Foundation crack and trains correlation? (floor, building codes, slab, repair)
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Well, I would think that in an area that shakes because of trains running nearby, home and other building foundations would be properly designed to resist cracking from the ground movement. You may want to check into the building codes relating to foundations in your area.
How about old homes in your area? Are the foundations of these older homes cracking?
Well, I would think that in an area that shakes because of trains running nearby, home and other building foundations would be properly designed to resist cracking from the ground movement. You may want to check into the building codes relating to foundations in your area.
How about old homes in your area? Are the foundations of these older homes cracking?
The homes in my area are quite new. The home of my neighbor is only but 6 year old. And my house was made in november of 06. So there aren't really any old homes.
Soils!
Fort Bend county has alluvial soils. Thanks to a few 100 thousand years of the Brazos River.
Not exactly the best soil for foundations. And if you happen to be sitting on a patch of that "famous" black clay all of east Texas is known for- that ain't good for foundations either. Is your slab a PTC (Post-Tension Cable)?
Anyway, getting back to the alluvial soils- rocky/sandy but not compacted or hard. I think it could be very possible for the vibration of trains to "move" the already loose soils. Check with the extension service for Fort Bend and ask if they are aware of any possible anomalies with the soils in your area.
Anyway, getting back to the alluvial soils- rocky/sandy but not compacted or hard. I think it could be very possible for the vibration of trains to "move" the already loose soils. Check with the extension service for Fort Bend and ask if they are aware of any possible anomalies with the soils in your area.
I have no idea what kind of slab I have. Would a picture help?
And Is watering the foundation in this type of soil a good idea?
I'd say with Clay soil its more likely the recent drught if the slab had no watering system that caused the problems. I'd egt a foudation enginerr to evaulate the problem as it bcan cause sewer rpobelms i time if not stable.
I have no idea what kind of slab I have. Would a picture help?
Identifying PTC slabs is quite easy if you know what to look for. At the exposed vertical perimeter of the slab you will see what might appear as evenly spaced patches of concrete; there may also be a couple of rust spots on each side of said patches.
The other thing to look for is a plaque on the floor of the garage that states something to the effect about house slab being a post-tension slab.
And Is watering the foundation in this type of soil a good idea?
For alluvial type soils I don't see much of an advantage for watering the perimeter of the foundation- but for that "black gold" clay that's in east Texas- most definitely! That clay is very expansive as texdav lamented too. Extreme draught can cause excessive shrinkage of clay soils. Then, when the rains return it expands. And I'm not talking about a 3-5% expansion- I'm talking 10-20%+.
Again, talk to an agent at the extension service for Fort Bend. They are your best source of information that is relevant for your exact area.
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