You (or someone else) had your foundation repaired with another company . . . possibly a company that used pressed pilings. But you like the idea of filling the voids left under your home after the foundation-raising process, possibly because you can see one forming as we speak!
- Can Anchor do mud-pumping under your foundation even though another company performed the rest of the repairs?
- Or maybe you just have a void under your home for another reason, can Anchor fill it for you?
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have certainly performed mud-pumping services on homes that we did not otherwise repair. We understand the value of mud-pumping and know that it’s not something most other companies offer. We can certainly tell you what we’re willing to do to help your home if mud-pumping is what you want.
In this article, we will discuss whether we can or will mud-pump under a home that we did not repair – whether it’s because another company was used or there were no foundation repairs completed. We also offer important considerations you may want to think about before moving forward with mud-pumping to fill voids under your home.
Is It Possible to Mud-Pump Under a Home With Pressed Pilings?
Short answer: yes. Mud-pumping can be completed on a home with pressed piling foundation repairs. Mud-pumping can also be done on any home that has had any kind of slab foundation repairs done by another contractor or company.
Mud-pumping can also be done on homes without foundation repairs, but have a void for another reason. For example, mud-pumping is done to stabilize and secure backfilled tunnels under a home when under-slab plumbing leaks have occurred.
In one recent instance, a home had work done under the home many years before and they noticed dirt washing out around their foundation. It was discovered that water was accumulating under the house every time it rained. The water just hung out under the home gathering in the voided areas, making the voids bigger over time through erosion.
It’s even possible to mud-pump in that situation, filling the cavity left by water accumulation and erosion.
Will Anchor Mud-Pump Under a Home that We Did Not Repair?
We’re not opposed to just doing mud-pumping services for a homeowner who chose a different foundation repair method. Sometimes it’s a previous homeowner who chose a different company, and you had no control over it. Don’t worry . . . we won’t hold it against you . . .
Yes, we have provided this service to other homeowners even when another company was used for the original foundation repairs.
Considerations When Mud-Pumping Under a Home Repaired by Another Company
There are three big considerations that you need to be aware of when asking for mud-pumping to fill voids under your home.
- Your under-slab plumbing will need to be tested and shown to be leak-free,
- If not leak-free, under-slab leaks all need to be repaired before mud-pumping, and
- You need to be informed about whether mud-pumping will void the foundation repair warranty you have with the other company that repaired the home.
Let’s discuss these in more detail . . .
Pass the Test of Under-Slab Plumbing for Leaks
Mud-pumping cannot be done if your under-slab plumbing is compromised. Mud-pumping involves pumping a pressurized mixture of water, topsoil, and Portland cement under your home. That flowing mix of pressurized material – called slurry – will infiltrate your plumbing system if the system has any cracks or separations.
In other words, you can’t have leaks, holes, breaks, or any type of drain line failure, or else the *mud* will get into your pipes. That’s no bueno.
To check for under-slab drain line leaks, typically a hydrostatic pressure test is conducted to make sure that your drain lines are intact. Hydrostatic testing involves filling up your drain system with water and checking to see if the water stays in the pipes. You “pass” a hydrostatic test if your drain lines hold water during the test.
Check out this article for more info on the hydrostatic testing process.
Repair Any Under-Slab Leaks First
Any under-slab leaks must be repaired before mud-pumping can be done. So just be aware that asking for mud-pumping is a bit like opening a can of worms. You might not like what you find.
Under-slab plumbing leaks, whether they are in supply lines or drain lines, can be a headache . . . an expensive headache. Under-slab leaks come with considerations like:
- Should I break through the slab or tunnel under the slab for the plumbing repairs?
- How much does under-slab plumbing repair cost?
- How much does under-slab tunneling cost?
- Are under-slab leaks covered by homeowner’s insurance?
You must deal with under-slab leaks in order to have mud-pumping done. You don’t want to damage your plumbing system or immediately undo the mud-pumping process due to an active leak. There’s a lot to think about and figure out here. But if you want mud-pumping, you will need to resolve these issues.
Will Mud-Pumping Void Your Foundation Repair Warranty?
This is a big one. Since the home did have foundation repairs completed with another contractor, you need to find out how their foundation repair warranty will be affected by mud-pumping from a different contractor. This might not explicitly be cited in the warranty text, you might have to ask the company.
There is a risk that mud-pumping could void that company’s foundation repair warranty. So you have to be okay with either:
- That warranty getting voided and moving forward with mud-pumping anyway, OR
- Retain the warranty but have to live with the unfilled void under your home.
Or on the bright side, maybe mud-pumping won’t affect your warranty at all and that would be great news. You have your cake and eat it too – you just have to do the homework first and find out how the warranty could be affected.
What Are the Benefits of Mud-Pumping Again?
Mud-pumping voids under your foundation has several benefits, whether those voids are from previous foundation repairs or something else. It fills the space so it doesn’t get filled with something else, like water. Mud-pumping the void better secures your foundation repairs by locking things into place.
Most importantly, mud-pumping helps to prevent future foundation settlement by filling an empty space that your foundation could settle into.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we mud-pump under every slab foundation repair project we do. It’s that important. We honestly don’t get why other companies don’t do it. It does add steps to our process and cost for you, but we know it’s 100% worth it.
If you want more details on the benefits of mud-pumping, try this article on for size: Why Do I Need Mud Pumping with My Foundation Repairs? 5 Benefits.
