A Quick Guide To Pier And Beam Foundation Repair

While every home remodeler or do it yourself repair handyman will have his preferred type of foundation, you'll find that pier and beam foundation repair Austin TX can be the easiest, either all by yourself, or with just one helper. There are a limited number of tools required and some things to be cautious of as you do the work.

You'll Need Either A Laser Level Or A Long, Clear Hose

If you can, borrow a laser level from a friend or tool rental outlet, it'll save lots of time. If you can't, or don't have the money, a long clear piece of vinyl tubing will work, but you'll need a helper. 

With the hose, you fill it with water, then hold one end with the waterline at highest point of the top of a post, then match it up to each post under to home. 

This will give you a reference point for how much you need to raise each post. You need the helper to hold one end while you hold the other. A laser level emits a beam of light that you can find at each post location and you won't need a helper to hold it.

Once You Know How Much To Raise Each Point, Do Them One At A Time

You'll need several high tonnage jacks and some solid boards to set then on, then carefully jack each part of the house level, insert a new post of the correct length and then set the house back down softly.  Make sure that you use pressure treated posts, put a composition shingle under the post to block moisture and termites. Plus they should be resting on concrete blocks with a large enough footprint that they don't sink into the ground.

You should also consider using a bracket that holds the post securely at the top where it meets the floor joists of the house. You'll note that many older homes don't have these brackets, but during an earthquake it could be an important factor in whether your home stays securely in place. Another point is to make sure you fix the cause of the repair, if it's termites, have them treated, if it's dry rot fix the water problem. There is no sense in doing all the work only to redo it again later.

Pier and beam foundation repair isn't difficult, in fact you'll be surprised at how easy it is. Do some online searches for some videos to watch, then take your time and do each pier as perfectly as you can before you move on to the next one.