Structural Engineering

Ask Structural Engineering Questions and Get Expert Answers ASAP

Connect one-on-one with {0} who will answer your question

This answer was rated:

★★★★★

I live in a townhouse constructed on a concrete slab in northern…

I live in a townhouse...

I live in a townhouse constructed on a concrete slab in northern Iowa. There are three residential units built on this slab (side-by-side). The soil is mainly clay and limestone. We are experiencing cracks in the drywall and stuck doors because the slab is settling after 13 years. A foundation repair company (American Waterworks) wants to hydraulically install 18 steel piers to raise the slab back up on the end where it's settling so we can hopefully prevent further damage to our interiors. The cost is $26,000.00. This seems excessive to us. Are there other ways to raise the slab that are just as effective but cost less? Thank you!

Show Less

Ask Your Own Structural Engineering Question

Answered in 5 minutes by:

1/25/2013

Structural Engineer: walkereng, Consultant replied 10 years ago

walkereng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 5,529

Experience: Over 35 years of Structural Engineering experience.

Verified

walkereng :

I can help

walkereng :

Let me read your question abit closer

walkereng :

Have you had a geotechnical engineer inspect the building to determine the cause of the problems?

Customer:

No, but neighbors of ours who had the steel piers installed under their townhouses (similar to ours) did have a structural engineer look at theirs. We were told the drought is partly responsible, plus the clay soil.

walkereng :

I would definitely invest the money to have a geotechnical engineer (specializes in soils) come out and verify what the cause of the problem is. You do not want to go by what a contractor tells you, they are not engineers and will always fix a problem with the limited solutions they are familiar with. A Geotechnical engineer will be able to pinpoint the possible causes and also give you various recommendations for repair schemes.

walkereng :

Once he gives you his report, he can also help you determine what will be the most cost effective.

Customer:

What would the cost be to do that? We're already experiencing "sticker shock" and don't want to add too much additional expense.

walkereng :

I am sure you could get it done for under $1,000. It will depend on if they want to take soil borings. I am sure this investment will will end up saving you money in the long run and also give you the peace of mind that you are repairing the actual cause of the problem.

walkereng :

Here is a link to a company that jacks foundations. I have seen an actual demonstration at one of their facilities in Ohio.
http://www.ramjack.com/find-a-specialist/

You can look for specialists in your area with the link above.

walkereng :

Since you are in northern Iowa, they have one in Watertown, MN. Not sure how far away that is from you.

walkereng :

You could probably get a 2nd estimate on the jacking procedure to see if the $26,000 is reasonable or way off track.

Customer:

I've looked at ramjack. They don't have anyone available in northern Iowa, I don't believe. We seem to have very few options for companies to contact. I'll contact them, since I've only looked at their website so far. We do have another foundation repair company coming to give us an estimate but we've been told by others (after we made the appointment with them) that they're even more expensive than American Waterworks. We may end up spending the $26,000 just to make sure it's a permanent solution that won't need to be done over again in a few years. American Waterworks warranties their work for life. It transfers to the next owners of the building. They do have a good rating.

walkereng :

I would definitely invest the money to have a geotechnical engineer (specializes in soils) come out and verify what the cause of the problem is.

Customer:

Ok, but it's a small city (28,000 pop.) and we all have the same soil under us. Others have been installing piers, so we may be stuck with that. Thank you for your help.

walkereng, Consultant

Category: Structural Engineering

Satisfied Customers: 5,529

Experience: Over 35 years of Structural Engineering experience.

Verified

walkereng and 87 other Structural Engineering Specialists are ready to help you

Ask your own question now

Was this answer helpful?

Yes

How JustAnswer works

Describe your issueThe assistant will guide you

Chat 1:1 with a structural engineerLicensed Experts are available 24/7

100% satisfaction guaranteeGet all the answers you need

Related Structural Engineering Questions

I am looking on buying a house with two big trees(~40ft

Hi, I am looking on buying a house with two big trees(~40ft high) 3ft away from the house. The house has some interior cracks on the wall (door corners), tiles, and ceiling due to possibly settling. T… read more

Yaw, BSc

24,308 satisfied customers

Here is a picture of a crack that was open and now closed up

Here is a picture of a crack that was open and now closed up to where it is buckled out. The house is on a concrete slab on clay. The house has been moving up and down for 30 years. The crack was prob… read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

1. Extended patio should it be connected to the house. I

1. Extended patio should it be connected to the house … read more

Yaw, BSc

24,308 satisfied customers

We just bought a house with a sloping floor towards the back

Hi, we just bought a house with a sloping floor towards the back of the house. we know that there's definitely a foundation issue. How do we assess whether leveling the foundation would be adequate or… read more

Garret F., P.E.

