8 of the Most Common Foundation Terms Every Homeowner Should Know About

As a homeowner sometimes it can feel like you are going from one problem or project to the next and it can be a crash course in terminology from roofs to foundations. We have compiled a list of some common foundation terms to familiarize yourself when assessing your foundation repair needs.

1. Differential Settlement – this is a caused when different parts of your foundation are sinking at different rates, unlike Subsidence where the foundation is sinking to the bottom, differential settlement causes cracking and pulling apart of the structure.
2. Floating Slab- A floating slab sits inside the foundation wall but as the name suggests is not attached to either the wall or the foundation. Typically, they serve as a concrete floor and contains no piers underneath.
3. Cantilevered– Cantilevered is only supported on one end. Many structures are designed this way and the unsupported end will not sag, however many times the structure is cantilevered and needs support at the end for the foundation to be leveled and sags to be eliminated.
4. Load Bearing Capacity– Also referred to as (shear failure) the load-bearing capacity is the amount of weight or load that can be applied to the soil before failure.
5. Point of Refusal– The point of refusal is the point at which the piling (a support that is pushed into the earth) can no longer be pushed into the soil without compromising the above structure.
6. Underpinning– Sometimes also referred to as a (Pressed Pier) these supports come in various kinds that assist in the vertical support of the structure.
7. Footing– The footings are concrete slabs, usually 8-12inches thick they can be continuous where the run around the entire edge of the structure or used under the perimeter and interior of the foundation for support.
8. Root Barricades– Tree roots can wreak havoc on a home’s foundation. Root barriers or barricades are used to sever the root that is too close to the home and put up a boundary so the root doesn’t grow further towards the foundation of the home.

For further reading on foundation terms, see our Foundation Repair Terms Glossary or give us a call to get a free estimate on what your home needs for a sound foundation.