A well-maintained foundation provides lasting stability, adding value to your home. Understanding the financial implications of different repair methods can help you make the best decision for your situation.

Be sure to inspect both the inside and outside of your home regularly, addressing cracks right away to prevent them from getting worse. Consider the causes of your problems—like expansive clay soil or poor drainage, for example—and choose a method that addresses those issues. Contact Foundation Repair Greensboro NC for professional help.
Most homes experience some minor cracks in their foundation walls or basement floors. These can be caused by the natural settling of a home or moisture penetration. While these cracks are not necessarily a sign of structural problems, they should be monitored to ensure that they do not worsen.
If a homeowner notices these types of cracking, they should take action by sealing the gaps to prevent water infiltration. This can be done with a hydraulic cement or polyurethane foam, and is usually completed by a professional.
Cracks that extend horizontally along foundation walls are more serious and typically indicate significant pressure or stress on the foundation. These cracks may also be caused by soaked soil pressing against foundation walls, and should be professionally evaluated and repaired as soon as possible to minimize damage to the rest of the structure.
Some homeowners or contractors will attempt to fix these cracks themselves by chiseling out an inverted V-groove and filling it with hydraulic cement. However, this is often a temporary solution that can leak within a few years due to the concrete’s tendency to fluctuate with changes in temperature and moisture. A professional foundation contractor will utilize an epoxy crack injection system to effectively repair these large cracks and ensure that they are permanently sealed.
Before starting to repair these larger cracks, the homeowner should clean the area around the crack using a wire brush and vacuum to remove any dirt or debris that has collected. Injection ports will be drilled through the sides of the crack and into the concrete, and the injection epoxy will be pumped into the crack at recommended intervals. Once the crack has been completely filled, the injection ports will be removed and any excess epoxy ground down to a smooth surface. Once the crack has cured, a waterproof sealant will be applied to further protect the crack and prevent future moisture penetration. Professional foundation contractors also provide a transferable warranty on their crack repair services, making them an excellent choice for any home owner with major foundation cracks.
Uneven Floors
Uneven floors are one of the most common signs that your foundation is in trouble. They can be caused by everything from natural settling over time to issues like soil conditions, water damage, and poor construction practices. Uneven floors aren’t just a nuisance, they can also indicate structural problems that require immediate attention and costly repair.
Uneven or sloping floors can occur in one room or throughout the entire home. While superficial fixes like shims or sanding can provide some short-term relief, the underlying issue needs to be addressed to prevent further damage and costly repairs in the future.
Foundation settlement is the most common cause of uneven floors. This happens when the soil beneath your home shifts and sinks lower in some places than in others as a result of moisture changes and weight changes. Since different parts of your home are heavier than other areas, they tend to settle at different rates over time, resulting in uneven or sloping floors.
In some cases, your uneven floors may be the result of a damaged or deteriorated support system in the crawl space. This could be due to rot or a termite infestation, which can weaken floor joists and cause them to sag or slope over time. In addition, extensive tree roots can destabilize the soil and cause it to compress underneath your foundation, causing it to sink and shift over time.
Repairing sloping or uneven floors requires a permanent solution that will stabilize and lift your foundation, returning it to its original position. In many cases this will involve foundation underpinning using steel piers. These piers will be driven into the soil until they reach stable bedrock or load-bearing strata and then used to lift your foundation back up.
In severe cases where the sloping is caused by a compromised foundation structure, we may recommend the use of crawl space jacks. These jacks will be installed in cored holes and extended down through your foundation to a stable strata or bedrock where they will help lift and level your foundation and your floors. This type of foundation repair is the most effective way to permanently solve your sloping or uneven floors, and prevent further damage to your home and its contents.
Bowing or Leaning Walls
Bowing or leaning walls are serious signs of foundation problems, and they should never be ignored. In fact, ignoring the issue can lead to further damage and potentially collapse of your home’s structure. If you see horizontal cracks accompanied by leaning or bowing walls, call a foundation repair specialist right away.
Bowing is typically caused by the pressure of expansive soil on your foundation wall. This pressure can occur for several reasons, including improper drainage around your home’s foundation, clogged drains and gutters, and inadequate foundation grading.
In general, the more extensive the damage to your foundation, the longer it will take for professionals to fix it. This is because the process involves digging and drilling into your home’s foundation to install support piers. This is not a quick or cheap project, and the timeline will vary depending on the extent of your foundation’s damage and the weather conditions.
Once your foundation experts have assessed the situation, they will create a plan for installing the necessary supports. In most cases, these supports will need to be placed along the perimeter of your home’s foundation. However, in about 10% of cases, the team may also need to place these supports under your home’s middle section.
Some repair methods, such as carbon fiber straps or steel soldier beams, only address surface-level damages. These solutions cannot stabilize or straighten bowed walls, but they can prevent further movement. In contrast, helical pier tiebacks and wall anchors are more effective at stabilizing and correcting bowed walls.
These solutions utilize a helical pier that’s screwed into the ground until it reaches stable soil layers, which then braces and stabilizes your walls. They can also stop further inward movement and even pull your walls back into their original position.
Once your professional repairs are complete, it’s important to note that it can take two to three months for your home’s foundation to fully settle and adjust to its new position. During this time, it’s normal for small cracks to continue to appear in your home’s walls, but these can be addressed with caulking or putty.
Water Damage
Water infiltration is often the first sign of a foundation problem. Excessive moisture can cause rot in floor joists or supports, and corrode metal components like pipe fittings. It can also create an ideal environment for pests, such as carpenter ants, termites, and raccoons. Moisture can even lead to a musty smell, which may indicate the presence of mold or mildew on foundation walls.
When contractors build houses, they often account for the average rainfall and temperature in the area. However, extreme weather can change soil conditions and accelerate settling and damage to the foundation.
The most common cause of moisture infiltration is poor drainage. If the land around a house is graded incorrectly, rainwater may drain towards and pool by the foundation instead of away from it. In addition, some soil types expand when wet and contract when dry, putting excess pressure on foundation footings or walls.
A few key ways to prevent moisture infiltration include keeping gutters clear, repairing leaky plumbing promptly, and investing in basement waterproofing. Regularly assessing the areas beneath your home for a damp smell should help you identify any problems before they become serious, as well.
Once you’ve identified a problem, it’s time to call in the professionals. A professional can repair cracks and other signs of water damage using methods like hydraulic cement or epoxy, which are designed to stop water from seeping through them. They can also install a French drain to redirect surface groundwater and reduce the risk of pooling and damage to the foundation.
A comprehensive approach to preventing and repairing foundation damage includes a drainage system, basement waterproofing, a sump pump, and dehumidifiers. In addition, you should choose landscaping that avoids drying out the soil or over-saturating it, and ensure that the landscape grading around your property directs water away from the foundation. While it may take a bit more work, a combination of these measures will go a long way to preventing water-related issues that could damage your foundation and undermine the value of your home.