Atlas Foundation Company Celebrates 65 Years

Atlas Foundation Company Celebrates 65 Years in Business

Burleson, Texas-based Atlas Foundation Company, Inc. is celebrating 65 years of providing expert foundation repair services to homeowners in the Greater Fort Worth area.

Atlas Foundation Company, Inc. was founded by Willard Murdock on three simple principles: Honesty, Quality, and Integrity.  Prior to starting the foundation repair company, Murdock worked as a residential flooring contractor.  He quickly realized that before new flooring could be installed, the homes he and his brothers worked on had to first be leveled.   In 1958, Murdock left the flooring business and started Atlas Foundation Company, specializing in pier and beam foundation repair.

In 1978, Murdock handed control of the company to his daughter and son-in-law.  Together, Glenn and Mary Ford worked tirelessly to carry on Murdock’s tradition of honest and excellent workmanship.  To keep overhead low, Mary ran the office out of the couple’s home and passed the savings along to their growing list of clients.

In addition to growing the company, Glenn and Mary were also raising a family.  In time their sons, Darrel and Lonnie, joined the family business.  Darrel Ford says, “Our dad believed in making us start from the ground up when we decided to learn the business.  You can’t do this job right if you do not understand every aspect of the repairs.”  Through hard work and dedication, the brothers rose through the ranks from unskilled laborers to crew foremen, eventually helping write estimates and handling the day-to-day operations of the company.

In 1995, Glenn and Mary retired and passed the baton to the capable hands of their sons.

The brothers say a lot has changed over the years. “Originally we started with drilled piers,” says Lonnie. “Now we install concrete and steel pressed pilings.  We find that they are much more affordable and reliable and they can be installed with minimal disturbance to the landscaping.”

Atlas Foundation Company has evolved and grown in order to stay at the forefront of the industry, but Willard Murdock’s core values of “Honesty, Quality and Integrity” are still the guiding principles by which the company operates.  Those principles have served them well.  The company continues to grow, in large part because of referrals by satisfied customers throughout Tarrant County.  The company is listed on the Good Contractors website and maintains an A+ Rating by the Better Business Bureau.  Atlas Foundation Company has been awarded the BBB Golden Torch award, was a finalist for the Greater Tarrant County Business Ethics Award presented by the Neeley School of Business and have twice received the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, most recently in 2017.

Darrel Ford says, “We strive to treat our customers as we would a member of our family.”  And that’s saying a lot.  Atlas Foundation Company is a success story that was built on family loyalty.  With Darrel and Lonnie at the helm, other family members help manage the day-to-day operations of the business.  Darrel’s wife, Christy manages the office and their daughter, Lindsay, oversees marketing and works in the office helping customers as they call in.  Lonnie’s son, Kyler, oversees a crew and is also being trained from the ground up.  Phillip and Bobby, Superintendents, have both been with Atlas for over 18 years.  They are an integral part in the day-to-day operations and oversee each job that is completed correctly.

Eventually, Darrel and Lonnie will hand the reins to Kyler and Lindsay who will take over as the fourth-generation of owners.

When you need reliable, affordable foundation repair in Fort Worth or the surrounding areas call Atlas Foundation Company at 817-478-1181.

If You’re a Fort Worth Homeowner, You Likely Have a Slab Foundation

In the Greater Fort Worth Area, most houses are built with a slab foundation. In simplest terms, this means that concrete is poured onto the ground, creating a base layer, and then the house is built on top of the concrete slab. Strong, cost effective and durable, they are a popular choice. Concrete slab foundations are often seen in warmer, southern climates because if exposed to too much freezing cold, they would continually have problems with cracking. Also, basements in water climates can attract flooding and water seepage since the water table is closer to the surface.

