When you need concrete slab foundation repair, you might be uncertain about your options or whom to contact. You may be unsure about the cost or delay the repair process because you just don’t want to deal with it. We understand and we’re here to help.
This page offers slab foundation repair tips for Virginia Beach homeowners to help you better understand the process.
Water lines often run through or under concrete slabs, so any foundation movement can cause pipes to bend or break. Watch for unexplained increases in water bills, the sound of running water when no fixtures are in use, or damp spots on your floor. This may indicate a slab leak.
Unlevel floors are a significant indicator of differential settlement in a slab foundation. Settlement may worsen over time, causing trip hazards.
Noticeable floor gaps between baseboards and the interior flooring indicate foundation settlement. This may worsen over time if left unaddressed.
Sticking doors and windows are one of the earliest visible signs homeowners notice. Slab foundation movement can cause door and window frames to become misaligned, making them difficult to open or close or function correctly.
Visible foundation cracks in concrete floors, especially those wider than 1/8 inch, can signal serious issues. Tile floors may develop cracks or loose tiles as the foundation shifts.
Uneven areas or visible depressions in the concrete slab indicate foundation settlement or a sinking concrete slab. The soil beneath the slab often causes this when it shrinks, compresses, or washes away.
Diagonal cracks extending from the corners of doors and windows may indicate foundation movement. Stair-step cracks in exterior brickwork may be a sign of foundation settling. Drywall cracks and nail pops may also indicate slab foundation damage.
Poor foundation drainage causes water to collect around your house, eventually leading to soil erosion and settlement. After rain, check for water pooling against your home’s perimeter. Ensure proper drainage systems and yard grading.
These warning signs may indicate underlying issues that require slab foundation repair. What causes slab foundation problems in Virginia Beach? We review them in the section below.
Slab piers are foundation piers installed beneath the damaged foundation, deep into more stable, load-bearing soil. These heavy-duty steel support piers provide extreme strength, lift, and long-term stabilization for concrete slab foundation repair in Virginia Beach. Installation involves:
Minor settlement issues that require a more targeted solution may require additional support. Polyurethane foam injection is sometimes used for slab foundation repair to lift and level slabs. This waterproof and environmentally-friendly solution is ideal for driveways, sidewalks, garages, porches, patios, and some interior floors. However, poly foam is not a stand-alone solution for extensive slab foundation damage.
Concrete slab repair is a common event for many homeowners in Virginia Beach. Since foundation problems don’t resolve on their own and can worsen, you should contact a local concrete slab repair professional for a free inspection.
Choosing a reputable, local slab foundation repair professional in Virginia Beach is just as important as the repair itself. Here’s what to look for:
Long-term concrete slab foundation repair in Virginia Beach requires local professionals who are familiar with the regional soil conditions, weather, and other area-specific challenges.
Choose professionals who use proven repair methods and have extensive knowledge in slab foundation repair in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
All local concrete slab repair professionals should carry valid licensing and insurance. They should offer a no-obligation written cost estimate before the repairs begin and a warranty for the completed repairs.
Legitimate foundation repair professionals should have positive customer reviews and evidence of quality past work. Flexible financing options are also a plus.
Homes are different, so your slab foundation repair should be, too. A thorough inspection helps diagnose the underlying cause of the damage and address the issue with long-term repairs specific to your home.
Slab foundation professionals in Virginia Beach, like JES, create tailored repair plans specific to your unique home and your budget.
Choose a local professional who strategizes your repair and creates a solution just for you.
Proven and advanced methods ensure your slab foundation repair lasts. Protecting your family and peace of mind is invaluable, so invest time in selecting a local professional who provides quality concrete slab repair using time-tested methods.
Assessing your foundation’s condition thoroughly helps ensure long-term results through proper repair. Choose a local foundation repair professional who offers free inspections and no-obligation estimates. Remember: Professionals should never pressure you to make a decision or make you feel uncomfortable.
