Hey, Fort Worth property investors and business owners! Scott Willingham here from Precision Foundation Repair & Concrete Lifting. I recently had the opportunity to walk through an exciting project in a rapidly developing industrial complex near downtown Fort Worth. Investors are doing an incredible job revitalizing these buildings, transforming them into modern construction-type spaces. However, as with many properties in our area, we’ve encountered some significant settlement issues.
The Challenge: Severe Settlement Next to Fort Worth’s Railroad Tracks
We’re currently looking at the back of one particular building that sits right next to the railroad tracks. While its previous use is a mystery, the current settlement is unmistakable and quite severe. We’re talking about a solid 6 to 7 inches of settlement in many areas along the outside edge of this building. This kind of extensive movement presents a real structural challenge for any commercial renovation.
Traditional Solutions: Costly, Time-Consuming, and Invasive
When faced with such significant concrete and foundation settlement, property owners typically consider a few options, each with its drawbacks:
- Demolition and Replacement: This involves tearing out all the existing concrete, hauling in new soils, compacting them thoroughly, and then pouring fresh concrete.
- The Downside: For this Fort Worth site, access is extremely limited due to the railroad tracks. Concrete trucks would have to navigate a very long distance, making it “quite a chore.” Scott emphasizes it would be “way more expensive,” take longer, and be “a lot messier” than other solutions. We even saw evidence where a slab had been re-poured years ago and was already re-settling, proving replacement isn’t always a permanent fix.
- Traditional Piering (Helical or Steel Push Piers): This involves installing a series of piers deep into the ground.
- The Downside: This method would require coring 8 to 12-inch holes on 6 to 8-foot centers, making it “more expensive, again, take longer, [and] more invasive.” Furthermore, with this much settlement, there’s a high probability that polyurethane foam would still be needed to fill the void spaces between the piers to prevent point-loading and cracking of the slabs.
Why Polyurethane Foam is the Best Option for Fort Worth Commercial Properties
Given these alternatives, Scott confidently states that polyurethane foam injection is “certainly the best option in a situation like this.” Here’s why:
- Cost-Effective: Polyurethane foam is significantly more affordable than demolition and repouring, and generally less expensive than extensive piering systems.
- Faster Project Completion: What could take weeks with traditional methods, we can accomplish in a fraction of the time. This entire downtown Fort Worth project, despite its scale, is estimated to take our team only three days to lift everything back into place. This allows investors to finish their build-out and get the property rented out much sooner.
- Less Invasive and Cleaner: Our process involves drilling small, unobtrusive injection ports, creating minimal mess and disruption. There’s no heavy excavation, no massive debris to haul away.
- Permanent Void Filling & Stabilization: The high-density polyurethane foam expands to fill all void spaces, creating a stable, waterproof foundation that supports the slab evenly and prevents future settlement. This is crucial for long-term stability in Fort Worth’s challenging soils.
The Precision Foundation Repair Difference
We pride ourselves on offering Fort Worth commercial property owners an advanced, efficient, and durable solution to complex foundation and concrete settlement. This project near the Fort Worth railroad tracks is another perfect example of how polyurethane foam provides unparalleled results, saving time, money, and hassle.
Before you commit to costly, disruptive repairs, consider the smarter choice.
Contact Our Fort Worth Commercial Repair Experts Today!
Dealing with settlement on your commercial property in Fort Worth? Let our team provide a cost-effective, long-lasting solution. Call Precision Foundation Repair & Concrete Lifting now at 254-434-6694 or fill out our online form for a free, no-obligation inspection and detailed quote! We’re ready to help you get your property back on solid ground.