Foundation repairs can stop any shifting or sinking issues and prevent further damage to your home. They’re also needed for commercial buildings when the soil holding up the structure begins to compact or wash away. But how do commercial and residential foundation repairs differ, and what’s similar about them?
Compare large-scale warehouse and retail store repair projects with residential-scale work to appreciate how home projects go quicker and cost less. Pinnacle Foundation Repair can handle both residential and commercial projects, ensuring you get the quality results you need regardless of the scale of the work.
Scale of the Repair Work
The biggest difference between commercial vs. residential foundation repair projects is the sheer scale. Commercial projects are generally much more complex, requiring a higher number of piers, more material to stabilize any sunken slabs or floors, and extra services. Engineering work is also often involved, which is less likely to factor into a home repair.
Residential projects cost less than commercial foundation repairs and require a much shorter timeline. You can expect most residential foundation repairs to wrap up in under three days, while commercial projects often take a week or longer after work begins. This can include extra inspections, both before the repairs begin and after they’re completed.
Applicable Methods for Foundation Repair
Some foundation repair methods provide support for both commercial and residential projects. Pier supports work well for both types of projects, but deep pinning is more commonly needed for large retail or industrial structures due to their size. Helical and push piers alike are widely used across all kinds of foundation repairs.
Slab foundations require similar repairs whether they support residential or commercial structures. That’s why you’ll see mudjacking or slabjacking recommended for a wide range of applications across both types of properties. If you’re not sure which repair method will work best for your property, we can make recommendations based on the foundation type, square footage, and cause of the problems.
Soil Conditions and In-Depth Analysis
Commercial building projects involve extensive soil testing before the foundation goes in, but water runoff and underground springs can wash water away, leading to the need for repairs. Homes are more likely to be built over expansive clay soils from the start, due to reduced testing requirements. Either way, both types of structures will need proper repairs to stabilize the moving soil and close up any gaps that open up and threaten the foundation.
Due to the scale and cost of commercial repairs, it’s best to get an in-depth analysis to capture data on the soil underneath the foundation. You don’t want to miss any voids or shifting soils that are in need of immediate repair. Pinnacle Foundation Repair has a number of tools available for recording that essential data, from scopes to capture images of what’s going on under the surface to ground-penetrating radar for bigger projects.
Costs for Foundation Repairs
Due to the increased scale and additional services needed for commercial foundation repair, it tends to cost a lot more than a residential project. Simple residential repairs often cost just a few thousand dollars, while extensive commercial repairs can run into the millions of dollars.
Only a thorough inspection of the structure, whether it’s a home or business, will result in an accurate estimate of the project cost. It’s not always easy to determine which method will work best, and therefore determine the average cost of the needed repair, until soil testing and void detection are complete. Either way, investing in timely repairs can save a lot more money in the future by protecting the structure from further damage.
Specialty Services
Many foundation repair situations are complex enough to need a combination of services. Commercial projects are more likely than residential ones to require specialty services, but slabjacking, drainage correction, and floor repairs are needed for some homes as well.
Some projects call for ongoing monitoring to prevent further potential damage from shifting soils. This is more likely to take an active format with commercial projects, but may involve annual or bi-annual inspections for residential properties.
Building Use Interruptions
Residential foundation repairs tend to go smoothly, and most methods, like helical and steel piers, limit disruptions to your home’s use. There’s no need to temporarily move out unless the foundation damage is quite severe or worsening daily.
Building use interruptions and the need for temporary shutdowns are more likely with commercial projects. Still, we can do plenty to reduce building use interruptions and keep businesses working smoothly. Our non-disruptive services allow you to minimize shutdowns to just a few days or even hours while getting the long-term repairs you need.
Likelihood of Problems
Residential properties are more likely to develop foundation issues over time than commercial structures. Homes are built in a greater variety of areas and with less intensive testing to determine the soil quality. That means that shifting and subsidence issues are more likely to happen on a residential property than a commercial one.
Still, commercial structures can definitely suffer from foundation settling and loss of soil support over time. Don’t overlook the early warning signs of commercial foundation problems, such as uneven or cracked concrete floors, gaps opening or widening in the walls, pooling water in certain parts of the facility, or difficulty operating equipment over the floors.
Here at Pinnacle Foundation Repair, we specialize in both residential and commercial foundation repair. We can find the right solution to stabilize your foundation, no matter the size of your structure or its use. Choose our skilled team to minimize disruptions to your daily routine and keep everything on track for timely repairs. Invest in a foundation that you can trust for years to come with our help. Contact us today to get started with your free evaluation.
