Photo Album: Stabilizing Crawl Space Support for Historic Home in Melbourne, Florida
Erika owns a century-old historic home in Melbourne, Florida, and had noticed areas where the floors felt unstable when walked upon. After being referred to LRE Foundation Repair, Erika scheduled a free inspection with an expert Design Specialist. Upon close examination of the crawl space, the specialist found that many of the block piers supporting the floor joists above had settled into the ground. Given the age of the home, it was no surprise that soil settlement had caused the piers to sink. A plan for a permanent solution was created to stabilize the floors using the SmartJack System. The LRE team then began implementing the solution, placing the SmartJack in key areas of the crawl space to provide strong and stable support to the floor joists above. Erika was thrilled to discover that her floors now felt completely stable, providing her with confidence that her historic home would be secure for another hundred years.
Original Crawl Space Block Piers
The original block piers supporting the floor joists in the crawl space had clearly settled into the ground, causing instability in the floors above.
Shifting Foundation Support
As the block piers settle deeper into the ground, the support for the floor joists above diminishes, causing the floors above to become unstable.
Temporary Solutions
A common temporary fix for floor instability is to place wooden blocks between the piers and the floor joists. However, these quick-fix solutions will inevitably fail over time.
SmartJack System for Foundation Stabilization
The LRE team has successfully installed the SmartJack System in the home's crawl space, providing the floor joists with enhanced and permanent stability.
A Permanent Solution
The SmartJacks installed by LRE are crafted with corrosion-resistant galvanized steel and are not susceptible to soil settlement, making them a permanent solution for stabilizing sagging floors.
