Case History #1

Piering Foundations in the Proper Location

The home pictured here had a progressively widening crack in the front corner of the home. Piering companies had told the homeowner that the front corner of the home needed piering and had provided estimates for the installation of six piers, three on each side of the home adjacent to the corner. Salesmen for piering companies often propose underpinning foundations with piering based on the perceptions of the homeowner. The homeowner, feeling that their perceptions of the problem are confirmed by the piering contractor, are often inclined to go along with such recommendations. In this case the homeowner called out John Page on the advice of another foundation contractor and it was immediately apparent that the house has settled away from the corner in question.

In this case the house had settled down at the rear and the opening crack at the front corner was the result of a seesaw action as the rear went down and caused the front to pivot up slightly. The house needed to have its foundations underpinned at the rear and not at the front.