How to Spot Foundation Repair Issues

A home’s foundation can suffer many issues, resulting in cracked walls and uneven floors. Other signs include nails pulling out of drywall and gaps in doorframes.

Foundation Repair

Often, vertical cracks are early warning signs and can be easily patched with epoxy. However, horizontal cracks are more serious and indicate that your foundation is shifting. For professional help, contact Sugar Land Foundation Repair now!

Foundation cracks can happen for a variety of reasons. In many cases they’re harmless and even expected. However, there are times when the cracks will signal a larger problem and need to be repaired. If you notice a crack in your home, it’s important to check with a professional to see if the crack is structurally significant and needs repairing.

The first thing to determine is whether the crack is static or moving. Static cracks are those that appeared when the house settled slightly and have not moved very much since. Moving cracks indicate that the foundation is sinking or shifting and can continue to do so.

If you have a crack in your foundation wall that moves in a vertical or diagonal direction, it’s likely due to movement in the soil and needs repairing immediately. It’s also an indicator that the ground is compressing under your foundation. These cracks are best treated with wall plate anchors. These are placed on the inside and outside of your foundation walls with a high-strength rod that ties them together.

A horizontal crack in the middle of the foundation may indicate a serious issue and should be immediately repaired. These types of cracks typically mean that the foundation is under extreme pressure and if left untreated can lead to wall bowing, tiling issues and other problems. This type of crack needs to be inspected by a professional foundation repair specialist and possibly require some level of stabilization such as soil injection or helical anchors.

Finally, cracks in the bottom of the basement floor are generally a sign of leakage and should be repaired as soon as possible. They can be caused by several factors such as poor construction, soil that swells or shrinks when wet, lack of drainage, earthquakes and temperature changes. If the crack is accompanied by a slight bulge it’s very important to consult a professional foundation contractor immediately to ensure it doesn’t lead to further damage and potential flooding.

If the crack is only 1/8 inch or less in width it’s usually not a structural problem and can be fixed with concrete crack filler. However, it’s a good idea to have this and other non-structural cracks inspected by a professional to ensure that they don’t worsen. It’s also a good idea to ensure that the crack is properly sealed to keep out moisture, soil smells and radon gas.

Structural Issues

Sometimes the most serious home foundation issues are not easy to spot. Hairline cracks, uneven gaps between windows and doors, and other small everyday problems can actually be the first signs of serious structural issues if left untreated.

Those little cracks in the walls can give rise to bigger problems like leaks and even a sinking house. It is crucial to catch these issues early on, before they spiral out of control. This will not only save you money on repairs, but it may also allow you to sell your home faster if you decide to move on in the future.

Structural issues are more common in older homes, due to improper home maintenance and past owners who cut trusses, but they can happen to new construction as well. If not addressed right away, these issues will get worse over time and can lead to sagging floors, wall cracks, jammed windows and doors, and other expensive problems that can make your home unsafe for you and your family.

The way a home feels and looks is a direct reflection of how its foundation is doing. If a house feels spongy or uneven, it is probably due to soil movement and settling, a sign of major foundation issues. You should always check the condition of a house’s foundation and its surrounding landscaping to ensure they are in good shape.

If you see water pooling or stagnating around the foundation of a house, this is another big sign that there are issues with the home’s structure. The most common reason for this is poor drainage, which allows rainwater to soak into the foundation and cause damage. Foundation engineers can install drains and other solutions to address this issue.

If you notice that a home’s foundation is eroding or shifting, it is important to have a professional evaluate the situation and make recommendations for repair. If the issue is serious, foundation jacking or underpinning may be necessary. Depending on the severity of the problem, these methods can be quite costly. To help mitigate the cost, you can ask the seller to pay for a home inspection and for the costs of any recommended foundation repair before you purchase the property.

Underpinning

A house, building or other structure can experience issues that require underpinning. In general, this involves lowering the existing foundation to increase depth and distribute the load more widely. It’s often done during home additions and renovations. It can also happen naturally as soils shift underneath a structure.

The primary issue is moisture, which can cause shifting and expansion or shrinkage of soils beneath a foundation. The resulting imbalance can make the foundation crack or sink. This issue can be made worse by clay soils, which absorb water and change volume more easily than loamy or sandy soils. This problem can be minimized by installing a gutter system, grading soil away from the foundation and considering a foundation drainage system.

Earthquakes can also shift soils, leaving portions of the foundation without adequate support. This isn’t usually a huge problem, but it can lead to damage that requires underpinning.

Poor construction can also lead to underpinning issues. This could be a result of contractors using inadequate materials or building on poorly-draining soils. It can also be caused by adding a story to a home, which adds significant weight to the foundation.

