Foundation Problems Should Not Be Ignored: Foundation Repair Is Crucial to Your Home's Long-Term Health

Your foundation is the support system for your entire house, so if it fails your home could literally come tumbling down! If your home has developed foundation cracks, signs of settling, or other indications that your foundation may no longer be entirely sound, it's important to call your basement contractor today. Professional foundation contractors can evaluate your home for signs of damage and take the proper steps to ensure your foundation is sturdy enough to support your home for years to come.


Signs of foundation problems frequently manifest themselves throughout your home, not just in the basement itself. So if you're concerned about foundation shifting or settling, check for:

• Drywall cracks


• Sticking doors or windows


• Gaps between walls and ceilings/floors


• Nails coming out of drywall


• Windows out of square


• Floor cracks


• Sloping or unlevel flooring


• Cracks in foundation

Exterior indications may include:

• Masonry cracks


• Gaps between bricks and doors/windows/garage doors


• Gaps between chimney and house


• Sagging roof line

These symptoms are all warnings that your foundation is facing major problems, from settling to bowing and wall cracks. These issues can be caused by poor site drainage, soil upheaval, construction on non-compacted fill, major plumbing leaks, and poor foundation construction (relative to site conditions). If you notice ANY of these signs, call a foundation repair specialist immediately. It's important to get your foundation on the road to recovery ASAP. The good news is that the professionals will repair your foundation, ensuring your home is adequately supported.


There are a wide variety of solutions for foundation problems, each tailored to suit the particular condition and causes of your home's issues. Home foundation repair can include:


Wall stabilization: When your foundation fails to stand up to the pressure exerted on its exterior walls, it can crack, bow, crumble, and shift. Wall stabilization reinforces and supports stressed foundation walls, strengthening them and preventing further damage. Ideal for all types of foundations (including poured concrete, cinder block, brick, and clay tile), we recommend a carbon fiber stabilizer applied to your foundation walls with high-tech polymers. With wall stabilizers in place, your foundation will be fortified enough to resist hydrostatic and soil pressure for long-term strength and support.


Piering: If your home is deteriorating due to settling, piering is the solution to stabilize your foundation and halt the further progression of damage. This system actually combats settling by supporting and lifting your foundation. In fact, masonry and brickwork cracks can frequently be closed, effectively undoing the damage! Using helical piers, piles, and anchors to secure and raise settled portions of your foundation, your pier system is custom designed with your home's needs in mind--ensuring that once installed, your home will be safe from additional settling.


Foundation crack repair: Foundation crack repair is available in two effective solutions. One option is to simply fill the crack with a polyurethane sealant. The other is to use a hydrophobic membrane to cover and waterproof the area. Most homeowners pair both solutions for total foundation and moisture protection.


Basement waterproofing: If your foundation problems are being caused by poor drainage, we recommend a basement waterproofing system. Because moisture can exacerbate cracks, pressure, and other issues, it's best to ensure that water is not leaking into your basement. While waterproofing won't fix existing damage, in tandem with foundation repair it can help your home avoid future problems.


Don't wait if your foundation is settling or cracking. Foundation problems will only get worse, not better, and as time progresses, they will continue to decrease your property value and increase instability. Your foundation contractors are here to help, so contact them today to learn more about solutions for foundation repair.

Bob Westman is the assistant Internet marketing manager for Prospect Genius, a leader in SEO for local service providers.