I will Inspect your foundation for signs of plumbing leaks!
I'm a foundation repair consultant with over forty years of experience evaluating residential and small commercial properties. My expertise is in identifying ways to prevent, halt, or reverse foundation movement and damage.
Unlike typical foundation repair companies that often send commissioned salespeople focused on selling piers, I provide independent, unbiased evaluations. My goal is to equip you with accurate and impartial information, enabling you to confidently evaluate repair proposals and make informed decisions.
I charge a fair and reasonable fee, and you only pay if my consultation genuinely helps you.
Before you collect bids from repair contractors, consider meeting with me. You'll gain critical insights and clarity about your property's needs, free from sales-driven motives. My only interest is helping you choose the right solution.
Now let's talk about plumbing leaks and repairs.
One of the major causes of Foundation damage in areas of expansive soil is upheaval caused by plumbing leaks!
Expansive soils are the leading cause of foundation damage in areas where these soils are prevalent. The primary trigger for soil expansion is the introduction of water into dry soil. When moisture seeps into the soil beneath a slab or around a crawl space, it causes the soil to expand, often lifting sections of a home, small business, or any structure resting on or in the soil. This process is known as upheaval. In addition to poor drainage, plumbing leaks play a significant role in exacerbating the expansion of soils and contributing to upheaval.
Cutaway of mono slab
Slab Leak
IF YOU HAVE A PLUMBING LEAK UNDER YOUR SLAB OR IN YOUR CRAWL SPACE YOUR FOUNDATION WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE UNTIL IT IS FIXED...
When Upheaval is experienced due to plumbing leaks areas of the structure will be lifted above original grade.
Piers won't help and drainage correction won't stop the movement, nothing will stop it from moving until the leak OR leaks are repaired.
If you have a plumbing leak under your home—whether it’s in a crawl space or beneath a slab foundation—it can lead to bigger problems, especially if your home is built on expansive soil. These types of soil soak up water and swell, which can push parts of your foundation upward. This is called upheaval, and it’s one of the most common reasons for foundation cracks and structural damage.
Most slab foundations are like an upside-down cereal bowl pressed into the ground. The flat slab is usually 4 to 5 inches thick, with deeper beams (20 to 30 inches deep and about a foot wide) running around the edges.
Sometimes, when there’s a crack in the slab, water from a broken pipe will rise up through the floor. This can cause unexpected wet spots—sometimes far from any walls. While this kind of leak may relieve the pressure that causes upheaval, it still leaves you with soggy, uncomfortable floors.
No matter how the leak shows up, it’s essential to fix it. Only once the leak is repaired and the area has had time to dry out can your home be considered fully safe, sanitary, and livable.
If you think you might have a leak under your slab or in your crawl space, it’s a good idea to get it checked out before doing anything major like installing foundation piers. In many cases, once the leak is fixed and water is directed away from the home, the soil settles back down—and your foundation might return to its original level without needing expensive repairs. Consider allowing me to help guide you through figuring out the problem and understanding the correct solution.
When upheaval happens
structures twist...
Most foundations are designed to flex. Building materials, for the most part are not designed to flex. When a portion of a structure is lifted the structure often becomes twisted to a point that cracks and uneven elevations occur. These are often the signs of plumbing issues.
Either way the leak or leaks need to be fixed for the home to reach a point where it can be considered safe, sanitary and completely livable.
What they say
Hello Richard,
You came out and looked at my foundation problem a few weeks ago. You were right I do have a drainpipe leak. The plumber used a camera and located the busted pipe. It looks like it might be by a load bearing wall and could weaken the floor. They won’t know until after the pipes are exposed. The work begins this Monday to do the repair. More checks for leaks will be done after they open up the slab. Thanks for the advice,
Joe
Good morning Richard,
Thank you so much; this document makes perfect sense to me. I appreciate you being able to visit with us so quickly after my initial phone call to you. Your know-how and expertise were very helpful and I feel much better going forward having the knowledge you provided to us. We plan to hire a plumber to come do the pressure test within the next couple of weeks and then we’ll go from there. Thanks for being our advocate; it’s great knowing we have you as a resource. I’ll certainly call you with any questions that come up, and I’ll keep you posted as we move forward. Have a great day,
Jennifer
Richard,
Just a note to thank you for visiting with me yesterday. The information with which I am now armed gives me a lot of leverage with future experiences relating to foundation issues. Today’s meeting with another foundation repair co. went very much like the others. Recommendations, 13 piers across the front of the house. None in back. I played very uninformed. I asked how it would be to do the plumbing test before starting the pier installation and was told that would be useless until the work was completed because there might be some plumbing line damage after the piering and we would just have to repeat the testing. No sense in doing the testing first. I explained that it made sense to wait based on that assumption. I am planning the plumbing test for one day next week. I will let you know what I discover. Again, Thank you for being willing to share your insight with me. A classic example of knowledge being power.
Regards, Jim
pricing
My fee: within 50 miles of DFW airport is $400.00
A little further...
a little more.
A lot further... can be negotiated.
Out or area? consider using my remote program.
contact me for details.
Richard Rash,
Foundation Repair Consultant.
Helping people with foundation issues for over forty years.
Contact me now. The longer you wait the greater the chance of increased damage.
Contact Information
Richard Rash, Foundation Repair Consultant. Call/Text 817-308-8186 www.repairfoundation.com email: thefoundationman@gmail.com