Other signs that you might need underpinning include gaps appearing and getting wider around windows and doors, difficulty opening or closing doors and a noticeable leaning of the house. These are all indications that you need to contact a foundation repair company in your area for an inspection and underpinning estimate.

There are several underpinning solutions available, including push piers, which are driven into the ground until they reach the load-bearing strata. Helical piers are screwed into the ground and are ideal for structures with light loads. They’re commonly used where a concrete underpinning isn’t possible. Screw piles work in a similar way but are designed for use in foundations with particular qualities and are paired with underpinning support brackets. This method is also suitable for applications where excavation isn’t practical. For example, when a foundation needs to be underpinned on unstable land or in areas where access is limited. This is also known as the “jacking” technique.

Slabjacking

Slabjacking is a method of raising a sinking foundation slab, especially in homes built on concrete slabs. A mixture of mud and concrete is pumped under the foundation to fill the void and raise it back up. The contractor uses a drill to make holes in the concrete in a pattern that will lift the slab. This is not a permanent solution, but will give you time to find more extensive repair methods.

Sinking concrete often results from erosion and poorly compacted soil. It may also be a sign of more serious structural issues with your home that require professional repairs. The closer the sinking concrete is to your house, the more likely it is to cause other problems as well. For example, a sloping concrete slab can direct water towards your foundation and cause other areas of your home to sag. This can lead to leaks and even flooding of your basement or crawl space.

Mudjacking can be a good option for raising the interior floors of your foundation, as it is less expensive than other types of repair. However, it is not a permanent fix and will not protect your foundation from further damage. A more permanent option is to use steel piers instead. These are small concrete piers that are driven into the ground to support your foundation. Steel piers are not as costly as concrete pressed pilings and are easier to install, since they don’t require significant excavation.

Another option for raising the interior of your foundation is foam injections. This method is ideal for stabilizing stairs that are sinking due to soil erosion. It can save you thousands in future costs and prevents the need for staircase replacement.

Helical piers are also an excellent choice for supporting your foundation when soil conditions aren’t ideal for other repair methods. These piers are made of steel and have spiral-shaped heads that screw into the ground. They are a more environmentally friendly option than concrete piers, as they do not require significant excavation. They are also faster to install, making them an excellent choice for homeowners who need immediate support for their foundations.

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Foundation for Human Rights

The human rights movement promotes respect, understanding and acceptance of diversity. It aims to tackle discrimination through research, monitoring, documentation and advocacy.

Many people have looked for a way to justify human rights that is less dependent on domestic and international political developments than legal enactment. Some have even claimed that these normative standards are innate or God-given.

The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR)

The Foundation for Human Rights (FHR) is a grant making institution that supports civil society organisations and public institutions to implement programmes which promote human rights. Its mission is to address the historical legacy of apartheid, support the transformation of South Africa and build a human rights culture in the country using the Constitution of South Africa as its primary tool.

The enjoyment of a person’s human rights largely depends on the level of awareness about these rights and how they can be enforced. This is why Human Rights Education (HRE) is so important. HRE is an essential part of human rights protection and it takes place at both international and domestic levels.

At the international level, human rights treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights, set out a broad framework of every day rights. These are binding on Governments that have ratified them and form the International Bill of Rights.

However, the implementation and enforcement of these rights at the local level, is mainly done through the domestic legal system. In addition, mechanisms and procedures for individual and group complaints are available at both regional and international levels to help ensure that international human rights standards are respected and enforced.

It is also important to remember that HRE is a responsibility shared by all role players at the local and national levels, including State institutions such as the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), non-governmental organisations and civil society. As the preamble to the Universal Declaration states, ‘Each individual and every organ of society has an obligation… to strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms’.

The SAHRC, as a constitutionally independent body, plays an integral role in HRE. However, it is often criticized for not being tough enough on the Government to make sure it honours its commitments to protect and fulfil people’s human rights. Moreover, it is funded by the State and as the saying goes ‘He who pays the piper calls the tune’.

The Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI)

Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit, human rights advocacy organization. Its mission is to remove impediments to democratic development and meaningful enjoyment of the fundamental freedoms enshrined in Uganda’s 1995 Constitution and internationally recognized human rights instruments. This is done through the enhancement of knowledge, respect and observance of human rights, and promotion of the exchange of information and best practices through training, education, research, legislative advocacy and strategic partnerships in Uganda.

FHRI’s work is guided by the aspirations of all peoples for an international order that promotes peace, democracy, justice and equality, a better standard of living, the rule of law and solidarity. This international order is based on the fundamental principles of the Charter of the United Nations, including the rights of all persons and the right to self-determination.

