Root System Foundation System Case Studies
Introduction: While gorgeous landscaping and mature trees look beautiful, provide shade,
and add value to a home, their subsurface root systems may cause damage
to the home’s foundation. Oftentimes, such damage occurs silently,
leaving the homeowner unaware of a growing problem until symptoms appear
above the ground. The owner of a beautiful, single-story, ranch-style
home settled on a hill in suburban Simpsonville, South Carolina, contacted
Ram Jack after noticing a large stair-step crack in the mortar lines of
the brick in the rear left-corner of her home’s exterior.
Situation: An inspection by a Ram Jack professional confirmed the homeowner’s
concerns, revealing the back, left corner of the home was falling away
from the main structure due to underlying foundation settlement. A 1 in.
crack that was nearly 2 ft. long followed the mortar line of the brick,
and the problem had become so severe that some of the brick was nearly
falling off of the exterior wall. In order to repair the falling walls,
restore the integrity of the structure, and prevent further damage, additional
foundation support would be needed as soon as possible.
Proposed Solution: The professional Ram Jack inspector proposed three driven piles be used
to stabilize the corner of the home and lift the sagging structure. Due
to shallow footings, low profile brackets would be needed to prevent the
repair materials from being visible after the repair was complete.
Outcome: Ram Jack South Carolina’s highly trained crew quickly got to work
installing three driven exterior perimeter piles. However, before they
were able to do so, they encountered an extensive root system in the area
of installation. One particularly large root had even attached itself
to the foundation of the home, wreaking havoc on the foundation and structure
itself. In order to ensure that the repair was done properly and provided
a permanent solution, the crew took its time in diligently removing the
roots from the area. Eventually, they installed three piles to an average
depth of 42 ft., lifting the foundation 1 in. for a complete recovery
of the damaged structure and full closure of the cracks in the brick wall.
The work was completed in only one day. After the work was done, the home
was stabilized and the wall appeared nearly new, providing the homeowner
with peace of mind, a lasting repair, and a cosmetically restored house.
She was completely satisfied with the work, and she stated that she would
recommend Ram Jack South Carolina to anyone in need of a foundation repair.