Concrete slab foundation repair may feel like a burden, but addressing problems with quality solutions is worth your time. If you’re unsure about the condition of your slab foundation, contact JES Foundation Repair for a free inspection. Our local, certified team has extensive training addressing concrete slab foundations in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and surrounding areas. For over 30 years, we’ve helped countless homeowners restore stability to their foundations. Trust us to help you, too.
Contact us today for your free inspection and to learn more about slab foundation repair for your home.
What are your options when it comes to slab foundation repair? The good news is, there are many ways to repair a broken slab concrete foundation. However, you need to make sure you’re using a repair that will actually work for your needs.
The best repair will depend on your specific situation. These are some options that may be available to you.
If the problem isn’t structural and is only aesthetic, like if the concrete has shrunk from drying, you may be able to fix it with a concrete patch. This goes over the top of the crack with new concrete, blending it into the rest of the foundation.
However, you can’t just apply a concrete patch and be done with it. If the problem is actually structural, this crack will just come back and you’ll have to fix it again.
Some problems might go away with a concrete patch, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation. Only a JES inspection can actually help you determine the problem.
This is another potential option that works for larger cracks. You can blend the caulk into the rest of the foundation and create a solution that isn’t very visible, especially at just a quick glance.
However, like the concrete patch, it’s mostly a superficial fix. You can’t use this fix if the problem stems from a structural issue; it’s only useful for superficial problems that you want to cover over.
You may be able to do this one on your own, but only in very specific circumstances. Otherwise, you’re just ignoring the real problem. A JES expert will let you know whether you can caulk over the crack or whether you need much deeper fixes.
This is the only way to really know what’s going on with your foundation. You may have a general idea from the issues you’re seeing in your foundation, but you probably don’t have very much insight into the actual problems happening behind the scenes.
An inspection by one of the experts at JES will help you understand a little more about what’s going on with your foundation. This way, you’ll learn more about your foundation, the state of your home as a whole, and how you can fix these cracks.
Don’t leave a crack in your slab foundation until you simply can’t ignore it any longer. Instead, get in contact with a JES expert to learn more about what you can do to fix it.
Before looking at the reasons to repair your uneven concrete slab, you should probably first understand what causes it. That way, you’ll know what the various repair possibilities are that can help your concrete slab rise back up.
There are three very common reasons to encounter an uneven concrete slab.
By far the most common reason for an uneven slab foundation is house settling. It’s common for homes to experience some amount of settling through the years, and as the home settles, it might settle slightly differently in different areas.
If there’s a concrete slab or multiple concrete slabs on and around your home, that settling will start to show up in a very obvious way. The slabs might not match up, because they’re settling differently. If it’s settling too much, that will become even more apparent.
This is one way that house settling happens. Freeze-thaw cycling describes the way the ground outside freezes, then thaws depending on the temperature outside. In home repair terms, that means when the ground freezes, it expands or swells upwards (frost heaving), and when it thaws, it compacts.
This expanding and contracting isn’t great for a home. You can see the same thing happen with water and droughts, which also causes the soil to expand and contract. If this happens underneath a concrete slab, it’s easy for the slab to raise or lower.
You might also experience an uneven concrete slab if the original construction crew utilized poor planning when laying that concrete. Did the construction crew mix the concrete properly? Did the designer construct the foundation so it all bears the weight equally?
Though this is the least common reason for uneven concrete, it’s still an important one to pay attention to. Poor planning can impact a substantial amount of your home. If the original construction crew and designers didn’t plan the home properly, you need to know that for the rest of the structure.
Slab piers may be recommended if your slab foundation is settling and causing symptoms such as wall or floor cracks, uneven floors, or sticking doors and windows. However, not all foundation problems require slab piers. During a free inspection, JES Foundation Repair’s trained and certified professionals will evaluate your home’s foundation and recommend the most appropriate repair solution based on the cause of the damage.
Groundworks Editorial Team
Understanding why concrete slab foundation damage occurs helps you better address the issues with slab foundation repair solutions that target the underlying cause of damage. Targeting the root cause of damage provides a longer-term repair than addressing the cosmetic concern. Let’s explore the options for concrete slab foundation repair in Virginia Beach.