The organization supports civil society coalitions in promoting democracy and respect for human rights, including through the conduct of civic education and human rights training. It also undertakes research, monitoring and documentation. It publishes human rights literature, and advocates for legislative reform through parliamentary lobbying. Its current focus is on the progressive abolition of the death penalty in Uganda, through public interest litigation and advocacy campaigns.

It works to empower citizens with the knowledge and skills to demand leadership accountability and a democratic culture that supports human rights. It also advocates for a judicial system that is responsive to human rights concerns. It is a member of the Civil Society Coalition on the Abolition of the Death Penalty and a member of the National Coalition for Human Rights Defenders hosted by HURINET UGANDA.

FHRI has faced some challenges in achieving its objectives. These include a lack of financial sustainability, staffing issues and the need for ongoing support from donors. In addition, it faces problems with illiteracy among its beneficiaries and cultural practices that contradict the goals of human rights organizations. However, the organization has been able to address these challenges by conducting evaluations and using results to improve its effectiveness. The evaluation process has also been beneficial in fostering a stronger learning community within the organization.

The Advancing Human Rights initiative

The Foundation works with courageous and effective human rights activists, who often face severe risks in their struggle to improve the lives of their communities. It supports initiatives that amplify their voices and help them connect with other human rights grantmakers worldwide. It also encourages collaboration to address shared challenges through a virtual forum that addresses national and global issues. In addition, the foundation works to promote and protect international democracy by supporting the work of nongovernmental organizations around the world.

The Advancing Human Rights initiative has been designed to enable the Foundation to respond quickly and effectively to emerging opportunities and challenges by prioritizing human rights as a co-equal pillar alongside governance and democracy. To do so, it builds upon the existing capacity of the DRG Center by ensuring that human rights are embedded in all aspects of the Foundation’s work.

Foundation funding in support of global human rights increased significantly in 2019, according to a new report from Candid and the Human Rights Funders Network. The report, titled Advancing Human Rights: A Review of Global Foundation Grantmaking — 2019, finds that total grant dollars for human rights rose by 10 percent in 2019 compared with the previous year among a matched set of funders. Grants by a matched set of funders increased in six out of nine issue areas, with the greatest increases seen in support of racial and ethnic groups, women and girls, and migrants and refugees.

The report also explores the role of funders in advancing human rights, including by looking at how their strategies and practices vary from one another. It compares human rights giving by region, issue area, population, and – for the first time – strategy. This study provides important insight into the current state of human rights funding, as well as opportunities for future growth. It will be of interest to funders interested in strengthening their own ability to advance human rights and support their peers. The research is available to download for free at the Foundation Center’s website. The report was made possible by a grant from the Ford Foundation and the Nationale Postcode Loterij, with additional support from Ariadne, Prospera, and HRFN.

Accion Local

Accion Local is a nonprofit organization that works to help low-income small business owners and their communities thrive. The organization provides affordable capital and the business support they need to create healthy enterprises that contribute to local economies. Through innovative partnerships and outreach strategies, the organization connects entrepreneurs to a network of support services, including financial coaching, educational resources, and access to lending capital.

The organization works to improve access to credit and banking services for low-income entrepreneurs in the United States. By supporting a network of community-based loan funds, the organization helps to increase economic opportunity in underserved areas. The organization also promotes best practices in microfinance and community development. In addition, the organization hosts the annual Global Microfinance Summit.

In 2019, Accion was able to assist a jeweler from Hazard Center with access to capital. Stewart Benjamin came to Accion seeking to expand his business during this difficult time, and the organization was able to provide him with an unsecured loan of $5,000. The loan will help the jewelry store purchase new inventory and equipment, and will also allow Stewart to renovate his business.

The tectonica team loves helping worthy progressive causes take their work to the next level. However, a lot of these organizations lack the resources to build an effective digital structure. That’s why we created a new program called Accion Local. Ned Howey, a principal at tectonica, describes Accion Local as “a sort of progressive charity version of a hackathon.”

With the goal of creating more jobs in neighborhoods that need them most, Accion has partnered with community-based organizations to reach 800 entrepreneurs over the next three years. Consistent third-party research shows that each Accion business loan creates or maintains 3 to 5 jobs in neighborhoods that are struggling economically.

Accion’s founder, Charles Blatchford, was heavily influenced by the philosophical works of Alexis de Tocqueville, Aldous Huxley and Mohandas Gandhi. He believed that Americans needed to find non-militaristic ways to focus their involvement abroad while promoting self-determination and democracy. He recruited two other standout UC Berkeley law students to manage the volunteer recruitment, publicity and stateside orientation of volunteers while he continued cultivating contacts in Latin America.