composition and the typical climate in the region.
  2. Improper soil conditions from changing weather: It may have been built in the summer in hot, soil. Since then, the soil has been hit with rains, then drought then flooding. The soil contracts then expands causing the home to settle.
  3. Poor construction: If the contractor used cheap materials for the home then it may settle much earlier.

So, if this has happened to your home foundation it, like anything in life that we use every day, will need maintenance. This is when you need to contact a licensed home foundation repair contractor.

Once your home foundation repair contractor has inspected the home and analyzed the repairs needed to your foundation, they will repair the settled foundation using one of the following methods:

  1. Install steel push piers: This method is a “forever solution” to home settling. Push piers are driven deep into the soil that lifts the foundation back to its first position when it was a new home. The load-bearing walls are supported and stabilized.
  2. Plate Anchors: Bowed or cracked basement walls are supported by anchors. These anchors are designed to be installed quickly. Plus, your lawn and landscaping are never touched during installation.
  3. Helical Piers: We covered this foundation repair in a previous blog, but it is excellent for slab structures or lightweight buildings. Helical piers are also convenient to install as there is no disturbance to your home.

Winter is around the corner and you may have noticed your home settling, you need to contact your local, licensed home foundation repair contractor. Your home is your most expensive investment. Don’t “settle” for letting the foundation deteriorate.

M Taylor Enterprise is an experienced, licensed and respected home foundation contractor in the Silver Spring, Maryland, Montgomery County, Maryland, Prince George’s County, Maryland and parts of Howard County MD area. We will visit your home or business, diagnose the problems and give you an estimate. We get the job done quickly and efficiently. Call us at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com.