Foundation Repair
Foundation Repair in Pittsburgh, PA
Cracks in your home’s foundation can cause major structural issues that affect the stability, safety, value, and comfort of your home. Even a minor crack or small problem can get bigger over time, eventually requiring extensive, expensive repairs. It’s best to be proactive about scheduling foundation inspections and fixing issues quickly to avoid further problems. At Everdry Waterproofing of Pittsburgh PA, we have decades of experience in foundation repair. We provide highly individualized, comprehensive foundation repair and crawl space and basement waterproofing services that will enhance the safety, comfort, and value of your home. Call us to schedule an in-home assessment for foundation repair in Pittsburgh, PA.
Identifying Foundation Problems
The sooner you identify foundation problems, the better. Problems will just get bigger, more dangerous, and more expensive over time. Your home’s foundation will settle naturally as it ages. Soil erosion, heavy storms, and frequent freezing and thawing of the earth can lead to structural issues with your home’s foundation. If you notice any of these signs you need foundation repair, call our team right away:
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- Cracks, chips, or breaks in your home’s foundation.
- Shifting or displaced moldings.
- Cracked or chipped bricks.
- Bowing walls or walls that appear to be rotating.
- Cracks in your walls.
- Separation around the walls and ceiling, walls and floors, or the garage door.
- Uneven floors.
- Sagging floors or ceilings.
- Cracks in the floor.
- Doors and windows that look crooked or misaligned.
What Are The Causes of Foundation Damage?
Many different issues can work together to cause foundation damage. In some cases, one issue can be extreme enough to cause major issues. The most common causes of foundation damage are:
- Water Damage – One of the most common causes of foundation damage is water. Frequent storms, flooding, burst pipes, or leaking appliances can cause major water damage to your foundation. When water seeps into your foundation, it eventually erodes it and causes cracks and chips. If you have poor drainage around your foundation, you are more likely to have issues with water pooling or collecting around your foundation.
- Shifting or Eroding Soil – The soil under your home will expand and shrink over time. Eventually, this will cause the ground underneath your foundation to become unstable. Poor drainage can also lead to soil erosion. This can cause deep voids underneath your home, eventually leading to cracks, structural problems, and a tilted home.
- Sinkholes – Sinkholes are not a common cause of foundation problems, but they can occur. If soil erosion is severe enough, a sinkhole can form under your home. Sinkholes can also form naturally, and the signs of a potential sinkhole near your home are tilting trees and telephone poles, trouble closing windows and doors, spongy areas in the ground, indents in the ground, and cracked sidewalks and driveways.
- Poor Construction – If your foundation was not constructed properly, you’re much more likely to experience foundation damage.
- Weather and Climate – The weather and climate play a big role in the stability of your home’s foundation. Heavy rains and snow can cause damp soil, which expands and pushes upwards against your foundation. This will cause your floors to slope and your walls and ceilings to crack. Frequent freezing and thawing of the soil can also create an unstable foundation.
The Importance of Professional Foundation Repair
Your home’s foundation is the key to its safety and structural integrity. The only people who should perform foundation repair are licensed, trained, and experienced professionals. Foundation repair requires a deep understanding of architecture, construction, building codes, and design. You must use complex machinery and equipment that requires extensive training to operate safely. Doing your own foundation repair can result in serious injury, major property damage, violation of building codes and regulations, and violation of your home warranty and homeowners insurance policy. When you hire our professionals for foundation repair, you’ll get expert work done right the first time using high-quality materials and products. You’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your repairs were done safely and correctly and your home is structurally sound.
Methods of Foundation Repair
The method of repair we use will depend on whether you have a pier and beam foundation or a concrete slab foundation. Pier and beam foundations are used when you need added stability on soft soil. They are built by embedding piers into the soil underneath your home and then laying beams across the piers to create a support surface. Concrete slab foundations are created by pouring concrete slabs on soil or sand for drainage. This type of foundation rests on the ground and does not have a crawl space. These are the most common methods of foundation repair:
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- Shimming – Shimming is primarily used as a preventive measure. We will use wooden shims to tighten loose piers and beams and create a more solid foundation.
- Adding Pier Stacks – We may add pier stacks if the interior piers of the foundation are damaged.
- Replacing Wood Beams – We may replace wood beams if the existing wood beams are rotted, cracked, or warped.
- Installing Underpinnings – We may install underpinnings if the foundation’s interior support structures are damaged.
- Installing Helical Piers – For concrete slab foundations, we may use steel helical piers to redistribute the weight evenly over your home’s foundation.
- Installing Push Piers – We may repair a concrete slab foundation by installing hollow steel pipes into the earth under the foundation to improve stability.
- Installing StablWall™ – StablWall™ is a wall bracing and stabilization solution that can repair your foundation and prevent future damage.
Request an Estimate for Foundation Repair
If you have noticed signs of cracks, bowed walls, or foundation damage, you need to act fast. Call us today or contact us online to request an estimate for foundation repair in Pittsburgh, PA. Our team at Everdry Waterproofing of Pittsburgh PA will schedule an in-home assessment and detailed evaluation of the age, condition, and safety of your home’s foundation. We can then offer professional recommendations for solutions that will improve the safety and structural integrity of your home.