Case Studies
Window Separation
When a homeowner noticed a few cracks in the exterior of his Florence,
South Carolina brick home, he thought that they could likely be ignored.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. It wasn’t long before the
cracks grew so severe that the walls began separating from the windows,
prompting the homeowner to contact Ram Jack South Carolina.
Situation: Over the years, the soil beneath the home had settled, causing the foundation
and walls resting upon it to settle also. This resulted in cracks in the
mortar of the exterior brick wall growing to as much as 1 in. wide. Additionally,
the wall was leaning, creating a gap of over 2 in. between the exterior
wall and window frame. As a result, air was flowing freely in and out
of the gap, increasing heating and cooling costs for the homeowner as
well as creating an unsightly visual appearance.
Proposed Solution: After a thorough inspection, Ram Jack South Carolina proposed the installation
of (17) 2 7⁄8” driven piles to lift and stabilize the settling
exterior wall. Due to the extensive settlement of the foundation, the
primary goal would be stabilization, with lifting taking place only in
appropriately feasible areas.
Outcome: Once on the job, the Ram Jack South Carolina experts modified the original
plan, replacing two of the driven piles with helical piles. When finished
17 piles were installed and driven to an average depth of 15 ft., lifting
the structure as much as 1 in. in some areas and stabilizing the entire
compromised area. By modifying the plan, the crew was able to lift the
most concerning areas as needed, almost completely closing the cracks
and gaps in the brick wall. When finished, the homeowner said, “I
am extremely pleased with the work and the outcome. The crew was excellent!”
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