Melbourne, FL

The sump pump is the key to the entire drainage system. All the water our interior drainage system collects will flow into the sump pump. The float system installed inside the sump pump will detect when enough water has entered its system and thus activate the pump on its own. No need to rush to turn it on or plug it in right in the middle of a storm! The pump will then redirect this water out the exit pipes down to a nearby storm drain or trench that lies far from your home.

The fact that our sump pumps also have optional back-up battery packs on hand may also be some relief for you. These pumps will not significantly raise your electricity bill, nor will they shut down in the middle of any particularly bad storm. Its comprehensive alarm system will sound to let you know when it has turned on and when it is running low on battery as well. Our powerful pumps are capable of pumping out thousands of gallons of water from your home.

Cheaper sump pumps tend to be made up of plastic, which can lead to easier burnout and even melt the pump when it becomes overworked. This can then lead to the pump being backed up and spitting the flood back out into your crawl space. Florida Foundation Authority’s sump pumps are encased in cast iron that will not burn out no matter how much water is run through its system. Melbourne tends to see a lot of rain in the summers, which can easily contribute to flooding in the crawl space.

The push piers systems we offer can be a bit confusing to the average homeowner. They look the same and perform the same function, so why is there the need for three distinct types? The main difference between these piers is how they are installed below your foundation

Helical piers will have spiral-like attachments on the end that make it easier for our experts to hydraulically drill them into the soil below your home. Push piers, on the other hand, are manually pushed into the soil below your foundation. Both piers will offer the same amount of support and stabilization for your home. These piers will typically not be visible to the homeowner after installation, so you do not have to worry about any strange piers ruining the look of your home from the outside.Slab piers are another pier system we offer that specifically stabilizes slab foundations, which some Florida homes will have instead of a crawl space.

Melbourne’s soils are mainly sand, which is one of the loosest soil types there are. It does not pair well with the wet weather that is bound to wash it all away. Your foundation is more prone to settling and cracking issues that will in turn affect the rest of your home’s infrastructure. Both pier systems effectively utilize the strength of the deeper layers of soil below your home to support it. These deeper layers will not be washed out in a storm or hurricane, which makes it the perfect support for your foundation. The galvanized steel rods connecting the soil to the foundation from below will also ensure that your foundation will not shift or settle no matter how much of the upper layers are affected by harsh weather patterns.

Your foundation is not the only concrete structure that is impacted by moisture or washout. The other concrete slabs that make up your sidewalk, driveway, and other structures will be just as vulnerable to this moisture damage, too. Indeed, soil washout is the most common cause of settling or cracked slabs around your home. Unfortunately, many homeowners may focus on protecting the concrete above and neglect the soil underneath because they are unaware of the importance of this supporting soil.

Melbourne’s consistent wet weather patterns and constant foot traffic also do not do your concrete any favors, either. The constant washout of your soil can also cause the remaining soil to dry out much faster, too. This can then lead the soil to shrink in on itself, which can cause the slabs to settle even deeper. You should then take measures to protect both the concrete slabs and the soil to prevent this from happening. Calling the concrete experts at Florida Foundation Authority is your best bet.

Our SettleStop PolyRenewal™ solution works to stabilize both the concrete slabs above and the soil beneath. The foam injected through the slabs can fill in any cracks, gaps, or other damage in the concrete and extend down to the soil to repair that as well. You might be concerned that this solution will leach harmful chemicals in your soil. While it does bolster the soil against washout, it is also made up of eco-friendly materials that will not harm your soil nor poison the water that flows through it. It will not affect your lawn or landscaping in any way. One of its biggest benefits also lies in its quick cure time. In just 15 minutes, you will be able to walk along your concrete once more!

Spotting any cracks along your concrete slabs or within your foundation is always a serious issue. Even smaller cracks can eventually expand down to the foundation. It is not wise to put off repairing these cracks for very long because of this, so you will need to call the concrete experts at Florida Foundation Authority as soon as possible. Setting an appointment with us is very simple. We will visit and inspect your property any time you need us!

Of course, not all homeowners will have the time to repair every crack they see in their home. This is why knowing the difference between which cracks may be left alone for a short time and which must be repaired as soon as possible is crucial for all homeowners to know. Any cracks that measure less than 1/8 inch wide are often referred to as hairline cracks and pose little if any, immediate threat to the surrounding concrete or your foundation. You should keep a close eye on any cracks that measure between 1/8 and 1/4 inches wide, though these too can be left alone for some time. You also need to keep in mind that these cracks can expand given enough time, so you should try to make an appointment with our concrete experts as soon as you are available.

Any cracks that measure wider than 1/4 inch must be repaired as soon as possible. These cracks pose a threat to both the surrounding concrete as well as your foundation if you do not keep up with its maintenance. It is always a good idea to have your concrete inspected yearly for any problem signs or damage that you may sometimes overlook.

The encapsulation process consists of four key components: waterproofing with an interior drainage system and a sump pump, the vapor barrier, vent covers, and the dehumidifier. The interior drainage system and sump pump will take care of any larger floods that may try to flow inside the crawl space. You can rely on the sump pump to redirect thousands of gallons of water away from your home without a single drop getting inside. The vapor barrier can also help in that regard. This 20-mil liner encompasses the entire crawl space and ensures that no groundwater can well up and flood your crawl space. Mold, mildew, and pests also will have a harder time infiltrating this space due to the antimicrobial additives on this barrier.

Contractors used to believe that leaving open vents around the crawl space would keep the air inside well-circulated and dry. Considering the fact that Melbourne faces high levels of humidity year-round, this obviously creates moisture issues within your crawl space. Moisture can not only contribute to floods, but also it can induce rot within this space as well as entice mold, mildew, and various pests to come infest the crawl space. This is why sealing off the crawl space from these outside threats is so important. Our sturdy vent covers will completely cover up any open vents from the outside. These plastic covers are guaranteed to not blow off no matter how harsh the weather is.

Before we completely close off the crawl space, we will first install our powerful dehumidifier. The dehumidifier will filter out any humidity that manages to slip through while also circulating fresh air all around this space. Because your HVAC system can also be found within the crawl space, you might notice the air around your home becoming cleaner, too!

Foundations are surprisingly vulnerable to all kinds of moisture damage. For instance, the soil supporting your foundation is already quite loose due to its sandy nature. Even just one large storm can easily wash away that supporting soil and cause the foundation to settle further into the remaining soil. Of course, this settling does not occur for no reason. The already loose nature of the soil does not help, and contractors will unintentionally make it even looser when they dig it up when they first go about building your home.

Basically, contractors need to dig a large hole in the area where they plan to lay down the concrete slab foundation or crawl space. After each component is secured, there will be some space left around them that the contractors will then backfill in with some of the soil they initially dug up. This creates a bowl of sorts around the foundation, leading to what is known as the clay bowl effect taking place. The soil does not necessarily have to be made up of clay to take effect, either. All this means is that your much looser soil is far more susceptible to washing out as a result of the contractors’ construction methods.

Another way your foundation becomes damaged is through hydrostatic pressure. Melbourne’s constant rains can lead to the soil absorbing far more water than it is realistically capable of holding at once. This can create immense pressure against the foundation and cause it to shift out of its original placement or even crack apart. Hydrostatic pressure can also occur when these same water droplets become trapped in the concrete foundation’s pores. When winter comes and the water freezes over, the expanding ice can then crack the foundation from within.