Which Foundation Repair Method is Best?

What Is the Best Foundation Repair Method? 

• Foundation Piers — For homes with a sinking foundation, push piers, helical piers, and slab piers can effectively address the issue. These systems are pushed into bedrock below the ground and then attached to your foundation’s footing. This redistributes the weight of your home and stabilizes the foundation.

• Wall Repair — Most often used with basements, wall repair tools fix and prevent bowing and cracking basement walls. Options include wall anchors, steel I-beams, and carbon fiber reinforcement, all of which help restore wall positioning and maintain stability.

• Crawl Space Supports — Do you have a crawl space? Does your home have sagging floors? Installing crawl space support beams will resolve the issue. JES installs the IntelliJack™ system to lift floors back into place.

Working with a professional team like JES can help you determine which foundation repair method is best suited for your home. If you have noticed that something is wrong with your foundation, schedule a free inspection with our team today.

• Cracks 

Whether there are cracks in your house or outside of it, you should consider them a problem. These foundation cracks may signal foundation sinking or other damage, which could worsen. 

• Standing Water 

Is there water in your home’s basement or crawl space? Water intrusion is a sign that your foundation might be compromised. Contact your local foundation repair expert, who can identify the issue and make the necessary repairs. 

• Bowing Walls 

If your basement or crawl space walls are bowing, they may no longer be able to adequately support the weight of your house. Do not panic; it doesn’t mean potential collapse. Foundation repair experts can easily address this issue and restore your home’s safety. 

• Gaps 

Are there large gaps around doors and windows? If you notice these openings and your doors and windows are getting stuck more frequently, call the experts for a free foundation inspection. 

What Causes Foundation Damaged? 

Foundation damage can occur due to various reasons. With regular maintenance and waterproofing systems, you can prevent this problem most of the time. 

Expansive Soils 

If there are expansive soils underneath your home, they can create foundation damage. This type of soil, such as clay soil, is famous for its absorbing powers. When it rains or there is a flood, this type of soil will absorb a lot of moisture and expand. When it expands, it pushes against your foundation, causing cracks and waterproofing problems. On the other hand, when this soil dries, it shrinks. The shrinkage can cause your foundation to settle unevenly into the voids left behind by the shrunken soil. 

Floods and Hydrostatic Pressure

One of the most common causes of damage is water. Whether the flooding is a result of heavy rain and storms, a plumbing problem in the area, melting snow, or plumbing leaks in your own house, the wet ground around your foundation almost always leads to cracks and other structural problems.

When the excess water starts sinking into the soil, it makes the soil exert pressure on your foundation. As a result, hydrostatic pressure can easily cause cracks and water leaks. When this problem occurs, water often ends up leaking into your basement or crawl space.

While the homeowner is busy dealing with the more visible problem first, the water that has leaked into the foundation has already started to cause foundation issues. Therefore, whenever you are dealing with a plumbing leak, have your contractor check the situation with the foundation. 

Drought and Dryness 

Just as excess water can cause a problem, substantial drought can lead to foundation damage as well. When the soil is extremely dry, its particles begin to shrink, making the foundation unstable and causing cracks and leaks. This is why you should make an effort to keep the soil around your home moist at all times. 

Severe Weather 

Natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes can also play an important role when it comes to foundation damage. While the flooding from hurricane rain can cause your soil to expand, an earthquake – no matter how strong – can magnify small foundation cracks. 

Poor Workmanship 

If you have purchased an already built home, you cannot know how much planning and thought went into the construction and which materials were used. If the contractors cut corners and used low-quality materials, you will most likely experience foundation damage at some point. 

Schedule a Free Foundation Inspection With JES Foundation Repair