Your building’s foundation is literally what keeps your business standing, supporting your inventory, equipment, employees, and customers. A strong foundation provides so much to businesses all across the world.
So, if you ever hear the words “foundation damage,” you need to act fast. Given how critical your foundation is, you can’t afford to ignore problems or put off repairs. Foundation issues only get worse — and more expensive — over time. We’ll break down what causes foundation damage so you can spot trouble early and keep your commercial building strong.
Water is your foundation’s worst enemy. When drainage systems fail around your commercial property, trouble follows quickly. Gutters that overflow, downspouts that dump water right next to your building, or grading that slopes toward your structure all lead to water pooling around your foundation.
This constant moisture weakens the soil supporting your commercial building, causing it to expand and contract repeatedly. Your foundation starts shifting in response, leading to foundation movement that becomes visible through vertical cracks in walls.
Many business owners miss these early warning signs. You might notice water collecting near exterior walls after rain, but dismiss it as normal. That puddle, however, could be slowly undermining your solid foundation, creating commercial foundation problems that worsen with each storm.
The ground beneath your commercial structure isn’t as stable as you might think. Different soil types behave differently under your building’s weight. For example, clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry, while sandy soils compact more easily under pressure.
When soil settles unevenly, parts of your foundation sink while others remain stable. This foundation sinking creates stress throughout the entire structure. You’ll notice doors that suddenly won’t close properly or windows that stick for “no reason.” Those are actually direct signs of a shifting foundation.
Because commercial buildings face unique settlement challenges because of their size and weight, it’s important to invest in professional soil stabilization services. The team at Bonardi Construction can help combat settlement as well as compaction due to heavy equipment, storage areas, and manufacturing floors.
A small water line crack under your building might seem minor, but that constant moisture wreaks havoc on foundation stability. Additionally, water from leaking pipes erodes soil, creating voids beneath your foundation. Without proper support, sections of your foundation begin to crack and sink. The first signs might be unexplained increases in your water bill or mysterious damp spots appearing on lower floors.
What makes plumbing leaks so dangerous is their hidden nature. By the time you notice interior cracks or sloping floors, the damage is already significant. Professional plumbers can perform leak detection tests to identify problems before they lead to major foundation issues.
Those beautiful mature trees surrounding your commercial property have extensive root systems searching for water. Unfortunately, these roots often find it near or under your foundation, especially during dry periods. As roots grow, they exert tremendous pressure against foundation walls and can even grow beneath foundation slabs. This pressure leads to foundation movement and cracking. Larger trees can draw moisture from the soil, causing it to shrink and create voids beneath parts of your foundation.
You might notice exterior fascia gaps forming where your building’s facade meets the foundation. These gaps appear because roots are literally pushing or pulling the structure apart from below.
The solution isn’t always removing trees, as many add value to your property and provide important shade. Instead, consider installing root barriers around your foundation or selecting more foundation-friendly landscaping options that have less aggressive root systems.
Some commercial foundation problems start before your business even moves in. Cutting corners during initial construction creates a ticking time bomb beneath your building.
Common construction shortcuts include:
These issues might not show up immediately. Your commercial building might seem fine for years until environmental factors trigger the underlying weaknesses. Eventually, though, you might notice unusual settling patterns, exterior walls developing vertical cracks in specific sections, or foundation piers failing prematurely. Due to these problems, you’ll need to invest in costly repairs as well as potential concrete leveling services.
When purchasing a commercial property, always get thorough foundation inspections from engineers who understand local soil conditions. They can identify construction-related foundation issues before they become your expensive problem.
Commercial structures near highways, railways, construction sites, or manufacturing facilities face unique foundation challenges from constant vibrations. The cumulative effect of these vibrations weakens foundation materials over time. The resulting tiny cracks allow moisture penetration, which leads to further deterioration, especially in freeze-thaw climates. Steel reinforcements may also fatigue under constant vibration.
Your commercial foundation faces assault from Mother Nature throughout the year. Freeze-thaw cycles cause soil and concrete to expand and contract repeatedly. During extended dry periods, clay soils shrink significantly, leaving parts of your foundation without proper support. When rains finally return, the rapid expansion creates uneven pressure against foundation walls.
Thermal expansion also affects concrete and steel differently, creating stress points where these materials meet. Over years of seasonal changes, these stresses lead to foundation sinking and shifting in predictable patterns. Monitoring humidity levels in the basement or ground-floor areas can provide early warning of weather-related foundation problems before they become visible structural issues.
As we mentioned earlier, your foundation supports everything your business does. A good foundation has helped you run your operations smoothly, and maintaining it will keep your building strong for years to come. Call Bonardi Construction for foundation repair and restoration services in Queens, NY, if you’re having trouble with your building’s foundation, noticing cracks, or know of an existing problem you’ve been ignoring. We’ll restore the integrity of your building without delay.