Foundation Repair
Permanently address foundation settlement, wall cracks, and structural instability with JES Foundation Repair's lasting foundation repair solutions.
Get Your Free EstimateFoundation Problem Signs
Your foundation supports your house, so it’s crucial for your safety to maintain it. Here are some signs that your foundation needs repair:
Nail Pops
Learn how to repair drywall nail pops with tailored strategies that deliver lasting results. JES Foundation Repair offers free inspections and professional, long-term solutions.
Drywall Cracks
Drywall cracks often signal more than cosmetic damage; they may indicate foundation issues. Learn how to repair drywall cracks and why prompt action protects your home. JES offers free inspections.
Cracks in Basement Floor
Discover the causes and solutions for basement floor cracks in this comprehensive guide from JES Foundation Repair.
Foundation Wall Cracks
A crack in the foundation wall can be a warning sign. Discover the reasons behind these cracks and the ways to address them.
If you notice wall cracks in your home, they may indicate a larger foundation problem. Together with drywall nail pops, uneven floors, and sticking windows, signs of potential foundation failure might be all over your home. If you think that yours is in trouble, call the experts at JES Foundation Repair for a comprehensive inspection of your home. We have proven solutions to restore your foundation and the warranties to back them up.
Causes of Foundation Damage
There are numerous reasons your house may have these problems. Most of these causes stem from the ground.
Expansive soils create foundation damage. Expansive soils, including, clay soil, shrink-swell, and heavable soil, are all different names for the same thing. Expansive soils are responsible for more damage to buildings than any other natural hazard.
This type of soil contains minerals like smectite clays, which absorb a lot of moisture. As the expansive soil soaks up water it expands – up to 15 times its dry volume. Furthermore, the expanded soil then pushes against your foundation and creates cracks or waterproofing problems.
In fact, as the expansive soil dries, it shrinks. The soil shrinkage gives your foundation room to move around. Consequently, this extra room removes the support from your foundation and will cause cracks, settling, and other foundation damage. The pressure of expansive soils against your foundation can exceed 30,000 pounds per square foot.
Deep foundations require a type of foundation repair that has support columns, pillars, or piles. These piers are driven deep into the ground or until they reach bedrock. This is done to provide additional stabilization when the surface soil can no longer support the weight of your home.
These types of foundations require solutions which address problems like settlement or stair-step cracked bricks. For example, if your home has cracked bricks caused by settlement, push piers or resistance piles may be installed. The piers are installed beneath your home’s foundation footing and then driven into bedrock or stable soil.
The piers are installed into stable soil or bedrock because it prevents further settlement and movement. Furthermore, the resistance provided by the stable soil can even help lift your home back to its original level.
When the soil your home is built on can no longer support the weight of your home, the structure will start to settle. An expert may recommend installing a deep foundation system to stabilize your home.
Deep foundation soils and deep foundation systems are best understood by starting with the ground. Soil is made up of obvious layers which have different qualities and are a good indicator of how deep you need to extend your foundation.
The top layers of soil compress and easily compact – this is where settlement occurs and where you’ll find problem soils like expansive clay. The deeper soil layers, like parent rock, are stable and less likely to move. This is why a deep foundation pier system is installed into competent load bearing soils or bedrock.
Award-Winning Service
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The JES team was amazing and I am so grateful for their patience and time. I had concerns going into the project and there were some…
The JES team was amazing and I am so grateful for their patience and time. I had concerns going into the project and there were some changes I didn’t expect, but each concern was taken seriously. Thank you to the Superintendent Rudy Gonzalez and his team: Jose Lopez, Victorino Jonya, Ernesto Castillo. Truly these guys worked hard, kept me informed, and chose what was best for my home at each decision.
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We contacted JES Foundation Repair after noticing cracks in the walls and uneven floors around the house. They scheduled an inspection…
We contacted JES Foundation Repair after noticing cracks in the walls and uneven floors around the house. They scheduled an inspection quickly, explained the foundation issues in a way that was easy to understand, and gave us a clear plan for the repairs without making the process feel overwhelming. The crew arrived on time, worked efficiently, and kept the area organized throughout the project. After the repair was completed, the difference was noticeable right away and the house felt much more stable. The entire experience was professional, smooth, and far less stressful than we expected going into it.
