Restoring a Historic Building Foundation


Restoring a Historic Building Foundation Requires Special Consideration

deteriorating foundation, crumbling foundation, older foundation repairIf you have a historic building foundation that needs repair, it is important to take special precautions in restoring such a landmark structure. Signs of foundation failure include collapsed masonry walls, sloping floors, and sticky doors or windows. Repairing or replacing a foundation is a huge undertaking. Because your building may be fragile and has historical value, you must hire a foundation contractor with a record working on historic buildings.

Below are some of the key steps you should take when hiring a contractor to repair or replace the foundation on your historic structure.

Step 1: Hire a Structural Engineer

First, you should consult a structural engineer who specializes in historic building foundations or has some building experience with historic homes. They can then determine how much of your foundation needs to be replaced. A structural engineer will determine what the underlying issue is and the best solution to repair the foundation.

Step 2: Document the Way Your Foundation Looks Now

The foundation is a major architectural feature of the building. Due to this, the new foundation must look extremely similar to the original one. Before removing the old foundation, you should document the original foundation. Be sure to take lots of photographs from different perspectives. Also, be sure to write down all of the details you observe. Using this documentation will ensure that your foundation contractor is certain what the new foundation should look like.

Step 3: Hire a Foundation Contractor

Hire a contractor with proven experience replacing the foundations of historic houses and buildings. Make certain the contractor has all the necessary insurance and permits. As the foundation is being repaired, you don’t want any part of the structure to collapse. So, be sure to have a structural engineer certify any plan your contractor proposes. Pro Foundation Technology has been a family-owned and operated business since 1978. We have an outstanding reputation in restoring foundations of both residential and commercial structures, including historic ones.

Step 4: Choose Matching Materials

historic restoration, historic preservation, rebuilding old foundationsOften older structures will have a brick or stone foundation. You will want to be certain that the new foundation looks identical to the old one. Your new foundation will probably be made of poured concrete, but you can always hire someone who does masonry. They can replace the outside of the new foundation with any original bricks or stones you have salvaged or new ones that match the originals. Be sure to ask your contractor to put any removed materials aside to be used in the future.

Step 5: Consider Digging a New Basement

As long as you are building a new foundation beneath the building, consider having the contractor make the basement deeper with nine- to ten-foot interior walls. Pro Foundation Technology can use helical piers to lift and stabilize a foundation. This permits digging out a deeper basement. That extra ceiling height offers the advantage of having extra space for living, work, or storage. If you plan to use the new basement as a living space, you’ll need to also consider building an egress window as a means to escape. These are required by most building codes. If you don’t want the new egress to change the historical appearance of the building, plan to place it where it can’t be seen.

Step 6: Waterproof the New Basement

As long as you are pouring a new basement floor, ask the contractor to place drainage tiles along the perimeter of the foundation to waterproof the basement. You also want to ensure that the exterior of the foundation is adequately insulated and waterproofed.

Step 7: Complete the Job Right

If you have an old staircase in the basement that cannot be used, ask the contractor to build a new one. You will also need to be certain your utilities are hooked up properly. It might be a good time to replace outdated electrical, plumbing, or drainage systems. You may also want to put quality black topsoil around the foundation and grade it to a five-degree angle away from the foundation to provide good exterior drainage.

Contact Pro Foundation Technology

Pro Foundation Technology has professional experience restoring historic building foundations. Because of our reputation for quality work and materials, we’ve been hired for multiple restoration projects. These include the historic Memorial Union at the University of Missouri and the 200-year-old Belle Meade Mansion in Nashville, TN. We use only the finest materials from Earth Contact Products (ECP) and are a preferred contractor on Angie’s List. Contact us today.