Basement Foundation Repair
As a homeowner, it’s important to keep an eye on your home’s foundation in your basement or crawl space. Should you see a leak or crack forming, you should obtain a professional evaluation and recommendations for repairing the problem right away. FCS Foundation and Concrete Services can help you prevent and repair any foundational problems.
For over 25 years, FCS Foundation and Concrete Services has been Dallas’s expert home foundation repair company. Our house foundation repair solutions are customized to meet the needs of your home. As a locally owned company, we’re familiar with Texas soil. We will work to make your repair as smooth as possible.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
What Causes Foundation Damage?
For the most part, external factors cause damage to your home’s foundation. As soil moisture levels fluctuate, pressure is increased against your foundation’s walls. When the soil pushes against the foundation, that shifting will increase the stress on the concrete walls of your foundation.
Another factor that could increase the risks of foundational damage is how external temperature changes affect your concrete foundation. Whether you have a pier–and–beam or slab foundation, heat will cause the concrete to expand slightly. In hotter temperatures, such as those that reach or exceed 105 degrees, the concrete expansion will become greater, and as it expands, it will crack under the added pressure.
In the winter, frigid temperatures dropping down to and below -10 degrees will cause the concrete to contract, and even if the compaction is slight to moderate, it will still be enough to leave gaps between your foundation and surrounding soil and expose your basement or crawl space to leaks.
You can recognize when these conditions are causing damage to the foundation in your home. Here are a few common signs to look for during a foundation inspection:
- Cracks in sheetrock walls and concrete slab flooring
- Gaps in window and door frames
- Bowing walls or walls that appear uneven
- Sagging floors
If you notice any of these signs, contact FCS Foundation and Concrete Services immediately for an inspection. We’ll offer foundation settlement repair options that will help you correct these types of damages.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
How Can Our Basement Waterproofing Services Prevent Foundation Damage?
A significant internal cause of foundation damage is the presence of moisture in your basement. We can help you prevent the need for basement foundation repair by modifying your drainage system to reduce the presence of water in your basement. Even if you already have a sump pump in your basement, our waterproofing techniques can help you keep moisture at a minimum in your basement and around your foundation.
We can install a French drainage system that will direct water flow away from your foundation. The system involves excavating trenches around your home, which get filled with gravel to allow for better drainage. After preparing them, we’ll install a perforated pipe lined with a filter fabric that prevents the erosion of the trench, so your French drainage system will last longer.
In addition to guarding against foundation damage, a French drainage system will help prevent basement flooding, meaning you can reduce mold growth in your basement or crawl space as well.
The system is especially effective in areas that receive frequent rainfall or snowfall, and it’s also recommended if the soil surrounding your home is especially moist or soggy.
We Offer Basement Foundation Repair Services
Foundation crack repairs involve more than just filling in the crevasse to restore the consistency of the foundation. Correcting the cause of the damage requires addressing the external factors that are damaging the foundation, such as stress, moisture, and changing temperatures.
FCS Foundation and Concrete Services will elevate your house onto pilings or foundation piers, which helps remove exposure to most of those external factors and reduce your need for future repair services, such as basement floor repairs.
The process involves installing pressed concrete or steel piers around the interior and exterior of your foundation.
The pilings level your home and ensure the structure stands upright to avoid sagging or buckling in the future. We’ll also use ¼ inch shims to help repair the foundation for additional support.
In some cases, the shifting of the foundation can cause damage to the wood or block and base supports in your home. As a part of our foundation repair process, we’ll replace those damaged components for you. By replacing these units as needed, we can ensure we’ll leave you with a stronger and more durable foundation.
Single-Press Concrete Pier
Our most common foundation repair is the single-pier method, given its cost-effectiveness. It’s also used in areas where bedrock grade and soil density are insufficient for other repair methods. While the installation can take as little as one day, adding more piers will increase the installation time.
Double-Wall Single-Steel Pier
The double-wall single-steel pier is similar to the single concrete pier except that it uses stronger steel pilings, which are longer lasting and able to support heavier structures. In addition to providing stronger support, steel piers can run deeper into the soil, providing a steadier support structure for homes surrounded by poor soil conditions.
Single-Drill Concrete Pier
Single-drill concrete piers involve drilling holes into the earth, up to 12 feet deep, that are then filled with liquid concrete. Steel rebar gets inserted into the holes for increased support and durability. Customers prefer this method when the lateral movement of their home is a bigger concern, and it is also a less invasive process that reduces the structural stress caused by the foundation repair process.
Bell-Bottom Drill Pier
The bell-bottom drill pier is similar to the single-drill concrete pier process. The primary difference is that a unique type of drill gets used to create a larger base at the bottom of the hole, which provides a much higher degree of tensile strength.
We’ll Help You Keep Your Foundation Strong and Durable
When you keep a closer eye on your foundation and work with FCS Foundation and Concrete Services, you’ll be able to prevent most types of foundation problems. If water, mold, or cracking does affect the condition of your foundation, we can fix the problem before it worsens.
Contact us today to request a free consultation!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know if My Basement Foundation Has a Problem?
You can identify foundation problems in your basement by looking for bowing or cracked walls. You might also notice a strong musty odor, see dampness on the walls, or find mold growth where the walls are damp.
What Causes Basement Foundation Problems?
Foundation problems in your basement might result from exposure to moisture, such as cracked walls or gaps around your basement windows. Pressure from expanding soil or tree roots growing beneath the basement can also damage the foundation.
What Types of Basement Cracks Should I Worry About?
You don’t need to worry about minor hairline cracks, but you should keep an eye on them. You will need foundation repairs for cracks wider than 1.25 inches, cracks that are wider at one end than the other, or multiple cracks in one part of the basement.