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I contacted JES Foundation Repair to fix my sinking driveway and I was completely impressed by the professionalism and dedication…
I contacted JES Foundation Repair to fix my sinking driveway and I was completely impressed by the professionalism and dedication demonstrated by everyone I met. Bryan Rutherford and Morgan Oakley arrived at my home right on time. They were friendly, knowledgeable and efficient. They started working right away, also took the time to thoroughly explain to me the entire process and gave me an accurate estimated time of completion. When the job was about 90% finished, unfortunately a piece of equipment broke down. They finished the remaining tasks as much as they could, cleaned the worksite and promised to come back a week later to complete the job, as soon as the faulty equipment was fixed. To my surprise, Bryan called me the next morning and told me that he’d be back on that day, as he was concerned about the unsealed area of the driveway and wanted to take care of it right away. He managed to find a workaround, drove to my house (out of his way) and completed the remaining job. They did such a fantastic job my driveway almost looks like a new one again! Thank you, Bryan, Morgan, Jesse for your help. I would not hesitate to recommend JES Foundation Repair to anyone in need of reliable and trustworthy concrete repair.
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Great that I don’t have to remember maintenance visit scheduling. This was my second annual inspection, and Cody McCarter did a great job…
Great that I don’t have to remember maintenance visit scheduling. This was my second annual inspection, and Cody McCarter did a great job of explaining what he was doing and looking for any other issues of concern. Would highly recommend.
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The crew that worked at our Ballard Drive address did an excellent job. Ibrahim was exceptionally polite and respectful. He would give an…
The crew that worked at our Ballard Drive address did an excellent job. Ibrahim was exceptionally polite and respectful. He would give an update at the end of each day and was perfectly correct on their target date to complete.
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Barry Kennedy was very thorough in his inspection and explained everything we had questions about. He was extremely pleasant and…
Barry Kennedy was very thorough in his inspection and explained everything we had questions about. He was extremely pleasant and professional. We definitely were pleased.
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First and foremost, I NEVER write reviews; however, I found it necessary in this case because the two young men who came to perform the…
First and foremost, I NEVER write reviews; however, I found it necessary in this case because the two young men who came to perform the work were true professionals. Foreman Michael Kuffour and Co-foreman Alan Brown arrived on time! They professionally introduced themselves. I felt immediately at ease because once I directed them to the area that needed repair, they quickly communicated operation issues and recommended changes so that the work to be performed was accurately understood in layperson's terms. They utilized precision measuring instruments and fixtures to measure the dimensions of finished work pieces: downspouts and sump pump operations. They were extremely conscientious and ensured that work complied with all relevant codes, standards, and job specifications. They followed procedures to maintain the work environment neat and orderly. Mike, the Project Supervisor, arrived. Mike was knowledgeable and provided information on further work and any materials and equipment needed. He communicated ways to gain efficiencies and more effective installation methods in collaboration with us (the customer), which I greatly appreciated so that we could meet the goals and work towards a final resolution to our water problem. He inspected the Encapsulation work under the crawl space also. Once the meeting was over, I felt secure that the remainder of the result would be proficiently performed and up to code. I recommend JES to anyone, for they provide A-1 work. The guys that they sent were tens (10) in every sense. For this, I give them five stars ***** . Thank You
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James Cook was so helpful during my inspection!!
James Cook was so helpful during my inspection!!
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Lee was awesome. On time. Professional. Friendly. Got the job done in brilliant fashion. Highly recommended.
Lee was awesome. On time. Professional. Friendly. Got the job done in brilliant fashion. Highly recommended.
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We had our encapsulation serviced today by Andre Williams, excellent service l, kind respectful and competent. Great work!
We had our encapsulation serviced today by Andre Williams, excellent service l, kind respectful and competent. Great work!
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Taylor Jeffries did an amazing job explaining what my home situation requires. Straight forward and honest experience.
Taylor Jeffries did an amazing job explaining what my home situation requires. Straight forward and honest experience.
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Justin Walton ws prompt and through with his inspection of my basement. The water issue was coming from the home next door but he still…
Justin Walton ws prompt and through with his inspection of my basement. The water issue was coming from the home next door but he still took the time to verify that there weren't any other underlying issue in the basement.
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Andre Williams I'm surprise at how well he explained every thing about sump and circuit. I was thinking how much. I know everyone talks how …
Andre Williams I'm surprise at how well he explained every thing about sump and circuit. I was thinking how much. I know everyone talks how Professional I know he is the thing he made sure I understood everything. He was great
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Mr. Chris Good ofJES. Performed an exceptional inspection of our Church basement and crawl space. He provided detailed information and…
Mr. Chris Good ofJES. Performed an exceptional inspection of our Church basement and crawl space. He provided detailed information and pictures so we can now proceed forward. Thank you.
