Pier and beam i Texas.

.






.

Typical pier and beam foundations.

Pier and beam foundations, though less common nowadays, still exist widely in North Texas, with homes dating back a century or more alongside newer constructions from the past twenty to thirty years. However, crawl space construction has evolved significantly over time. The idea of a one-size-fits-all repair procedure has never been effective and continues to be impractical. Changes in design and materials, including the types of piers and perimeter supports used, underline this evolution.

The consistent factor remains that these foundations rely on soil support for their perimeter and underfloor piers. When soils shift, foundations move, leading to cracks and uneven floors. Compounding these issues are moisture problems around the perimeter, air vents, and underfloor wood deterioration, all of which must be addressed when foundation issues arise.

Despite claims of familiarity with pier and beam movement, fewer companies and individuals truly understand how to work on crawl space constructions. Those that attempt repairs often fail to address the root cause. While anyone can temporarily lift a floor with a jack and insert supports, it takes years of experience to comprehend the complexities of various crawl space constructions and their unique challenges. Successful repair requires expertise in soil behavior, moisture management, types of supports, ventilation needs, and effective access methods.

In essence, properly repairing a failed pier and beam foundation demands thorough knowledge and experience, aspects that many overlook or fail to grasp, resulting in subpar outcomes.

Foundation repair on pier and beam

Typical pier and beam foundations.

Pier and beam foundations come in many flavors.

  • Floor above ground level 
  • Hole in ground under floor 
  • Concrete perimeter beam 
  • No perimeter but beam supported by either concrete or wood posts 
  • Floor low to ground  
  • Floor high above ground

Advantages of crawl space is the ability to get to utilities for service under the floor.

Tool Tip

Pier and beam construction comes with its own challenges, such as ensuring proper ventilation, employing additional drainage measures to keep the crawlspace dry, addressing potential issues like wood rot and mold, and maintaining stability of the perimeter beam.

Moreover, inspecting problems in most crawlspace environments is unpleasant, and accessing these areas for repairs often requires cutting holes in the floor to bring in materials, which adds to the difficulty. As a result, many foundation repair companies in North Texas have opted to either stop working on pier and beam structures altogether, charging steep prices due to the inconvenience, or handling repairs in a less effective manner.

Some of the more common problems found in crawl space construction:
  • Lack of ventilation (not enough or to small vents)
  • Plumbing leaks
  • Drainage issues
  • Wet soil
  • Rotten wood
  • Support wood touching soil
  • No crawlspace entry
  • Mold
  • Rust and deterioration on metal bracing
  • Piers not supporting beams
  • Piers rolling
  • Wood shims 
  • Lack of adequate space for utilities to be serviced