Sinking Foundation

Have you noticed signs around your home that suggest your foundation might be sinking? Common symptoms include doors that stick and cracks in your drywall. While these issues may appear minor at first, addressing a sinking foundation is crucial before it leads to more extensive damage.

At Bay Area Underpinning, we specialize in accurately diagnosing and permanently resolving sinking foundation problems. With top-tier products and expertise, we restore the structural integrity of your most valuable investment—your home.

What Is a Sinking Foundation?

A sinking foundation occurs when the foundation settles unevenly into the ground. This uneven settling, known as differential settlement, happens when the soil beneath the foundation cannot evenly support the structure’s weight.

Sinking foundations often exhibit several noticeable signs, such as:

If left unattended, a sinking foundation can lead to extensive structural damage and safety concerns.

What Causes a Sinking Foundation?

Several factors can contribute to a foundation sinking:

Soil expansion: The soil around your home expands when it absorbs water and contracts as it dries. This movement gradually creates voids around and under your foundation.
Poor drainage: Excess moisture in the soil causes it to expand and contract, destabilizing the foundation’s support over time.
Insufficient compaction: Soil that is improperly compacted can collapse under the weight of the structure.
Clay soils: Clay naturally expands when wet and contracts when dry, placing strain on the foundation over time.
Nearby trees: Tree roots can deplete moisture from the soil, leading to shrinkage and gaps beneath the foundation. Some trees may even penetrate the foundation if they grow too close to your home.

Can You Fix a Sinking Foundation?

Absolutely, a sinking foundation can be remedied! The key is to employ proven foundation repair methods to stabilize and reinforce it before the damage escalates.

While it might be tempting to seek DIY solutions to save money, foundation repair is a different matter. DIY approaches, such as patching, typically provide only temporary relief for symptoms. In some cases, they can worsen the problem and make permanent repairs more costly and invasive.

How to Repair a Sinking Foundation

To achieve a permanent solution for foundation settlement, Bay Area Underpinning installs subsurface foundation piers that extend to the bedrock and support your home. These foundation piers transfer your home’s weight beneath problematic soils.

Bay Area Underpinning offers various types of foundation piers to stabilize and potentially lift sinking foundations, including the following:

Push piers, driven deep into the ground using heavy machinery.
Helical piers, which screw into the earth to support your home.
Slab piers, attaching beneath sinking concrete slabs.

Why Address Sinking Foundations Now?

It’s crucial to promptly evaluate and repair your sinking foundation to prevent existing issues from worsening. Here are significant reasons to act now:

Prevent further structural damage that becomes costlier to fix.
Restore the structural integrity and safety of your home.
Prevent the widening of cracks and additional uneven settling.
Halt the deterioration of sticking doors and windows.
Enhance stability before selling your home.

Don’t delay—reach out to the sinking foundation repair experts at Bay Area Underpinning to schedule a free inspection and estimate. Gain peace of mind knowing your home’s foundation is secure.

Contact Bay Area Underpinning for Sinking Foundation Solutions

If you suspect your home’s foundation is sinking, get in touch with Bay Area Underpinning Foundation Solutions today. Our professional team will assess your foundation and recommend solutions for permanent stabilization.

We understand that foundation repairs can be daunting—it’s akin to dealing with a broken-down car, but even more significant! We recognize the apprehension of facing repair costs because we’re homeowners too. That’s why we offer flexible financing plans to lift the burden of both your foundation and the financial aspect of repairs.

With over 25 years of experience, we have the expertise to accurately diagnose any foundation issue and provide effective, warranted repairs. Schedule your free inspection and estimate today!

FAQs

What are signs of a sinking foundation?

Indications of a sinking foundation may include sticking doors and windows, uneven floors, and cracks in drywall or brick throughout the home.

What causes uneven foundation settling?

Uneven foundation settling, also known as differential settlement, can result from soil erosion, poor drainage, insufficient compaction, clay soils, and the presence of nearby trees.

How do you fix a sinking concrete slab?

To address a sinking concrete slab, slab piers can be installed beneath the slab to provide stabilization and potentially raise the slab back into its proper position.