Foundation Repair

Drought

When moisture is removed from the soil, it shrinks (like a sponge) and will pull away from your foundation. When the soil pulls away, it creates a gap that allows for foundation movement. If your foundation isn’t supported properly, it will shift into the space and cracks will start to appear.

Expansive or Heaving Soil

The type of soil your home is built on makes a big difference in your foundation’s stability. When there’s too much moisture, clay soil expands, causing upheaval. Upheaval is the opposite of settlement; it pushes your foundation up. However, upheaval creates the same problems as settlement.

Consolidating Soil

This is the opposite of expansive soil. Clay soil is also a consolidating soil. When clay soil dries, it constricts, pulling away from your foundation. This can cause the settlement of your house to move and affects your foundation.

Plumbing Leaks

Plumbing leaks add to expansive soil problems. Whether the leak is in your crawl space foundation, exterior plumbing, or city lines; when the soil expands, it’ll push against your foundation.

Nor’easter

If you live on the east coast, chances are you’ve experienced a Nor’easter. These storms can produce flooding, heavy rain, and hurricane force winds. Add these to expansive soil issues and you could end up with foundation cracks and other structural problems.

Poor Drainage

Protecting your foundation is easy as keeping your gutters clear and pointing the downspouts away from your home. These simple steps can help prevent some of the foundation damage caused by poor drainage, expansive soil, or hydrostatic pressure, which is caused by (you guessed it!) too much water.

Poor Construction

Before your home was built, the ground where your foundation is laid should have been prepared. This typically involves testing the soil, compacting the soil, and designing the appropriate footing to support your home.