Atlas Foundation: Experts in Slab Foundation Repair

Of course, there is a lot more engineering and construction that goes into building a slab foundation. First, the land should be graded to allow for drainage and to help keep the completed foundation from sinking. Next, a layer of sand is place on the ground for both drainage and cushioning. Post tension cables or steel rods are used for reinforcement and strength. The poured concrete will be about 4-6 inches in the center of the foundation, but thicker in the perimeter and selected locations to give extra support. Homes built with a slab foundation do not have crawl spaces or basements. There are pros and cons to building a home with a slab foundation.

Slab Foundations Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Drying time for a slab foundation is less than the drying time needed for basement curing. Houses can be built faster.
• Can hold a lot of weight from furniture and other household items.
• Slab foundations are less expensive, especially because basement space does not have to be dug out.
• Less risk of flooding, mold (no damp basements!) and gas leaks.
• Fewer open spaces means less access for pests to get into the home through the foundation.
• Homes are built closer to the ground, so fewer steps are needed to enter the house. This is especially advantageous for residents with a physical disability.
• Lower utility bills since there isn’t extra airspace between the house and ground

Cons:

• Ductwork must be better insulated since it is run above the ground in the attic or living spaces.
• Space is needed for heating and cooling units in the main living square footage. They cannot be stored out of the way in the basement.
• Lack of a crawl space or basement means less storage.
• If wood is directly against the soil line, insects and rodents can get in through the walls.
• With plumbing pipes under the slab foundation, leaks are harder to diagnose, locate and repair.
• If the ground under the foundation is not compacted well, it can cause sinking later on.
• Slab foundations can still crack in warmer weather due to tree roots, soil movement and too much or too little exposure to water.

Let’s look at the last disadvantage of slab foundations more closely. In the Fort Worth area, the soil types can be problematic. When wet, the soil will expand. When dry, the soil will contract. This back and forth movement puts pressure on the slab foundation, causing shifting, movement and settling.

At Atlas Foundation, we teach our clients to take care of their slab foundations to help prevent movement and cracks. We recommend:

• Proper drainage and grading
• Keeping moisture levels consistent
• Regular inspections
• Calling Atlas Foundation at the first signs of suspected slab foundation problems

#1 Fort Worth Foundation Repair Company

Do you have a slab foundation? If you live in the Fort Worth Area, chances are that you do. When problems arise, you can trust Atlas Foundation to provide quality repairs and expert advice. We have been satisfying homeowners in the Greater Fort Worth area for over 60 years. Contact us at 817-478-1181 or visit our website to schedule a no-cost estimate.

Proper Foundation Maintenance – Tips From An Engineer

The Dallas Fort Worth area, known as the “Texas Blackland Prairies,” stretches about 300 miles from the Red River in North Texas and down to San Antonio in the South. The land in the Blackland Prairie region is comprised of clay soils with high shrink-swell properties. Clay soils are extremely vulnerable to seasonal moisture fluctuations and tend to shrink in the summer months and expand during the winter. Even so, there are still a few things that you can do to maintain your home’s foundation. Keep reading for tips from a Texas Licensed Professional Engineer on how to preserve your foundation.

When your house was built and the yard and landscaping installed, the natural effects of climate and precipitation on the soils around your home were modified. Over the long-term, the soils will tend to be wetter or have greater volume under the center of the house and will seasonally dry out and shrink near the edges. When these moisture variations occur, the underlying clays experience shrink-swell cycles, and the foundation will attempt to conform to the shape of the supporting soils. This can result in movements of the foundation, which, in turn, stress the walls of the structure above it, i.e., your house. After repeated cycling, stress cracks will eventually appear in the walls and grade beams. Once the cracks appear, they may become progressively worse at an accelerated rate if the shrink-swell cycles are allowed to continue.

Your builder recognized the activity of the soils in this area and designed and constructed your house foundation to accommodate the soil movements as much as possible. While it is virtually impossible to eliminate all movements, controlling the soil moisture content and keeping any
moisture variations relatively constant throughout the years can minimize them. The soil volumes will then remain relatively constant and any related movements will be reduced.

