Rethink Using Plate Anchors for Structural Foundation Repair

With time, all buildings begin to settle, and settling has major effects on the structural integrity of your home. If the foundational walls of your home are left alone after settling, this leaves an entire section of your home unsupported and can lead to spreading damage throughout the structure. Foundation repair can be frustrating, especially if you end up choosing an inferior foundation anchor. We’ll discuss the issues with plate anchors and how they can reduce the value of your home.

Damaged foundations can be repaired in many ways, from older methods such as bracing with a steel l-beam to more modern methods. Regardless of the method, the goal of each is to stabilize your structure to prevent movement. One of these stabilization methods, plate anchors, has a more than its share of issues and should be avoided.

The major issues with plate anchors come after installation. Periodic tightening of the nuts securing the rod to plate to create tension will be the responsibility of the homeowner for the foreseeable future. This may not seem like a huge issue, but it comes with problems you may not expect. Some of the major issues with this include disturbed soil, no immediate result, and the obvious repairs.

For the plate to have the proper amount of tension, it needs to be placed in undisturbed soil. Finding truly undisturbed soil is nearly impossible in modern residential neighborhoods due to multiple foundation excavations that have already taken place, new soil being trucked into the building sites and tree stumps being removed. Even in ideal soil conditions, continual maintenance will be necessary due movement and loosening of the anchor plate system. For homeowners, this means creating access points for each of the anchors in your basement during the finishing process.

Immediate results are not possible with this system because multiple tightenings are needed  to fully stabilize the wall. If you are trying to sell or remodel your home, this can mean delays in that process. Even once it has stabilized, you will still be left with obvious signs of repair, which means a reduction in aesthetic appeal and a possible deal-breaker for a potential buyer.

Don’t let your home’s value or beauty be reduced because of choosing the wrong method for repairs. Learn more about how our helical anchors can effectively address your foundation issues without the hassle of continual maintenance. Call us today to order foundation anchors and get your repair project started on the right path.