Crumbling Foundation? Try Shotcrete

Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked about how the freeze/thaw cycles in the ground this winter can affect your foundation. We’ve also talked about the various wall stabilization systems we offer to protect your foundation against this damage. 

But what if you have stone walls?

Michigan has tons of houses with beautiful fieldstone foundations. Foundations that, once they start to crumble, just can’t be saved. Even if your foundation isn’t stone, you may have noticed that instead of cracking your concrete walls are simply crumbling and turning to dust. There’s little our PowerBraces, GeoLock wall anchors, or CarbonArmor systems can do when a wall simply isn’t viable anymore. And it leaves your home in danger.

This used to be a hopeless situation - for many contractors it still is. But at Ayers, we can offer a solution that isn’t just permanent, it’s also easy and cost-effective. Shotcrete combines the stability of new foundation walls with the convenience of a non-invasive repair. Here’s how it works.

After debris is cleared away, a steel framework is affixed to the existing wall. Concrete is then applied via a high pressure hose to literally build a wall in place. As the concrete is applied in layers, we smooth it out, and after a day or two of curing time, you have brand new, structurally sound walls.

Shotcrete is revolutionary, considering the alternatives thus far have involved jacking up one side of your house to replace the foundation wall beneath it, or lifting the entire house completely off the foundation. Both cases are dangerous, extremely expensive, and require you to move out for the duration of the project. With shotcrete, you have to put up with some noise for a couple of days, and the loss of a few square feet of basement space due to the thickness of the new walls - that’s it.

Whether your foundation is at risk due to age, weather, or construction materials, crumbling walls are no longer a death sentence. Call and schedule your free inspection and let’s see if shotcrete is right for you.