• Should I install Piles instead of Doing Proper Dirt Work?

    Another question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients when constructing a New Residence is the following:

    Should I do dirt work or just install piles?

    The answer to that is as follows.

    Our belief is that dirt work is the most important thing to do on a residence. But more than this, it is to do it properly (compaction at the correct moisture content) and also make sure that you get a proper grading and drainage system once the dirt work is done.

    Piles can only protect a foundation from the settlement in the area that the pile is installed. If there is an increased moisture content of the soils that allow the piles to heave (rise up), a pile cannot protect against this. Another thing that we have seen is lateral movement on the side of a hill that allows the foundation to slide down the hill. Helical piles cannot protect against this and concrete piles have to be properly designed to allow for this.

    Since drainage causes about 60% of the foundation issues, we feel that the dirt work is most important to make sure that the drainage is corrected. If you want to look at installing additional piles in the foundation design, we can assist with this.

    Ewing & Ray has been in business for over 50 years, so if you have any questions about the foundation repairs or concerns for a foundation problem please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • Is There Any Kind of Tolerance for Foundation Movement

    Another question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients with Foundation Issues is the following:
    Is there any kind of tolerance or acceptable foundation movement?

    The answer to that is yes.

    Industry standard for the Jackson MS Area is 1” in 16’ which is a 0.5% slope. This is a slight slope in the floors that most people are not going to feel when walking around. We also have to remember that we are assuming that the foundation was constructed level, which is not always the case. So, we have to look at the entire picture to help determine if there is actually foundation movement occurring at the residence.

    I look for 2 things when looking at foundations.

    • Is there elevation differentials in the foundation?
    • Is there physical signs that indicate foundation movement? Example: Cracks, doors not working correctly, gaps between the floors and the base boards, etc.

    If you have any questions about foundation repairs or concerns for a foundation problem please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • What sets Ewing & Ray apart from Everyone Else?

    A question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients when constructing a New Residence is the following:

    What sets Ewing & Ray Foundation Services apart from everyone else in the Jackson area?

    We are the only foundation repair company in the Jackson, MS area that has been owned and operated over 50 years by Engineers.

    We also have other items that set us apart as follows:

    • We know that there is no one magic system so we offer multiple foundation repair systems (concrete piles, helical piles, supplemental footings and polyurethane foam injection)
    • Since we have been in business for over 50-years, with the Engineers having over 35-years’ of combined experience in the foundation repair industry, we have pretty much seen it all and have designed a way to correct it.
    • We attempt to determine what is causing the issues, and if possible, make recommendations to correct those with the repairs or perform this first and monitor the residence to allow the structure to stabilize first. This may mean that repairs are still needed, but in other situations we have recommend just to monitor. It depends on the situation.
    • We treat each client like family and make the best recommendation for the client, not what is best for E&R. We do everything from come up with a repair plan, to recommend checking the plumbing, to continue to monitor the residence. To us, it isn’t about the sell it is what is best for the client and his needs.

    Ewing & Ray has been in business for over 50 years. If you have any questions about foundation repairs, or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • What is a Lifetime Warranty in Mississippi?

    A question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients with Foundation Issues is the following:

    What is a Lifetime Warranty?

    The definition of Lifetime for the State of Mississippi is 20-years.  Most people think it is longer than this, but it’s all based off the length of time determined by the State the work is performed in.

    There can also be other hidden contingencies in their warranty so you need to make sure that read the fine print.  I have seen the following items in a warranty:

    • The warranty can be extended by paying more money and they don’t do anything extra to deserve it. So, you are pre-paying for the adjustments.
    • The warranty is only good for one adjustment.
    • The warranty is only good if the house has gutters on it.
    • The company has the right to deem the warranty unfulfillable and can cancel it with no repayment to the homeowners.

    E&R provides a lifetime warranty this way.  We guarantee the foundation for 5-years and if it ever needs to be adjusted after that time period it is only an adjustment fee after that time.  This is the same price that everyone else charges to increase the length of time but you are only paying for it if it is needed.

    Ewing & Ray has been in business for over 50 years.  If you have any questions about foundation repairs, or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • What is a Deep Foundation System?

