Owner`s manual

Additional resources:
Your county family living agent, your
local emergency government office, the
American Red Cross, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency
Related publications:
"Repairing Your Flooded Home," the
American Red Cross/Federal Emergency
♦ Buckled walls. Signs of buckling include horizontal cracking and
areas that have moved out of vertical alignment. When this condition
is minor, you need not repair the wall immediately. However, any
noticeably buckled wall will eventually collapse from normal ground
pressures and seasonal temperature changes. When buckling has
seriously weakened the wall, the damaged parts should be rebuilt
immediately. Pilasters (vertical reinforcements) may need to be
constructed into walls over 15 feet long.
♦ Settled walls and footings are indicated by vertical cracks either in
small areas or throughout the structure. Repairs are difficult without
special equipment. Contact a reliable contractor for this work.
♦ Heaved floors are those that have not returned to their original level
or have cracked badly. The floor may have to be removed and a new
floor constructed. If a floor is badly cracked, but has returned to its
original level, a new floor may be placed over the old one. A vapor
barrier should be added between the two floors. The new floor should
be at least 2 inches thick.
In houses without basements, the area below the floor may be completely
filled with mud. Shovel out the mud as soon as possible to avoid rotting
joists or foundation wood.
Information from: University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania State University Cooperative Extension Service, University of
Missouri Extension
University of Wisconsin-Extension • Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of Wisconsin-Extension • Cooperative Extension