Civil Engineer 3

B.S. Civil Engineering

30 satisfied customers

Concrete deck over sand. I had a suspended deck 14x36 and 4

Second Opinion] [Second opinion] Concrete deck over sand … read more

PaulP324

consulting engineer

1,276 satisfied customers

The large concrete slab on my front porch is L-shaped, about

The large concrete slab on my front porch is L-shaped, about 15' along both axes, 7' wide, and 2 to 3' feet deep. For several years, it has been separating from the house, to the point where there is … read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

Where can I find information on how to repair a plumbing

where can I find information on how to repair a plumbing trench in a slab on grade. It's approx. 40 foot long x 16" wide. The slab is approx. 4 inches thick … read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

Looking at purchasing a 3 floor townhome/condo and the

Looking at purchasing a 3 floor townhome/condo and the inspection indicated possible issue with foundation upon finding vertical and horizontal cracks on the interior drywalls. The home has experience… read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

I have seen cracks around door frames my doors are not

I have seen cracks around door frames my doors are not closing including front door. I had a horizontal crack in the stucco at the back of my house … read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

I live in North Texas in a one-story home with a slab foundation.

I live in North Texas in a one-story home with a slab foundation. We have clay soils here which can expand or shrink a lot based on how much water they get. I had a long-term (weeks? months?) water le… read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

I had an inspection done due to a small crack in the concrete

I had an inspection done due to a small crack in the concrete that developed in the foyer of my house. The engineer drew it up and said I had about a 2 inch drop over 20 feet to the corner of the hous… read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

I am currently having a home built in South Eastern lower MI.

I am currently having a home built in South Eastern lower MI. The home is 85% closed in including roof, shingles, exterior/interior walls, and windows. The basement floor was poured late Oct 2013 afte… read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

Hi. I have substantial cracks in the tile floor across the

Hi. I have substantial cracks in the tile floor across the entire width of my house. There doesn't appear to be any structural damage to the walls or ceiling. I would like to determine the root cause … read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

Im sitting on a pier and beam house. Their are no cracks in

Im sitting on a pier and beam house. Their are no cracks in the brick outside but I do have two areas where the walls are separating. Wood floors are a half inch below the base board and ceiling corne… read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

My home was built in 1958. My residential footing is cracked

My home was built in 1958. My residential footing is cracked and separated on the edge. I think I have to install french drain outside. Also, I am thinking about doweling with exopy and using grout to… read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

I have a large slab upheaval that goes from one corner of the

I have a large slab upheaval that goes from one corner of the house through the dining room, laundry room, kitchen and utility room. My builder claims it is because water accumulated underneath the sl… read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

My home has a post tension foundation. It is 8 years old and

My home has a post tension foundation. It is 8 years old and located near Los Angeles. Three days after a recent 3.8 earthquake coupled with rain, 20" tiles popped out almost exactly in the middle of … read more

walkereng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

5,529 satisfied customers

Need to repair a slab on grade garage floor with perimeter

Need to repair a slab on grade garage floor with perimeter cracking along foundation which occurred in 1993 through 1995 and with raising a family this repair was not done so now would like to fix it;… read more

StructuralEng

Consultant

Bachelor's Degree

8,463 satisfied customers

Disclaimer: Information in questions answers, and Show Less

Disclaimer: Information in questions, answers, and other posts on this site ("Posts") comes from individual users, not JustAnswer; JustAnswer is not responsible for Posts. Posts are for general information, are not intended to substitute for informed professional advice (medical, legal, veterinary, financial, etc.), or to establish a professional-client relationship. The site and services are provided "as is" with no warranty or representations by JustAnswer regarding the qualifications of Experts. To see what credentials have been verified by a third-party service, please click on the "Verified" symbol in some Experts' profiles. JustAnswer is not intended or designed for EMERGENCY questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals.

JustAnswer in the News:

What Customers are Saying:

Wonderful service, prompt, efficient, and accurate. Couldn't have asked for more. I cannot thank you enough for your help.
Mary C.Freshfield, Liverpool, UK

This expert is wonderful. They truly know what they are talking about, and they actually care about you. They really helped put my nerves at ease. Thank you so much!!!!
AlexLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for all your help. It is nice to know that this service is here for people like myself, who need answers fast and are not sure who to consult.
GPHesperia, CA

I couldn't be more satisfied! This is the site I will always come to when I need a second opinion.
JustinKernersville, NC

Just let me say that this encounter has been entirely professional and most helpful. I liked that I could ask additional questions and get answered in a very short turn around.
EstherWoodstock, NY

Thank you so much for taking your time and knowledge to support my concerns. Not only did you answer my questions, you even took it a step further with replying with more pertinent information I needed to know.
RobinElkton, Maryland

He answered my question promptly and gave me accurate, detailed information. If all of your experts are half as good, you have a great thing going here.
DianeDallas, TX

< Previous | Next >

Meet the Experts:

vgdlpc

Master's Degree

17 satisfied customers

Civil Engineer, Major in Structures and Foundations. Professional Engineer 11 years of experience.

StructuralEng

Consultant

8,463 satisfied customers

Structural Engineer

walkereng

Consultant

5,529 satisfied customers

Over 35 years of Structural Engineering experience.

Shannon Galway

208 satisfied customers

VP Technical Services at Major Engineering Company

JAYCEG

99 satisfied customers

Expert

William Purpura

Managing General Partner

52 satisfied customers

Managing General Partner at Dargon Developement

PaulH471

Construction Manager

46 satisfied customers

Expert

< Previous | Next >

Show MoreShow Less