Many would say that 2016 has been a very trying year. We saw tragedy strike in many different forms. Not the least of which was the devastating flood that submerged most of our little corner of the country. The flood of 2016 exposed a number of issues in and around Baton Rouge; and for home owners, many uncovered issues of their own. With that in mind, as 2017 nears, we thought it would be a good idea to review what 2016 revealed about Baton Rouge Foundations.
Just when it seemed that our city and our region had taken all the emotional hits it could throughout the summer, the second week of August brought even more. Flood waters engulfed much of East Baton Rouge and Livingston Parishes, leaving many home owners with nothing more than studs, their foundation, and a roof. Amid the devastation, folks got an up close look at what was under their floors, and some didn’t like what they saw. Many people discovered small cracks in their slab, but some discovered something much worse.
One of the many things the flood did, was leave our soil saturated for an extended period of time. When this happens, it has the potential to loosen that soil. When the soil loosens, it can move. This can lead to shifting in your pier and beam foundation, or further settling in a slab. Ultimately, these things can lead to foundation damage. A lot of the foundation damage was already there. Once homeowners had to remove their floors, they were able to finally see it.
What possibly made a bad situation worse, was the dry spell we had after the flood. Once the flood loosened the soil, and the water subsequently evaporated, there was room in the ground for the soil to move. Raised homes that escaped direct damage were then subject to potential foundation movement after the fact.
Another issue homeowners faced once the flood waters receded was out of town workers swooping in to make repairs. Many people hired contractors they didn’t know, or in the case of their home’s foundation, repair companies they couldn’t rely on. At WCK, we stand proudly on the fact that we are born and raised in South Louisiana. This means that not only do we know the soil on which your home is built; but we also know what it means to stand by our work when fixing our neighbors’ homes with a lifetime, transferrable warranty.
As home owners in Baton Rouge rebuilt, one of the takeaways before getting settled back in was that the signs of foundation trouble should not be ignored. If you have cracks in your walls, doors that don’t fully close, or windows that don’t open (to name a few), it is best to have your home inspected to learn the extent of the damage. If you have questions about your foundation, please give our team at WCK Foundation Repair a call and we’ll be happy to come take a look.