FOUNDATION MAINTENANCE TIPS

Tip #1 – Water Your Foundation

As a homeowner, you can control these moisture variations by implementing a program of proper foundation watering. The purpose of such a program is to maintain a high, uniform moisture level in the foundation soils by restoring the moisture lost to seepage, evaporation, and plant transpiration. This watering can be accomplished by either a properly designed lawn sprinkler system or by a separate foundation watering system using soaker hoses or drip irrigation tubes. In either case, artificial precipitation should be applied evenly to the soils near the foundation year-round. Obviously, the watering can be postponed if the natural precipitation is sufficient. The water should be applied slowly to allow absorption and prevent runoff. To verify the adequacy of the watering program, surface soils should be routinely checked for shrinkage, cracking, and/or pulling away from the foundation. If either condition develops, or if landscaping shows moisture stress such as wilting or leaf drop, the
frequency and amount of watering should be increased. Root growth of trees and shrubs should also be directed away from the foundation by adequate watering and fertilization of the yard away from the house. It should also be noted that sprinkler systems alone seldom supply the needed moisture to the soils around our home’s foundation in times of extended dry conditions. However, this can usually be best accomplished with SMART irrigation. You may contact North Texas’ pioneering company in this technology, Lee Engineering for design guidance and operation for optimal performance specific to your home. At a minimum, a soaker hose should be utilized around the foundation of your home to supplement dry weather
conditions until a more precise system customized for your home can be implemented.

Tip #2 –Perform Routine Visual Inspections

Make it a habit to inspect the interior and exterior of your home for signs of foundation damage. In Texas, foundation settling is very common, but it’s important to act quickly when you see signs of foundation problems. Inspect your home for the following signs of foundation settling:
◼️ Interior cracks in the sheetrock
◼️ Exterior cracks in brick and mortar
◼️ Cracks in concrete patios, porches, and sidewalks
◼️ Frieze board separation
◼️ Uneven flooring
◼️ Jammed doors and window frames
If you notice any of these common signs of foundation settling, you should have your foundation looked at right away to prevent further damage.

Tip #3 – Never Allow Water to Pool Near Your Foundation

While it is important to maintain moisture in the soils around and beneath the foundation of your home as discussed above, it is equally important that positive drainage away from your home be maintained at all times. Ponding water near the foundation can cause ‘heaving’ (upward movement of the foundation), settlement of the foundation due to over-saturation of the clay soil, or erosion of soil embedment around the foundation. Sloping the soils away from the home and preventing water from ponding near the foundation is needed to prevent ‘heaving’ of the soils. We recommend that a full gutter system with gutter extensions be maintained to discharge a minimum of 5 feet from the foundation (not in landscaped flower beds or any other location that will trap water near the foundation). In some cases, a drainage system may be necessary to move water far enough away from the home. If ponding is noticed near the foundation during the rainy season, consult with a licensed engineer to determine the correct drainage repair so as to not adversely affect the foundation of your home. 

Foundation drainage guidelines:
• Never allow water to accumulate near your foundation
• Make sure your home has a full gutter system with extensions
• Gutter extensions should discharge away from your foundation (min 5 feet)
• Install drainage solutions when necessary

Tip #4 – Trees

Trees or numerous shrubs growing too close to a foundation can dramatically affect the moisture content of the soils within the zone of influence beneath the structure. Root systems extract large quantities of water from underlying soils and result in large volumetric changes in the soils shrinkage and swelling). As trees absorb water from the soil, the foundation of the home will settle in unsupported areas. Tree or shrub influence may be remediated by manipulating watering patterns, complete removal or installing root barriers. The expansion and contraction of clay soil due to excessive moisture fluctuations and poor drainage are the biggest threat to your home’s foundation. Many homeowners miss the early warning signs of foundation damage.

With these tips, you can do your part to protect your home from foundation problems and preserve your home equity for years to come. With over 20 years of experience providing structural engineering services throughout Dallas – Fort Worth Texas, Thomas Engineering Consultants understands the unique challenges that local expansive soils and weather extremes create. Our services include home inspections, foundation inspections, and structural engineer evaluations. We can help you protect your investment and ensure that your property does not fall victim to these forces.
For more information, visit tecdfw.com.

