Houston Slab Foundations, Inspections and Reports

The Best and Only Source on the Internet for Buyers, Sellers and Real Estate Professionals Seeking Information Concerning Greater Houston Area Slab-on-Ground Foundations on Expansive Soils Written by a Professional Structural Engineer and Registered One and Two Family Dwelling Code Inspector

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37 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions About Slab-on-Ground Foundations

FAQ About Expansive Soils
What are expansive soils? Why do so many Houston houses show signs of damage due to foundation movement? What areas of the Greater Houston Area are affected?
FAQ About Slab-on-Ground Foundations
What are post-tensioned slab-on-ground foundations? What are conventionally reinforced slab-on-ground foundations? What are the significant differences between a conventionally reinforced and post-tensioned slab-on-ground foundations? Should it make any difference to me what kind of slab-on-ground foundation a house has? How do slab-on-ground foundations work? What are active and dormant areas of a slab-on-ground foundation?
FAQ About Foundation Performance Evaluations
How do engineers identify damage caused by foundation movement? What are foundation inspections and foundation performance evaluations? Are there different types of foundation engineering evaluations? How reliable are foundation performance evaluations? How much damage should a homeowner be willing to tolerate? How far out-of-level is acceptable? Will my house fall down?
FAQ About Foundation Cracks
What is a cracked slab? If my floor tile has cracks, is my slab cracked? What is a corner or wedge crack? When does a crack become a problem? If my floor tile pops loose, do I have a foundation problem?
FAQ About Building Codes
What does the code say about foundation performance? What do the code-approved design protocols say about foundation performance?
FAQ About Mitigation and Repair
What options are available for addressing foundation performance issues? What options are available for improving foundation performance by mitigating moisture changes in the soil supporting the foundation? Are there any practical limitations on our ability to mitigate moisture changes in the soil? How is the need for structural foundation repair established? How are foundations structurally repaired? How much improvement in performance can be reasonably expected from foundation repair? If I buy a house that shows signs of foundation movement related damage, will I be able to sell the house? What are some examples of a foundation in need of concrete repair? What is your philosophy of foundation mitigation and repair?
FAQ About Retaining Home Inspectors and Engineers
What is the difference between a real estate inspection report and an engineering performance evaluation? What should a home buyer look for when retaining a Professional Engineer? What is the most important criteria for selecting a Professional Structural Engineer?

Useful Downloads
US Army Corps of Engineers Foundations in Expansive Soils - Chapter 9 only Foundation Remediation
Technical Paper: A Structural Analysis Approach to Residential Foundation Performance Evaluations by R. Michael Gray, P.E.
Technical Paper: Using Slab-on-Ground Elevation Measurements in Residential Engineering Foundation Performance Evaluations by R. Michael Gray, P.E.
Buyer's Guide to Slab-on-Ground Foundations by R. Michael Gray, P.E. and Matthew T. Gray
Guidelines for the Evaluation and Repair of Residential Foundations

Annotated List of Useful Web Sites	Glossary of Terms

© 2004 R. Michael Gray, P.E. This material may be reprinted for personal and educational non-commercial use only. This material is based on generally accepted engineering principles and practices; it is for general information only. The information contained herein should not be used without first securing competent professional advice with respect to its suitability for a general or specific application. Anyone using this information assumes all liability for such use.