Common Causes Of Leaning Chimneys
Chimneys pull away from a house for various reasons. Often, the problem is the foundation under the chimney, or the fact that the chimney doesn’t even have a foundation. Today, chimneys have their own foundations. However, a chimney attached to an older home might not have a foundation at all.
Other reasons chimneys start to lean include, but aren’t limited to:
- The chimney has a foundation, but it wasn’t built properly - Chimneys are heavy and that means they need strong, stable foundations. The chimney’s foundation might be too shallow, for example.
- The soil wasn’t adequately compacted before the chimney foundation Windows and doors that are hard to open and closewas laid - Soil needs to be properly tamped down before anything gets built on top of it. If it isn’t, the structure could settle into the soil unevenly after it’s built.
- There’s expansive soil under the chimney’s foundation - Expansive soil contains a lot of clay and because of this, it swells when it absorbs water and then shrinks when it dries out. This creates movement under a foundation and can, over time, cause a chimney to start leaning.
- There’s erosion-prone soil under the chimney’s foundation - Some types of soil are prone to erosion, which can lead to the formation of voids under the chimney’s foundation. If the foundation sinks into the voids, the chimney could start to lean.
How To Fix Leaning Chimneys
In most cases, you can underpin the chimney with as little as two to four piers. Using push piers or helical piers you can lift and relevel your chimney back to its original position without causing further foundation settlement to your home.
Signs Of A Leaning Chimney
As the chimney starts to lean and pull on the adjacent structure, you will start to notice cracks forming in the masonry or on the interior walls in the surrounding area. By addressing this issue early on, you can hopefully eliminate costly repair work.
Bay Area Underpinning Can Fix Your Problem
If your home’s chimney is leaning, don’t despair. We’ve been fixing chimneys for years. We have the knowledge and experience necessary to get your chimney back to level. Contact us today to schedule a free chimney evaluation. If we find a problem, we’ll give you a repair estimate.
