Foundation Repair

Sinking Foundations

Uneven floors, cracks in walls, and sticking doors are all signs that your home may be experiencing a sinking foundation, and need sinking foundation repair. Ignoring these issues can lead to serious structural damage, putting your home’s safety at risk and resulting in costly repairs.

At Helitech, we understand how important it is to address foundation problems early. Addressing these issues promptly is crucial for fixing house foundation problems and preventing further structural damage. Our experienced team provides customized solutions to stabilize and repair your home’s foundation, ensuring long-lasting protection. If you’re noticing signs of a sinking foundation, contact us today for a free inspection and expert support.

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Signs Your Foundation Is Sinking

Indoor Signs of a Sinking Foundation

If you live in an older home, creaky and uneven floors might seem normal. But if you start seeing other signs, like wall cracks or doors that stick, it’s a good idea to have a professional check your foundation. These could mean bigger problems, and an expert can help figure out what’s going on and fix it. Recognizing these signs early can help you find sinking foundation repair contractors before the problem becomes too severe.

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to get your foundation checked:

Uneven Floors: Floors that sag or dip, especially toward the center of the home, could mean foundation trouble.
Sticking Doors: Difficulty closing interior doors can be a sign of shifting foundations.
Wall Cracks: Large or sudden cracks in basement walls, drywall, or plaster might indicate a sinking foundation.
Rotting or Moldy Crawl Space: Moisture in your crawl space leading to rot or mold in the crawl space suggests possible foundation settlement.

Outdoor Signs of a Sinking Foundation

It can be fairly easy to spot a sinking foundation from the exterior of your home—especially if you know what to look for.

Here are some outdoor signs of a sinking foundation:

Foundation Cracks: Watch for large cracks on foundation walls, but skip worrying about small hairline fractures.
Wall or Foundation Rotation: Exterior walls or corners that appear tilted or off-center may indicate foundation sinking.
Cracked Brick: Vertical or stair-step cracks in brick walls suggest foundation stress and possible sinking.
Steps Pulling Away: Exterior concrete steps that have shifted away from the house could point to waterproofing problems and foundation issues.

What Causes Sinking Foundations?

Understanding the cause of your sinking foundation is key to figuring out how bad the damage is and which repair method is best for your situation. These are the most common causes of sinking foundations.

Helitech Pro Tip: One way to prevent a sinking foundation is with an expertly installed yard drainage solution in combination with basement waterproofing. Moving water away from your home helps prevent soil expansion and contraction.

Water

Water in and around your foundation is never a good thing. Variations in moisture levels throughout the year can cause your foundation to swell and shrink. These variations combined with the sheer weight of your home lead to foundation movement and, eventually, cracking.

Expansive Soils

Not all foundation soils are made alike. Issues with water are compounded when paired with an expansive soil, such as one with a high clay content. These soils do not settle evenly, which leads to foundation cracks and sinking.

Outdated Construction

What if you have excellent yard drainage and your soil is low in clay but you’re still experiencing foundation issues? Outdated construction processes may be the culprit. Outdated methods may not have taken your soil type into account, for instance. While you shouldn’t discount this cause if you have a newer home (mistakes are always possible), you may be at higher risk if your home’s foundation is fairly old.

Frequently Asked Questions

The duration of sinking foundation repair varies depending on the severity of the damage and the specific repair methods employed. Minor repairs might be completed within a few days, while more extensive projects involving multiple piers or significant structural adjustments could take several weeks. When you call Helitech for a free inspection, we’ll provide a detailed assessment and a projected timeline for your specific repair.

Generally, homeowners insurance policies do not cover foundation damage caused by natural settling, expansive soils, or earth movement, as these are often considered maintenance issues or natural disasters. However, if the damage is sudden and accidental, such as a burst pipe causing soil erosion or a specific covered peril, some coverage might apply. It is always best to review your specific policy and consult with your insurance provider for clarification.

The cost of sinking foundation repair is highly variable, influenced by factors such as the extent of the damage, the type of soil, the chosen repair method (helical piers, resistance piers, or slab piers), and the accessibility of the affected area. Helitech offers a no-obligation inspection to accurately assess your situation and provide a precise, customized estimate.

While some factors contributing to foundation sinking are beyond anyone’s control, proactive measures can significantly reduce the risk. Ensuring proper basement waterproofing and implementing effective yard drainage solutions to divert water away from your foundation can help manage soil moisture, which is a primary cause of foundation movement. Regular home maintenance and professional inspections can also help you identify and address potential issues early.

Sinking Foundation Repair Methods

We employ several reliable foundation repair techniques, with piering being the top choice for addressing sinking and settlement issues. Known as underpinning or piling, this method shifts your home’s weight to deeper, sturdier soil, ensuring a stable and long-term solution for your foundation.

Helical piers feature helical plates, or “helices,” welded to a central steel shaft that functions like a screw, anchoring the pier deep into the soil. These helices act as end-bearing plates, distributing the weight of your home across a stable surface area, ensuring strong support.

Best Used For: Ideal for locations where bedrock is deeper, helical piers rely on load-bearing clay and helical flights for robust, lasting support.

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Our Resistance Pier system uses hydraulic pressure to drive steel piers deep into the soil, relying on the building’s weight to push the piers to stable ground. This approach allows for different types of piers based on the specific foundation, soil conditions, and load requirements, ensuring tailored support.

Best Used For: Resistance piers are ideal when bedrock is shallow. They effectively transfer the weight of your home to stable soil, providing a solid foundation.

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For slab foundations that are settling, the solution is installing slab piers. First, small holes are drilled into the slab, allowing a helical anchor to be driven deep into the soil until it reaches stable ground. A steel bracket is then inserted into the drilled holes, securely connecting the anchor to the slab. This method transfers the weight of your home to more stable, load-bearing soil, much like traditional Helical Piers.

Best Used For: Ideal for stabilizing and supporting concrete slabs that are cracking or sinking.

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Heal Your Home With Helitech

Kevin Williams was great, explained everything pretty quickly.

Angie I.

ST. LOUIS, MO

Helitech and especially Jake O. did a great job in helping me solve our sump pump and power issue. The quality of inspection, analysis, and resolution recommendations was thorough and professional. The value/cost was appropriate for the services and products provided. The installation was timely, efficient, and well done. Jake explained the details, features, and operation of the equipment extremely well. It was a great experience, especially Jake O.!

Brett B

Very professional from start to finish. They do an excellent job explaining the entire process and in a way anyone could understand. I highly recommend Helitech to anyone in need of this kind of service.

Chris H.

STEPHENS, MO

One area of our basement was leaking following periods of excessive rain. This was approx. 5 years ago. We called upon Helietech to help resolve our issue. They were prompt & courteous and found the issue quickly and sealed the area of concern. Not one single issue since then. We were very pleased with the quality of work performed!