I have a post-tension slab home in Central Texas that's about 15 years old. The foundation repair company installed 32 concrete piers around the perimeter to address concerns, but now we've noticed uneven floors and wall cracks, leading us to discover two leaks in the main sewer line under the slab. These leaks, caused by a temporary fernco clamp mistakenly left on the sewer line, have resulted in a 3 3/8" elevation change in parts of the house. The plumbing fix cost us $16k, and now I'm wondering how a foundation company would go about leveling the house again. Is the issue related to soil beneath the foundation versus the concrete piers, or is it just the soil pushing up? Will letting the soil dry assist in getting us back to level? We're wary of the original foundation company and want to gather some knowledge before consulting with an attorney regarding the faulty clamp and possibly hiring a structural engineer.
1 Answer
I’d recommend looking into drilled helical piers for a more reliable foundation repair. About the attorney, it’s good to consider your options, but just keep your expectations realistic. You should definitely reach out to the foundation company about what you found; they need to know about the issues you’re facing. It’s important to hold them accountable!
The fernco clamp isn’t ideal for underground pipes; it’s temporary, and they should’ve disclosed that to you. Regarding those helical piers, are you suggesting it's better to lift the whole house instead of just lowering the elevated pier? That sounds tricky!