    Another question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients with Foundation Issues is the following:

    What are the different types of Foundation Repair Systems?

    The answer to that is Shallow and Deep.

    What is a deep system, how it  works, and the disadvantages?

    The different systems are explained below:

    Deep Foundation System

    Push Piers – Use the weight of the structure to install the piles.  Usually in the top 10’ to 15’ of the soils.

    Helical Piles – Not dependent on the weight of the house because it uses a hydraulic torque motor to drill the pile into the deeper more stable clays.  Average depth of piles in Jackson Area is around 27’ to 32’.

    Drill concrete piles – Commercial grade system that drills a hole that is filled with concrete to support the foundation.  This system is used when there is a concern for lateral loads on a foundation.  Average depth of these piles is installed into the blue unweathered clays, which is around 28’ to 35’.

    The advantage of a deep system is that it is a more permanent foundation repair because the piles are bearing in the more stabile soils.

    The disadvantage is that they cost more because it uses more materials and more labor to install the piles.

    We are the only company in the Jackson Area that has multiple system that allow us to properly fix your foundation.  If you have any questions about foundation repairs, or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • What is a Shallow Foundation System?

    Another question that I have gotten in my over 15 years of working with clients with Foundation Issues is the following.

    What are the different types of Foundation Repair Systems?
    The answer to that is Shallow and Deep.

    What is a deep system, how they work, and the disadvantages?
    The different systems are explained below:

    Deep Foundation System

    Push Piers – Use the weight of the structure to install the piles. Usually in the top 10’ to 15’ of the soils.

    Helical Piles – Not dependent on the weight of the house because it uses a hydraulic torque motor to drill the pile into the deeper more stable clays. Average depth of piles in Jackson Area is around 27’ to 32’.

    Drill concrete piles – Commercial grade system that drills a hole that is filled with concrete to support the foundation. This system is used when there is a concern for lateral loads on a foundation. Average depth of these piles is installed into the blue unweathered clays which is around 28’ to 35’.

    The advantage of a deep system is that it is a more permanent foundation repair because the piles are bearing in the more stabile soils.

    The disadvantage is that they cost more because it uses more materials and more labor to install the piles.

    We are the only company in the Jackson Area that has multiple system that allow us to properly fix your foundation. If you have any questions about foundation repairs or concerns for a foundation problem please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • Do I need a French Drain System?

    A question that I get when working with clients with drainage issues is the following:

    Do I need to install a French Drain System?

    A lot of people see standing water in their yard and ask me to install a French Drain System.  We feel that that is not always the necessary answer.

    Ewing & Ray feels that if we have a surface water issue, water running off a hill and sitting in a low area, then we need to address the problem with a surface water repair system.  We would recommend starting with the installation of a swale which is re-grading the area to allow the water to drain away from the area.   We typically recommend you contacting a landscaper for the installation of this system.

    The next option would be to install a catch basin system to capture the water and drain it away.  The concerns for this system is they require maintenance (cleaning out so the water flows correctly) and also if the soil settles in another area then now the drainage system is not functioning properly.   The final concern is that if not installed correctly, they can hold water or not be installed with a big enough pipe to handle the water and get it out of the area properly.

    Our philosophy is a surface water issue requires a surface water solution.  This allows us to feel that we are providing the client with the most economical solution to their drainage problem.

    If you have any questions about foundation repairs or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • What is a J Drain System?

    Some additional questions that I get when working with clients with Drainage Issues is the following:

    What is a J Drain System?