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Blake Snidow omg he was great and helped us with soo much.
Blake Snidow omg he was great and helped us with soo much.
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I recently had to have some foundation work done to my home as well as getting it encapsulated. We decided to go with JES Foundation Repair …
I recently had to have some foundation work done to my home as well as getting it encapsulated. We decided to go with JES Foundation Repair and could not have been anymore pleased. It was a 4 day job and we had the pleasure of getting to know Joe Autry and Dontay. They arrived every day with a smile on their face ready to go to work. They explained what they were doing each day as they completed the project. Joe Autry and Dontay are a true asset to JES Foundation Repair. If anyone is ever in need of Foundation work or encapsulation JES is the place to call
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Pat Burns explained everything professional and friendly thank you!
Pat Burns explained everything professional and friendly thank you!
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Mike Stehman was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Good company.
Mike Stehman was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Good company.
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James Cook from JES came out today and did a great job with annual inspection. Found an issue with original construction and working to…
James Cook from JES came out today and did a great job with annual inspection. Found an issue with original construction and working to find solutions. Very nice and helpful. Bonus- my dog loved him.
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We are long term clients of JES – Ashland. Recently, we met Zach during our annual check up. He was refreshingly comprehensive in his…
We are long term clients of JES – Ashland. Recently, we met Zach during our annual check up. He was refreshingly comprehensive in his explanation on the condition of our crawl space. In a 90 year old home, things do continue to change and he recommended we adjust the current jack system to stabilize it with some alterations which would adjust and reinforce the aged construction. Additionally we upgraded the dehumidification system. Zach was knowledgeable and efficient. We also would like to commend his supervisor, “J.B.” , who helped coordinate the job and the installation crew. The workers were polite and efficient. We are very pleased with the results. I still don’t know how they could negotiate working in a VERY low crawl space! Thanks expediting the installation by moving the date for us when the permit arrived earlier than expected. Everyone we interacted with made us glad we stayed with JES. You make us feel like “family”.
Foundation Repair Solutions
At JES Foundation Repair, we know that with each problem your foundation is facing, they require a tailored solution that’s customized to its needs. Our variety of solutions and products offer something for every issue and our certified experts will be happy to explain which one is best for your home.
IntelliJack™ Crawl Space Jacks
Need to fix sagging floors? JES Foundation Repair's IntelliJack™ support system stabilizes uneven floors and restores structural stability.
IntelliBrace™ Wall Repair System
Discover how the IntelliBrace™ Wall Repair System from JES permanently stabilizes and straightens bowing basement walls.
Helical Piers
Discover the lifelong stability helical piers offer against foundation settlement, installed by the team at JES Foundation Repair.
Wall Anchors
JES Foundation Repair's wall anchor system stabilizes foundation walls and prevents further deterioration. Learn more here.
Is Foundation Repair the Right Solution for Me?
If you see cracks in your walls or basement floors, drywall nail pops, or a tilting chimney around your house, it’s time for foundation repair. If your foundation is failing, your whole home is at stake. If ignored, it will only get worse.
These foundation problems arise because of the soil around your home contracting and expanding between dry and rainy days. Foundation repair will help you fight against these conditions and keep your home safe and sound for years to come. If you have questions about whether or not foundation repair is right for your home, call your local experts at JES Foundation Repair. We’ll be happy to find the solution right for you.
FAQs
Slab foundations are inexpensive and easy to build, making them a popular foundation choice for many. Unfortunately, they are capable of settling just like any of the slabs on your property.
- How Slab Foundations Settle
Slab foundations settle in the same way your driveway or patio slabs settle—due to soil displacement. A negative yard grade and poor yard drainage all contribute to foundation settling, even with slab foundations. The signs are a lot harder to detect, since homeowners can’t observe the damage to their slab foundation in the same way they can their crawl space or basement.
Besides soil washout, a big factor in foundation soil displacement is pressure. Sandy soils are a lot looser and shifty than clay soils, and because they are less dense, displacement is easy when they have to support large weights. As a house is used over the years and heavy furniture is moved about, the foundation has to support more weight. Over time, this does affect the soil.
- How Settled Slab Foundations Are Repaired
Like any slab on your property, you don’t have to replace a slab foundation once it settles. JES can stabilize and even lift your settling slab foundation using slab piers. They are steel rods that transfer the weight of the house to the competent, load-bearing soils below. Because your slab will no longer rely on loose soil, slab foundations will perpetually support your foundation.
