Are recent advances in foundation rigidity preventing foundation problems?
The answer is yes on properly compacted lots. On lots that are poorly compacted, have slope failure, or have water drainage problems, the whole house will simply tilt. The only way to repair a solidly built, tilting foundation, is to extensively pier the house, both inside as well as outside. With recent construction methods, this means interior piers on a grid pattern every 10 to 12 feet, as well as piers around the complete perimeter of the concrete foundation. The financial resources of the homeowner may limit the extent of foundation repair. A foundation repair specialist or engineer can at times see early signs of future foundation problems, but the homeowner may be unable or unwilling to pay for more piers than are needed to fix any but the worst problems. Once a slab cracks, it is usually financially impractical to fix the crack. Most homeowners resist removing all the floor coverings to enable crack repair. Crack repair requires widening of the crack, removal of loose debris, a
