glosssary of industry terms FL, sinkhole repair fl

Terms Used In The Foundation Repair Industry

Wondering what all those foundation repair terms mean? Here are some of the most common terms used in the foundation repair industry:

Compaction Grouting

Compaction grouting is a procedure used to strengthen and stabilize loose soil. It increases the bearing capacity of soil, and is used to treat sites experiencing sinkhole activity.

Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical engineering deals with how structures – buildings, tunnels, dams, bridges, roads, and other types of infrastructure – interact with the soil or rock they’re built upon.

Helical Piers

Helical piers look like large screws. They’re screwed into the ground until they reach stable soil and transfer the structure’s load through the weak soil to the load-bearing strata.

Helical Seawall Anchors

Helical tiebacks are used to pull leaning seawalls back into place.

Helical Tieback Anchors

Helical tieback anchors are used to straighten and strengthen basement and retaining walls.

Liquid Resin

Liquid resin is a substance used in permeation grouting, a process that turns granular soils into a solid mass that’s better able to support structures.

Low Mobility Grouting

Low mobility grouting is used to treat existing sinkholes, or reduce the potential of sinkhole activity in areas where karst cavities are common.

Permeation Grouting

Permeation grouting is a type of pressure grouting. It’s used to turn loose soil – with a lot of fine sand content in it – into a solid mass. It’s good for coastal areas where soil instability can cause problems both during and after construction.

Polyurethane Foam

Polyurethane foam is used in compaction grouting. It’s fast-setting, and when it’s injected into loose soil, it rapidly expands and becomes a dense, structural foam. This compacts the soil around it and increases its load bearing capacity.

Sinkhole Remediation

Sinkhole remediation is just a fancy term for sinkhole repair. Florida is full of limestone, which is highly water-soluble. When it rains, the water eats away at the ground until voids form. Eventually, when the ground collapses into a void, it forms a sinkhole.

Steel Push Piers

Steel push piers are an underpinning product used to repair sinking and settling foundations. They’re driven down until they reach load-bearing soil, and then hydraulic jacks are used to lift the structure back up.

Wall Anchors

Wall anchors are used to repair bowing and leaning walls.

The experts at Foundation Professionals of Florida can help you with foundation repairs, sinkhole repair, soil stabilization, commercial foundation stabilization, and slab lifting. Contact us today for a free estimate.