Commercial Foundation Repair

Importance Of Foundation Repair on Commercial Buildings

• Structural Integrity: The foundation serves as the base upon which the entire building rests. A compromised foundation can lead to structural instability, causing issues like sagging floors, cracking walls, and even potential collapse.
• Property Value: A well-maintained foundation is essential for preserving the property value of a commercial building. If foundation issues are neglected, they can worsen over time, leading to more extensive and expensive repairs.
• Safety: A compromised foundation could pose serious risks to occupants, employees, customers, and visitors. It’s important to address foundation issues promptly to prevent accidents and injuries.
• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Building codes and regulations often mandate that commercial buildings meet certain structural standards. If a building’s foundation is not up to code, it can result in legal issues and fines.
• Energy Efficiency: A compromised foundation can lead to misalignment in walls and windows, creating gaps that allow drafts to enter and conditioned air to escape. Proper foundation repair can help maintain the building’s energy efficiency.
• Long-Term Cost Savings: Addressing issues early on can prevent them from escalating into more extensive and expensive problems. Timely repairs can save significant amounts of money in the long run by preventing the need for major renovations or complete foundation replacement.
• Avoiding Structural Degradation: Foundation issues can lead to secondary problems throughout the building, such as plumbing leaks, electrical problems, and mold growth.
• Preserving Reputation: For businesses operating within a commercial building, the condition of the building reflects on their reputation. A well-maintained and structurally sound building sends a positive message to clients, customers, and partners.

Signs Of Settlement On Commercial Buildings

Brick Morter Cracking:  As a result you will often see the exterior brickwork or siding start to break, and cracks will develop in the mortar between the bricks. Often the cracks will “stair step” up the exterior of the house.

Cracks In Foundation:  Hairline cracks in a foundation are fairly common as even the best constructed commerical buildings move slightly over time. But larger horizontal or vertical cracks that are greater than 1/8 inch or have lateral separation between them are usually signs of significant movement in the foundation that should be repaired.

Sagging Rooflines: Movement in the areas supporting the roof (interior/exterior walls, pillars, trusses, etc.) will transfer to the overlying roof. As a result you will often see sagging or crooked roofs develop. Therefore it is wise to keep an eye on that roofline.

Bowing & Leaning Walls: A leaning and moving foundation means that the walls sitting on top of that foundation will move as well. Often you will see the exterior walls fall “away” from the building.  When the foundation breaks and moves laterally, walls will often bow in or out depending on the movement in the underlying foundation.