Charleston Steel Push Pier Installation: Foundation Repair Contractor

Home Foundation Repair

A strong foundation isn’t just important to your home’s value, it’s important to your family’s safety. Our Charleston, Lexington, and West Virginia foundation repair contractors and crawl space repair experts operate on honesty and quality, leading you towards a solution that offers a long-lasting fix to your problem without breaking your budget. You can leave your home’s foundation in the hands of the expert foundation contractors at United Structural Systems Ltd., Inc! 

What is the Cause of Foundation Problems?

Knowing what causes foundation problems can better help you determine when yours needs repair. If you know your home has been subject to foundation settlement or the other conditions listed, and you suspect that these have damaged your foundation, our Charleston and Lexington area foundation repair contractors and crawl space repair experts can help evaluate the situation and provide the help you need!

Shifting and Settling Soil

Often times, the cause of foundation failure is settlement. Over time, extreme weather conditions and changes in ground moisture cause the soil beneath foundations to expand and contract. As the soil shifts, it is no longer able to support your home’s foundation as it did before. This weakens your foundation, causing it to become uneven or crack as it is pushed up or falls into hollows beneath.

Other Causes of Foundation Damage

While soil conditions and settlement are most often the culprits of weakened foundations, other conditions can cause foundation problems as well. One of the biggest problems when it comes to poor foundations is inadequate construction from the beginning. If the foundation contractors working on the property did a hasty job with low-quality materials, you could experience more problems down the road.

Excess moisture caused by improper drainage, floods, or sewage leaks can be another cause of your foundation issues. This can cause your foundation to deteriorate over time, which is why it’s important to act quickly and contact a foundation repair contractor as soon as possible to avoid further costly damage. 

Planting large trees close to your home also increases the chance of tree roots compromising your foundation. Tree roots can cause your foundation to become uneven, leading to cracks and safety hazards.

Signs that Your Foundation is in Need of Repair

Fortunately, you don’t have to be a Charleston, Lexington, or West Virginia foundation repair contractor or crawl space repair expert to spot the signs of a weakened foundation. There are some common indicators that a foundation needs repair that anyone can spot. Common signs to look out for include:

  • Stair-step cracks in bricks
  • Chimney rotation
  • Sticking windows and doors
  • Drywall cracks
  • Bowing walls
  • Uneven floors inside your home
  • Water damage or wet basements

Spotting these symptoms early and acting quickly on them will save you headaches in the long run and prevent the problem from getting worse.

Foundation Repair Solutions

Foundation repair solutions come in many shapes and sizes. Some are more involved than others, and all will have pros and cons depending upon your particular foundation needs. A few of the more common foundation repair solutions utilized by foundation repair companies are:

Concrete Piers

Concrete piers have been used in foundation repair for decades. Until steel piers came about, concrete piers were most people’s preferred method of fixing a sinking foundation. While they may displace more of your landscaping during installation than steel piers, concrete piers can be cost-effective and are permanent. 

Steel Piers

In some contractors’ opinion, steel piers were a revolution in the world of foundation repair solutions. With technological advances, steel piers are able to be installed using precision gathered from data. They are able to reach deep into the stable bedrock beneath your home’s foundation, lifting and securing it back into place. 

Helical Piers

Helical piers, also referred to as helical piles, are a type of steel pier that features screw-like helices which allow them to be threaded deep into the ground beneath your home. Helical piers are very versatile and especially effective for home foundation repair as they excel at securing lighter loads.

Slabjacking/Mudjacking or Polyurethane Injections

Slabjacking and mudjacking are two terms used for the same type of concrete slab foundation repair. The same method is used for lifting and repairing smaller concrete slabs such as decks or sidewalks. Holes are drilled into the concrete and grout, usually consisting of a low-strength concrete, is pumped beneath the slab in order to lift the slab back into place. 

Polyurethane injections use the same process as mudjacking, only instead of a concrete grout they utilize a high-density polyurethane foam injected into smaller holes than are needed for mudjacking. Polyurethane is cost-effective and speedy.

Find a Solution That Works for You

The tricky part about foundation issues is that it’s never a one-size-fits-all solution. Although most foundation issues show similar symptoms, each house can present a unique situation and may require some custom work. When you’re researching foundation repair companies, make sure you work with experienced Charleston, Lexington, or West Virginia foundation repair contractors and crawl space repair specialists who can honestly and accurately assess your home’s situation and provide custom options if needed. If you start to notice any signs of foundation issues or need a second opinion, the experts at United Structural Systems, Ltd., Inc. can come out to give you a free and honest assessment of your home’s situation! We have service areas in Cincinnati, Lexington, Lancaster and Cross Lanes!

 

foundation cracks