Deep Foundations

Foundation issues can be repaired if you act within a certain time frame. 

The Worst-Case Scenario 

Damage in foundations will continue to develop and worsen if left unattended—to the point where 

repair work will not be sufficient and replacing the affected parts is the only option. This is a worst-case scenario in which foundation troubles have been left alone for years. 

In most cases, sinking and cracking foundations can be repaired by a JES team. Depending on the cause of the issues, there are different options. Resolving the root cause is a necessity; otherwise, the foundation issues will repeat themselves. 

When Repairs Aren’t Needed 

Poured concrete foundations will commonly see hairline fractures develop as the slab fully cures post-construction. This will happen for a series of months after project completion, and these minor cracks are not a concern. Fractures that are over a set length and width are what you need to be on alert for. Caught early on, these can be repaired easily. 

Foundations can be repaired and reinforced using a variety of JES solutions. To learn what solution your home needs, book a free inspection with one of our foundation repair experts.

As we said above, the root cause of the foundation issue must be resolved to stop it from returning. A number of measures can also be taken as a preventative step to stop deep foundation issues from forming. These include: 

Interior Drains 

Interior drains are effective below-ground drainage systems and are among the best options for effectively collecting seeping water to keep it out of the basement. Asides from being capable of handling a large volume of water, interior drains are perfectly positioned to pull water out of the soil bordering the foundation. This reduces the impact of the hydrostatic pressure and prevents soil from becoming bloated with moisture. 

This water also needs to be drained from the surrounding soil due to the clay bowl effect. This is where the soil surrounding your home is naturally looser due to being disturbed by the construction of the foundation. Earth outside this radius is naturally denser, and it effectively corrals excess moisture toward the basement walls. 

Learn more about JES’ BasementGutter Interior drain system solutions here! 

Sump Pumps 

Any interior drainage system works best when paired with a sump pump system. Once the drains collect water, it needs somewhere to go other than into your basement. The water is then directed to a sump pump so it can be properly removed from your home. Sump pumps are useful for homes that see a heavy volume of water. These pumps ensure that water is forcefully expelled from the home, and are useful for situations where gravity isn’t a reliable force to move the water. 

JES recommends installing a SafeDri^TM Sump Pump alongside basement drainage systems. 

Extended Discharge Lines 

Ensuring that the water is drained from your house, be it from the basement or roof gutters, is discharged outside of the clay bowl goes a long way toward mitigating water damage. Many homes are equipped with discharge lines and outlets that disperse water a mere foot away from the foundation. 

Not only does this open up the potential for water damage and foundation issues, but it can also even create a continuous cycle of water entering and exiting the home. 

An extended discharge line carries water an appropriate distance from the house. Thereby reducing how much water can penetrate the soil bordering the house.

JES provides a variety of repair solutions targeted toward individual problems in deep foundations. Depending on the issue developing in your foundation, one or more of the following solutions may be applicable. 

Reinforcing the Foundation 

Deep foundation issues are often caused by soil settlement over time, and lifelong solutions are essential to protecting the home and its value. JES provides pier system installations that not only can lift the foundation, but also permanently keep it from sinking or heaving again. 

The three solutions JES provides are: 

• Helical Pier Systems 
• Slab Pier Systems 
• Push Pier Systems 

These support structures extend from beneath the foundation to the hard-packed bedrock beneath your home. This layer of earth offers incredible stability, and by drilling down and extending pier systems to the bedrock, homes benefit from its integrity. 

Strengthening the Walls 

Deep foundation walls require tailored solutions based on the severity and location of the damage. JES’ solutions not only halt wall cracks, bowing, and buckling but can reverse the damage over time. 

Depending on the available space outside of your home, a JES expert will recommend one either an anchoring system, such as our Wall Anchors, Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement or an IntelliBrace^TM System. 

Supporting the Crawl Space 

Although not always necessary for deep foundation repair, reinforcing the crawl space with IntelliJack^TM supports can be important for stabilizing internal structures damaged by deep foundation issues including sagging or bouncy floors. 

Yearly Inspections 

JES recommends inspecting your basement and foundation yearly for any problem signs. Increase the frequency of these health checks should there be any basement issues, such as foundation cracks from sinking or raising, ill-fitting window and door frames, and water issues in the basement.