Tucson, AZ Foundation Underpinning & Compaction Grouting
Challenge
The owners of this Tucson, Arizona home reached out to Arizona Foundation Solutions after notices a few signs and symptoms of a foundation issue, including:
-Doors sticking / pinched
-Floors that are out of level
-Cracks in the Drywall
-Interior foundation cracks
-Windows sticking
-Cracks on exterior columns
After a foundation inspection, foundation underpinning and compaction grouting were recommended to address foundation settlement.
Solution
The foundation underpinning & compaction grouting.
Arizona Foundation Solutions believes that the proper way to permanently stop the perimeter foundation settlement is to underpin the areas that are experiencing movement. Underpinning is the process of installing deep foundation elements called piles. Piles are engineered foundation supports that are driven down past the unstable soils and are then locked up into load bearing strata, which can support the loads that are transferred to them. Once the piles have been installed, they can be used to lift the perimeter foundation up to it’s Highest Practical Maximum. The piles should be spaced approximately six to eight feet on center and should start and stop near the hinge points of movement (exact spacing to be determined after load bearing calculations). In this case, the piles would be located at the western portion of the home.
Compaction grouting is a type of pressure grouting that densifies and compacts soil that is in need of stabilization. In relation to foundation repair, this technique is most effective in stabilizing non-point load bearing structures like swimming pools or flat pads and pavements (interior floor pad). This process can be performed either top down or bottom up.
Flat structures generally settle because the soil is too heavy to support itself. A weak layer underneath 10 feet of soil with compress, bringing the structure down with it. This creates problems for the structure, such as cracking and uneven surfaces.