How To Check For Foundation Problems In Your Home

We understand that your home is a big investment, for many of us it is one of the biggest investments we will make, that is why homeowners need to know how to check for foundation problems that may occur and get them fixed before it is too late.

Texas is notorious for movements in the soil, with our extremely hot summers that dry out the soil causing it to shirk and our wet winters that put the moisture back, causing two big movements in our foundations each year. Over time this can become detrimental to your home, causing costly issues.

For any homeowner in Texas, it is good to be aware of the signs of foundation problems.  Below are our top 5 signs to look out for in your home.

1. Exterior brick cracks. 

2. Interior cracks opening up larger than a hairline. 

3. Separation around the door and window frames.

4. Doors that are sticking / swinging or locks that are hard to bolt.   

Pay attention to the soil in your yard and around your foundation for cracking and pulling away.  If your soil is getting dry, foundation problems are soon to follow. 

However, do not worry about tile, slab and hairline cracks or if a ball can roll freely on the floor. No slab is built 100% level, so these signs do not mean your house is moving or sinking, some settling is to be expected due to the Texas soil conditions.

If you noticed any of the above issues in your home you should get a contractor to come and evaluate your home, from then the contractor will advise you on the steps to take to avoid these problems getting worse.

If you would like more advice on your potential foundation problems please call us on 817-478-1181 and one of our experienced contractors will be happy to help and schedule a free, no-obligation estimation.

House Foundations: Pros and Cons

For many of us, we don’t think about the foundations of our new home in the buying process but this is something we need to consider when buying in Fort Worth. We’ve put together our expert knowledge on foundation repair and published the pros and cons of each house foundation type.

There are four different types of house foundations:

• Concrete slab
• Pier and beam
• Crawl space
• Basement

Let’s look at each one more closely.

Concrete Slab Foundations

Concrete Slab foundations are pretty easy to explain. Reinforced by steel rods and drain pipes, concrete slabs are made from—you guessed it—concrete. Concrete is poured over excavated and compacted land, and the house is built directly on top of the slab. Due to its ease, lower cost and versatility, concrete slab foundations are one of the most popular, especially in the Greater Fort Worth Area serviced by Atlas Foundation.

Pros: Concrete Slab foundations are economical, quick, can be built almost anywhere, and are strong. They have less maintenance than other types of foundations and are more fire-resistant. Also, it’s less likely for creepy crawly things to get into your home through the foundation.

Cons: Concrete Slabs do not protect against floodwater as the house remains close to the ground. Also, cracks can occur due to shifts in the weather and moisture levels. Lastly, repairs are more difficult to get through, as it may be necessary to break through the concrete in order to reach the problem.

Pier and Beam Foundations

Pier and Beam foundations are more likely to be seen in the Greater Fort Worth Area on houses built before the 1960s. Concrete or metal piers are secured into the soil with concrete. Beams are built above the piers to support the building. Piers and Beams are also often used for foundation repairs.

Pros: Pier and Beam foundations can be used on sloped landscapes. Also, repairs are can be more economical and less cumbersome than with a slab foundation since problems are easier to reach. They are long-lasting, and since above the ground, prevent termites from attacking your home.

Cons: They might prevent termites, but other creepy-crawly things like rodents might find their way into your Pier and Beam foundation. Also, without proper ventilation, moisture can build up and cause problems such as rot and mould. Finally, if you have a lot of very energetic pets and/or children in the house, the floor can vibrate and creak.

Basement Foundations

Basement foundations are rare in our area of Texas. Basements work better in areas that do not have a lot of ground movement. Houses with basements are built with concrete pillars that border the perimeter of the house and support the above-ground structure.

Pros: The huge advantage of basement foundations is the extra square footage that can be used for living space, storage, laundry—you name it! Also, basements can be a cooler place to spend a hot summer day.

