How to Repair a Sinking House
Being a homeowner comes with many challenges. There constantly will be repairs needed and new issues to be dealt with. The house settling is normal and might not cause any issues. If you find out that your house is actually sinking, it could mean a lot of work for you. You can see sinking if there is a leaning to your house. One sure sign of this is doors that are sticking and windows that are not opening. While you can call in a contractor to help, stopping the sinking can be done yourself if you have a week of time to spare. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Laser level
- Shovel
- Helical screws
- Steel shaft sections
- Pier brackets (l-shaped)
- Bolts
- Chipping hammer
- Hydraulic Jack
- Hydraulic rotary drive motor
Instructions
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1
Measure how much sinking your house has done. Using a laser beam, make a horizontal line across the mortar. Measure the depth your house has begun sinking by measuring from the beam of where the mortar is supposed to be to where it has dropped. Basically, you are measuring from the ground to where the mortar is.
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2
Call your local cable and utility companies. Ask them to come out and mark if there are any lines that you should be aware of. Try to get this done several days before the project so that you know what you might have to work around.
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3
Dig holes 5-6 feet apart along the area where the sinking has occurred. Use a shovel to make sure that the holes are dug as deep as the home's footing or foundation. Leave the dirt that you remove next to the hole.
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4
Place a helical screw, or spiral screw, in the hole at 2 inches from the foundation. Use the rotary motor to ensure that it is firmly placed. Attach a shaft section to the screw. You will continue to add shaft sections as you continue to drive downward.
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5
Hammer with the chipping hammer to make the bottom and face of the footing into a right angle. You will want to put the pier bracket beneath the foundation. Attached a galvanized bracket to the helical pier and attach it to the foundation wall via a bracket. Move the home's load from the foundation to the pier.
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6
Attach hydraulic jacks to each bracket. Lift the sinking part of the home. If you hear cracking or any other damage, stop immediately.
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7
Use the dirt from the holes that you dug to cover the helical piers. Make sure that you give that area a few months to settle before placing anything over it, such as grass or other lawn covering.
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Tips & Warnings
This requires at least a week of work. If you don't have the time, contact a contractor.
If you hear cracking, shifting or any other signs that you are stressing your home, stop immediately and consult a professional.
Pay special attention to cable, water and electrical lines.
