Concrete slab foundations are a common choice for homes in many areas. They consist of a single, continuous concrete slab that serves as both the foundation and the floor.
Underpinning is a technique used to strengthen and support concrete slab foundations by installing additional structural elements beneath the existing foundation.
At Leon Foundation Repair, we use several pier systems tailored to different foundation needs and soil conditions:
Piers work primarily by friction and bearing capacity in the soil surrounding and beneath them. The amount of push or lift a pier can provide depends heavily on the type of soil, including:
Important: Piers do not necessarily reach bedrock. Especially in areas like Houston. Instead, they are designed to transfer the load to soil layers capable of supporting the structure safely. This helps prevent settlement and damage.
Commercial properties are built with several types of foundations based on the size of the building, the type of soil, and how the building will be used. Many commercial buildings are built on floating slabs, which are meant to sit on the ground and allow for some movement when the earth expands and contracts. Some people use pier and beam systems, reinforced grade beams, structural slabs, or drilled bell-bottom piers. These are often used to get to more solid soil farther down. Bell-bottom piers are strong, but soil conditions can change over time, which can cause uneven movement or settlement. At Leon Foundation Repair, we specialize in putting in engineered pier systems that can help stabilize and sustain these kinds of foundations again. When utilized with current bell-bottom systems, our pier solutions can improve load support and help fix settlement problems. No matter what kind of building it is—a shopping center, office building, warehouse, apartment complex, or industrial facility—our staff has the training and resources they need to check the foundation and provide reliable repair services for commercial properties of all kinds.