PolyRenewal™ can also be used on a slab foundation. Polyurethane foam is able to support over 100 tons of weight, so it’s more than capable of lifting your foundation. Polyurethane foam can’t always be used for slab foundations, and, sometimes, slab piers are required. You would have to talk to your local foundation expert to determine which one you need for your settling slab.
The specialists at JES Foundation Repair offer a wide variety of solutions for you, depending on what part of your foundation needs repair. If you are looking to realign and stabilize your bowed-in foundation walls, you may want to look into the IntelliBrace™ system, JES Foundation Repair Wall Anchors, or the Carbon Fiber Wall Repair. The IntelliBrace consists of a number of incredibly sturdy I-beams that are installed on the inside of your foundation wall to prevent them from buckling inwards even more. The JES Foundation Repair Wall Anchors are installed underground, directly into the hard, densely packed soil so that it can support your foundation wall from below. The least invasive method goes to the Carbon Fiber system, which has a lightweight, sleek, and non-stretchy design constructed to repair cracks and even provide your foundation wall with much needed stability.
If you are mainly experiencing sagging foundation floors, you may want to look into the various Pier Systems or even the Crawl Space IntelliJack™ Support System. There are 3 pier systems to choose from: the Slab, Helical, and Push Pier Systems. Each pier system is catered to both the type of foundation problem, as well as the space constraints of your landscape. Although the IntelliJack™ was made primarily for sagging floors due to crawl space problems, it can also dually work to support foundation floors that are sinking as well.
Sometimes, the amount of water that builds up around your foundation walls can result in immense pressure against your foundation structure. The SMART VENT Flood Vents offered at JES Foundation Repair provides an alternate pathway for this water so that it does not accumulate onto your foundation wall. This can prevent buckling and structural damage. This water can then be removed via other drainage systems in your home.
Helical piers stabilize a foundation by transferring its weight from weak, shifting soil to deeper, stronger load-bearing soil. Once installed and attached to the foundation, they help stop further settlement and provide long-term support.
Determining the warning signs of foundation problems tends to be a bit tricky for homeowners. It can often be confused with general structural issues that can be fixed with simple solutions that you can do right at home. However, DIY repairs are always highly discouraged because it can be risky and cause potential injury.
Some of the warning signs of foundation problems include:
- Sinking settlements
- Tilted chimneys
- Buckled or cracked walls
- Wood rot around your home perimeter
- Sagging floors
- Uneven doorways and window frames
The foundation of your home is named the foundation for a reason. It is responsible for maintaining many of the structures within your home. Usually, when there is a problem sign in one place, another may appear. It is important to keep an eye out before more drastic problems occur.
Yes, a sinking chimney can indicate foundation problems, especially if the chimney shares a foundation with the home. Foundation settlement, soil movement, or deteriorating support beneath the chimney can cause it to separate from the house, crack, or lean. A professional inspection can determine whether the problem is isolated to the chimney or also affects the home’s foundation.
If you’re dealing with a settling foundation due to soil washout, then you might want to know what your options are. If you do some research, then you’ll hear talk of concrete piers for your foundation, which are meant to stabilize your home so that it won’t settle anymore.
However, concrete piers as a foundation support system are outdated and unreliable. There are plenty of modern options for your foundation that last longer than concrete piers and actually give you bang for your buck.
- Why Concrete Piers Don’t Work
Concrete piers are not capable of lifting your settling foundation. The way they are made and put into place does not allow contractors to exert the required pressure to lift your foundation back into place. What they are meant to do is simply stop the settling and keep your home in its current position; however, this isn’t even a guarantee. This is because the foundation should not rely on the pier system itself to stay stable but rather on the load-bearing soil deep beneath your property.
Concrete piers are not able to reach load-bearing soil depths because they cannot be made long enough to do so. The longer and thinner the concrete pier is, the less weight it’s able to support due to its low tensile strength. Making it bigger won’t help either since the bigger the pier is, the more likely it is to experience skin friction. Once a concrete pier feels the pressure caused by the skin friction, it crumbles under the weight of the house.
- What You Can Do About Foundation Settling
At JES, we offer multiple solutions that are able to reliably stabilize your foundation and possibly lift it back into place as well. We have helical and push piers, as well as slab piers for slab-on-grade. They are long rods made of galvanized steel that are attached to your foundation and buried deep underground. Because of their sleek design, they are capable of reaching load-bearing soil and transferring the weight of your foundation to those soils. These pier systems can mechanically exert pressure onto your foundation until it’s stable once more.