    There are different types of subsurface drainage systems, and this is one of them.
    It is sold as an easier, better french drain system. You dig a trench, install the J drain, and then backfill with the original soils. The concept is that the J drain has more surface area than the pipe at the bottom of the french drain system.
    In looking at how these drains function over time, the following is what we have found. Since the drains are backfilled with the same soil that is removed (yazoo clay), the water does not drain thru the soils. Overtime, the drainage system gets clogged up with clay. We have seen some installed with no discharge pipe or wrong elevations that do not allow the water to drain out properly.
    When you compare a french drain to a J drain, the main thing that stands out to us is the following. A french drain system has more capacity to carry the water because you have to consider the volume of the pipe and voids in the gravel. The drainage system is better protected because there is a commercial grade filter cloth around the entire drain system that helps protect the gravel from the clay. Again, there is more surface area for water to enter the drainage system because the drain is wider. Finally, you can install a clean out on the pipe to check to make sure the drain is functioning properly or cleaned out if needed.
    Sometimes you have to realize that the original way is the best because it has stood the test of time and still working properly.
    If you have any questions about foundation repairs, or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • Helical Piles Versus Concrete Push Piles

    Some additional questions that I get when working with clients with Foundation Issues are the following:

    What is the difference in helical piles versus concrete push piers?

    The best way I have learned to explain is we are looking at the difference between a nail and a screw. The push piers are like nails that are being pushed into the ground by the weight of the house, and a helical pile is a bid wood screw that is installed by a hydraulic drive head.

    Since the push pier system uses the weight of the house, there is a concern for the safety factor that you get with the piles (meaning there is not much extra capacity on the piles). Also, the depth of the piles is very dependent on the condition of the soils where the piles are being installed.

    Concrete piles are friction piles, so they use the friction between the soil and the concrete to obtain the strength to support the house. So, if the soils are wet, they can go deeper than if they are dry. Since most settlement occurs during a drought, or when the soils dry out, they are probably not installed as deep as during the wet season. So, the house has potential to move when the soils get wet and loses it friction coefficient.

    As far as a helical, again it is a bid wood screw. Just like a screw, the helical piles, once they are started, actually pull themselves down so they can go deeper than the push piers (since we are not dependent on the weight of the house). We also can use the torque (strength of twisting force) to determine the capacity of the helicals. This also allows us to know what capacity the piles are so we get a higher safety factor to properly support the foundation.

    They are also not dependent on the condition of the soils, so if it is wet or dry we can install the piles thru the soils into the stabile soils. We typically install the helical piles to a depth of 28’. Since the helicals have the ability to be installed deeper, this allows us to get higher capacity piles so we have more safety factor.

    We have installed and tested piles to a depth of 110’ in NOLA and Load Tested Helical Piles in LA for Grain Silos to 245-kip Ult. Capacity (245,000 lbs. or about 5 loaded semi-trucks).

    If you have any questions about foundation repairs or concerns for a foundation problem please call us and we will be glad to assist you.

  • Is There Ever A Need To Lift Your Foundation to a Heave?

    One of the things that concern me the most in performing foundation repairs for the last 15 years is seeing someone recommend lifting a foundation to a heave.

    There is a logical reason why we don’t recommend this as a viable foundation repair technique.

    Let’s start with the science behind the reason.

    What Typically Causes a Heave?

    A heave on a residence is caused by water getting under the building and causing increased moisture content in the soils, which cause the clays to expand. This expansion is like getting a sponge out of the packet and tossing it in water and watching it get bigger. That is the same way that our Yazoo Clays can react with changes in moisture content.

    The remedy for a heave is to address what is causing the increased water content. To do this, you have to start diagnosing to see what the source of water could be. We have seen it range from the following plumbing breaks/drainage/improper construction/other water problems. This can be the hardest part of the repairs.

    After the water problem is addressed, the residence should not continue to heave and over time has the potential to come back down but never to the original elevations. Then you monitor the residence to make sure that the source is found and the residence has calmed down on moving. If this is done, then we can determine if something needs to be corrected/lifted to make the residence blend better and not feel so out of whack.

    What if you do lift to a Heave?

    What if you have used a company that lifted the entire foundation to the heave? The residence will continue to move and they will have to come back and continue to adjust the foundation to the high area that is still moving so you are lifting to a moving target.

    If you have made this mistake, then step back and start looking for the cause of the movement. Once that is determined and corrected, you will monitor the residence to make sure it is stopped moving. If it’s coming down, then you need to continue to wait until it has stabilized. Once it’s stabilized, then if needed, you can call the previous company back to make any adjustments to the existing foundation system.

    If you have any questions about foundation repairs, or concerns for a foundation problem, please call us and we will be glad to assist you.