Cons: Basement foundations are expensive. Also, they can be prone to flooding, excess moisture, and mold.

Crawl Space Foundations

Crawl Space foundations have four walls that are built up from the soil, often using some concrete pillars for extra support. The walls support joists that, in turn, support the floor of the house. Think of it like a mini, shallow basement. Crawl Spaces are often built in areas where the soil is difficult to dig. These are also not common in the Greater Fort Worth Area.

Pros: Crawl Spaces protect against high groundwater. Also, airflow underneath helps keep homes cooler in the summer. Plus, there’s extra space under the house to store some outdoor items!

Cons: The summer advantage can be a disadvantage in the winter, as it can be more difficult to heat a home with a crawl space. Also, if moisture gets trapped in the crawl space, or there is little insulation, you have future problems.

Foundation Repair in Fort Worth

If you experience any issues with your foundations our team at Atlas Foundation is the one to call for inspecting and repairing all types of issues. You can trust us to provide quality repairs and expert advice. We have been satisfying homeowners in the Greater Fort Worth area for over 60 years.

How to avoid cracks in your home caused by foundation movement

Interior and exterior cracks are a common issue we face here in Texas as we experience hot dry summers. When we begin to notice movement, it is essential to stop and / or correct it before more problems follow.

We’ve put together some tips to keep your foundations healthy year-round.

Water your foundations regularly

Watering your foundations multiple days, a week is essential. If you have a drip irrigation system in place, make sure this it is set at a minimum to water every other day for several hours. During our warmer and drier months, you may want to water every day if soil around the foundation appears to be dry and cracking.

Moisture Levels

While sprinklers will help moisten the ground and water the grass, they will not maintain proper water moisture soil content. By installing a drip irrigation system or soaker hoses you can assure that the moisture is able to penetrate deeper into the ground, helping to protect your slab.

Drainage is important

While it is important to water your foundation, it is also important to ensure that the water is not allowed to pool around your house for extended periods of time.

When soil stays too wet it can begin to expand and that movement will cause walls to crack. This is especially true if plumbing leaks are allowed to continually dump water under the slab.

Be careful where you plant your trees

Trees and shrubs can make your house feel like a home but planting them too close to your foundation can cause issues in years to come. During our dry season, the trees will pull moisture from the soil and can cause the foundations to settle unevenly and begin to form cracks.

Use a foundation contractor you can trust

For those who are already dealing with cracks in their foundation or concerned about other signs of movement, you must use a concrete repairs contractor that you can trust.

Atlas Foundation Co is a family-owned and operated business servicing the foundation repair needs of homeowners in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas and have been for the past 60 years. See what our clients have said about our foundation repair work in our reviews!

If you are looking a foundation contractor get in touch with our team or you can request a free quote online below.

Why should concrete leveling be at the top of your to-do list?

When we have visitors to our homes, we want them to be safe and have fun, but when we have uneven concrete that fun can be cut short when a loved one trips over an uneven surface.

Concrete lifting should be at the top of your to-do list for several reasons, we have delved into a few of these reasons below.

Increasing the safety of your family and friends

We want to decrease the risk to our loved ones while they visit our home. Enjoy time outside without the worry of an uneven sidewalk catching them off guard!

It is more cost-effective than a complete replacement

If you leave your concrete uneven for a long period it will become harder to repair with concrete levelling and a full concrete replacement will be needed which can be costly.

It can increase the value of your house

If you have plans to put your home on the market, you should look to have this concrete lifting work carried out before instructing a surveyor. Having a presentable, safe yard will help increase the value of your home on the market.

Less likely to have problems caused by water damage

Texas downpour can have a lasting effect on your concrete if it remains uneven. Water follows the path of least resistance and will end in the gaps in the concrete.

Help the environment

By opting for a concrete levelling service, rather than a full concrete replacement you will be helping avoid sending concrete into a landfill.

If you have any questions about our Fort Worth concrete levelling service check out our FAQ’s here. For a quote from our team, please fill in the below form and our team will be in touch!

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