If you have a slab foundation, then we have another repair option for you. You can use PolyRenewal™ to lift your foundation back into place like you would any other slab. It depends on the needs of your home, but utilizing polyurethane foam can lift your foundation until it’s even again without the need for excavation or heavy machinery. The device we use to inject PolyRenewal™ is handheld and small, meaning that it can be used in smaller areas, like your bathroom, if need be.
Wall anchors are one of the most common repair products used to prevent bowing walls from collapsing and return them to their original positioning. Installing these anchors is relatively straightforward, and our team has the tools, skills, and training to give you the results that you need from your wall anchor installation process.
It starts with an assessment of your home and the damaged walls, of course, at which point we will map out the ideal placement for each wall anchor and figure out how many will be needed to get the right result. Once we know where the anchors are going, excavation will begin both inside and outside of your home. The earth anchors will need to be placed in the earth around 10 feet from your home, while holes will be drilled into your foundation walls, so that steel rods can be driven through and connected to the earth anchors. Once they are connected to the anchors, the wall plates can be mounted and connected.
Once the wall anchors have been fully installed, the excavation points can be covered and the interior plates can be disguised. At this point, the damaged wall will have been stabilized and there will be no risk of the wall collapsing expectedly. However, if you are to straighten the wall in question, you will need to have the wall anchors tightened or adjusted a few times. Professionals will do this slowly to prevent causing more damage to the wall.
The Benefits of Foundation Repair
Here the biggest benefits of foundation repair:
Increased Market Value
Structural damage can dramatically decrease your home’s resale value. Repairing your foundation can ensure your home’s value stays where you want it. It reassures future homeowners that it’s safe for them and their families.
Enhanced Structural Safety
Foundation problems compromise your home’s safety. Repairing it will ensure your entire home’s structural integrity for decades to come. Our experts can inspect your home for signs of damage and provide solutions that will enhance its structural integrity.
Improved Living Environment
Foundation cracks can let more moisture into your home, causing mold and mildew growth. A particularly toxic strain of mold, black mold, can be extremely harmful to people with respiratory issues. It can also cause allergies, and in some cases, asthma attacks. By repairing the cracks in your walls and making sure your foundation is stable and secure, you can literally breathe easier.
Common Foundation Repair Tips & Mistakes
Helpful Tips for Foundation Repair:
- Beware of Tree Roots: Expansive tree root systems can compromise your foundation. As they grow, they may butt up against your foundation and crack it. Try to plant any new trees or landscape features at least 20 feet away from the perimeter of your home. This will ensure your foundation is safe from damage.
- Properly Grade Your Yard: It’s important to keep the grading of your landscape in mind. You want a positive grade. Positive yard grade sends water away from your home. Negative grade sends it back towards it. Positive grade can save you from massive foundation problems.
- Maintain Your Gutters: Cleaning out your gutters is an important part of keeping your foundation from cracking. Your gutters prevent rainwater from diving straight down onto the perimeter of your home. Clogged gutters mean potential water damage. A little bit of routine outdoor housekeeping can save you a lot of money.
Mistakes to Avoid:
- Ignoring High Energy Bills: By not fixing a foundation crack you could see higher energy bills. Humid air is far more difficult for your HVAC system to manage. Your AC and heating work to maintain your home’s internal temperature. If you remove the moisture, your system doesn’t work as hard, meaning lower energy bills.
- Ignoring Standing Water: Water near your foundation can threaten it. As the soil gets wet, it expands and begins to push against the foundation walls. This pressure cracks it, and water penetrates it. Install downspouts properly, and extend them at least 8 feet away from the foundation walls so that the water does not accumulate.
- Ignoring Musty Smells: Not only can animals and insects get into your basement, but mold particles can as well. When mold grows, you get that musty basement smell. Mold loves nothing more than a damp, dark space. This can mean worsening allergies or illnesses down the road.
Providing Expert Foundation Repair in Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia & North Carolina
Pennsylvania trusts JES for reliable basement waterproofing, crawl space, foundation, and concrete repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!
Top Cities We Serve
Our Locations
8361 Town Center Ct
Nottingham, MD 21236
311 Central Rd.
Suite 2-02
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
2569 Quality Ct
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
7940 Gainsford Ct.
Bristow, VA 20136
309 Quarles Rd
Ashland, VA 23005
2033 Cook Dr.
Salem, VA 24153
456 Old Courthouse Rd
Appomattox, VA 24522
45 W Boscawen St,
Winchester, VA 22601