A stone foundation is often one of the most noticeable features on an historic house. Its natural beauty remains visible long after the original siding, windows and doors have been replaced. Stone foundations were the most commonly used foundations in the U.S. up until around 1915 or so, when concrete block and poured concrete began to take over.

The style and quality of a stone foundation depend on two factors: the type of native stone available and the mason’s skill and background. German, Italian, Dutch and other European countries all contributed their share of masons to the U.S., so it’s not surprising to find so many different styles of stonework across the country. But stone foundations can be divided into two basic types.

A cut stone foundation (sometimes referred to as ashlar masonry) features square-edged stones that are laid up in successive courses, with staggered joints Tadalis SX and little or no mortar between stones. The outside face of a cut stone foundation can be smooth or textured. A rubble stone foundation is made up of naturally shaped stones in a variety of sizes. Sometimes this type of foundation is “coursed,” or laid in rough courses. It can also be “uncoursed,” with no pattern to the placement of individual stones. Either way, a rubble stone foundation will have fairly thick mortar joints to fill the spaces between stones.

Since old-fashioned lime-based mortars didn’t have the strength, durability or adhesive qualities of modern mortars, old-time masons were forced to rely on gravity to hold stones in place. As a result, many stone foundations have remained strong and stable even as their original mortar crumbles away. But sooner or later this gradual deterioration must be corrected if major structural problems are to be avoided. Here are some of the maintenance and repair issues which typically need to be addressed by a foundation repair specialist.

– Control moisture. This is usually the first task with an old stone foundation. Moisture that moves through the foundation can cause mortar to deteriorate; water can even displace and dislodge stones as it freezes and thaws. It’s critical for roof runoff and surface water to be directed away from foundation walls. A foundation repair contractor will typically suggest several strategies (improved gutters, perimeter drains and ground that slopes away from the structure) to keep water away from the masonry.

– Seal dirt floors. If the basement or crawlspace floor is dirt, the foundation specialist may recommend sealing the floor to control moisture and also limit occupants’ exposure to radon gas that naturally emanates from the soil. A dirt-floor crawl space is typically “encapsulated” with plastic vapor barriers installed on the floor and up the foundation walls. A dirt-floored basement is often finished off with a poured-concrete floor installed over a plastic vapor barrier.

– Repaint and repair walls. Deteriorated mortar needs to be replaced to maintain a stone foundation’s structural integrity. Outside the house, where mortar is visible, it may be important to make these repairs with an old-fashioned, lime-based mortar that matches the appearance of the old mortar. Inside, foundation repair contractors often choose to use stronger modern mortars.

– Repair, reinforce and/or replace piers, posts & beams. In older houses, the post-and-beam system used to support floor joists was often poorly constructed compared to current standards. Bringing this system up to date can involve installing new concrete pads or footings, replacing old posts with pressure-treated posts, and reinforcing or replacing beams with new material. As this work is done, floor sections that have sagged are often jacked back to level.

Author Bio: Do you need foundation repair in Ontario? Contact Foundation Supportworks of Ontario for your free foundation repair estimate.

Category: Home/Home Improvement
Keywords: foundation repair, foundation contractor