Over time, foundation settling and its effects can put your home in jeopardy. Settling occurs in almost every home, and it’s often not a problem if the soil was properly excavated and repaired before construction. When the soil isn’t properly compacted, there’s mine subsistence, or other factors are leading to underground instability, then the foundation can begin falling unevenly. When that happens, professional foundation lifting is needed to give your foundation the support it needs and bring it back to level. As Western Pennsylvania’s foundation experts, we’ve seen the long-term effects of aggressive settling far too often, but there are steps you can take to mitigate the risk for your property.
What is Foundation Settling?
Before your home’s foundation was laid, the ground was cleared, excavated, and compacted to smooth out and remove voids that can cause instabilities. Once the home is constructed, the weight pushes down on the ground underneath the foundation, further compacting it. If the dirt work is done properly, this foundation settling will be slow, even, and last one to two years. During this time, you may see minimal signs of the settling or superficial damage resulting from it.
How Foundation Settling and Foundation Falling Differ
Foundation falling goes beyond normal foundation settling and can include rapid or uneven settling–frequently both. This leads to different areas of the house sitting at different levels. Some sections of the house or the whole property may begin to tilt. Enormous pressure is put on the straight support structures of your home, like the foundation and load-bearing walls. When the pressures get too high, cracks, breakage, and leaks occur. Without foundation lifting and appropriate structural repairs, the property eventually succumbs to a cascading list of failing components until it collapses.
Signs Foundation Settling Is Becoming an Issue
- Walls or Structures Pulling Away – This occurs when foundation settling begins to move the ground under a wall or structure, like a porch, away from the rest of the structure.
- Large or “Stair Step” Cracks in Walls – Large cracks indicate uneven settling, and stair-step cracks or those running at a near 45° angle indicate that foundation settling isn’t just pulling your house downward but also laterally.
- Doors and Windows that Won’t Open or Shut – Stuck windows and doors indicate that your home’s structures are shifting and no longer in alignment. In worst-case scenarios, the pressures can actually shatter window glass and damage doors and frames.
- Tilting or Uneven Floors – Uneven flooring means the ground underneath isn’t settling evenly, while a tilt may indicate that one side of the foundation is falling faster than another.
- Basement Flooding – Water has to be getting into your basement from somewhere, and the most likely culprits are cracks or voids caused by foundation settling.
Long-Term Escalation of Foundation Settling Issues
Without repair and mediation, the pressures exerted by a falling foundation that causes these issues will only increase. In addition, as the structures in your home crack, pull away, or tilt further from “true,” they are increasingly less able to withstand damage. Cracks get more extensive, walls can shift until they collapse under their own weight, roofs begin to leak, and basement flooding can become unmanageable. Eventually, all or part of the home could collapse, putting any inhabitants in jeopardy.
What to Do About Foundation Issues
The most important thing you can do about foundation settling problems is to get a professional involved as early as possible. As time goes on, any damage starts to compound from the escalating pressures of your home’s weight on an uneven footing. The earlier you begin working with a foundation repair company, the faster your property can be assessed and steps taken to save it.
The corrections available for foundation settling issues largely depend on the extent of the risk and damage. Minor foundation damage from normal, even settling, may entail sealing any cracks in the basement wall or floors, waterproofing, and drainage correction to ensure proper soil moisture management around your foundation. Tilting or uneven foundations may require lifting with foundation piers sunk deep into the ground to a more solid substrate that will better support your home’s foundation.
Once the foundation lifting is complete and your home’s solid footing is restored, larger cracks or structural damage can be repaired. If the foundation falling has been a long-term issue, more extensive repairs may be needed. However, the home can still be saved and protected from future foundation-settling problems with professional repair services.
Prevention is the Best Protection
Properly preparing the earth your foundation will be built on and protecting your property with a comprehensive drainage and waterproofing plan can help keep foundation settling controlled and prevent damage to your home. Local contractors know they can count on us for professional excavation services, and we’ve built our reputation protecting homes in area communities with tailored waterproofing plans. Whether you need better exterior drainage, sump installation, or basement repair, we have the experience to help. It all starts with scheduling your free estimate.
Request Your Free Quote Today
When you set an appointment with one of our experts, you’re getting the help your property needs backed by years of experience serving Western Pennsylvania. They’ll set a time to visit and inspect your property, identify issues, damages, and protection opportunities, and give you a written estimate covering repair, mitigation, and prevention. It’s not too late to correct your falling foundation with professional foundation lifting using American products and guaranteed labor. Call for your free foundation settling inspection from A.M. Wall Anchor & Waterproofing
