Over time, all home foundations settle. The common causes of foundation settling are improperly backfilled soil, expansive soil, and tree roots. Movement in the foundation can affect the entire house and must be addressed right away. The structural issues will only become worse over time and can decrease your home’s value. Fortunately, there are some signs that indicate your house needs leveling.

6 Signs Your House Needs Leveling Due to Foundation Issues

1. Unlevel Mortar Joints

Expansion joints, or the vertical gaps between bricks or concrete blocks, are usually experts’ go-to way of spotting foundation settlement. If the mortar that fills these joints is showing gaps, cracks or expansion, that’s a sign of foundation settling that may require foundation leveling.

2. Cracks Along the Exterior and Interior of Your Home

Another major sign of foundation settling is visible cracking along the interior or exterior of your home. If your home has any brick work, check for cracks in the mortar between the bricks, along with vertical cracks that seem to be growing wider. Additionally, if you have any brick work or not, look for cracks on the inside of your home, paying special attention to drywall, plaster, fireplace veneer and wood paneling. Don’t forget to check ceilings and floors too. Bulging floor tiles and exposed concrete floors are also signs of issues that may quickly become cracks, especially for basement floors.

3. A History of Previous Repairs

If you bought your home from a previous owner, check the history of past repair work. If there is evidence of patching cracks, replacing latches, or moving framework, this likely means that settlement could be occurring.

4. Stuck Windows & Sticking/Swinging Doors

Has your home ever given you trouble when it comes to closing doors or windows? If your house has foundation issues on one side of the structure, your house may now be at a slight angle causing your doors and windows to become stuck. This suggests that your house is no longer level.

5. Uneven Floors

Check for slants in your floors using a tape measure or level in numerous areas of your home including your interior walls and exterior walls. Slanted floors could be caused by other issues in your home, but this is still worth checking.

6. An Unstable Chimney

Leaning or cracking chimneys in many instances could suggest foundational issues if your chimney shares its foundation with your house. If you’ve had to repair your chimney because of these issues, it’s a good idea to check for settlement issues in your home’s foundation.

Contact a Highly-Experienced Professional Today

When it comes to foundation repair, this is a job best left to the experts. House leveling is very technical, and improper techniques used on your own could further worsen the foundation damage. At MitchCo Foundation Repair, we have been helping homeowners in the San Antonio area for over 20 years. We provide timely completion of projects and free, no-obligation estimates. Contact MitchCo Foundation Repair today to address your foundation repair needs.

San Antonio’s clay soil, persistent dryness, and high summer heat present a perfect storm for foundation damage. In order to do its job of supporting your home, the foundation must first be supported by the soil underneath it.

When summer temperatures hit in Texas, moisture located between soil particles can evaporate, causing those particles to fall together and “shrink” under your foundation. This kind of shrinking action can cause the foundation to rotate, drop, or both.

Issues can also be caused during times of intense storms accompanied by soaking rains. These conditions can cause shifting due to an excess of moisture between soil particles, which causes soil to become slippery and the foundation to shift.

Symptoms of a Foundation Shift

Albeit subtle, there are several symptoms which indicate a shifting or sinking foundation that’s in need of repair. These include:

• Cracks in interior drywall
• Buckling tile in the kitchen or bathroom
• Gaps around windows
• Doors that stick

None of these symptoms should ever be ignored, as they can lead to major damage and expensive repair to your home’s roof and plumbing. This is why it’s so important to have your foundation repaired as soon as possible.

Taking the First Step for Foundation Repair

If you are seeing the above symptoms of a shifting foundation, your first step is to contact a company experienced in foundation repair. They should send out a contractor who will conduct a thorough evaluation of your property, including the land situated around your home. This will allow him or her to evaluate both the cause and extent of the damage.

Common Repair Suggestions

It may be that your foundation will require leveling, which involves lifting your home and then stabilizing the foundation with piers. In other cases, soil can be a main culprit of foundation problems. Where this is the case, the drainage around your home may require adjustment and the soil stabilized to prevent future issues.

Prevention Options

Once you’ve called a reputable foundation repair company to fix your foundation, you can apply prevention measures to ensure that your foundation doesn’t shift in the future. If the cause of foundation shifting was excessive dryness, hydration of the soil around your home will be needed.

You can gauge the dryness of the soil by digging down six inches at your foundation. If the soil is very dry, your foundation will require hydration. However, you should dig down at your foundation and test the soil in this way at each side of your home because the conditions can and do vary.

If moisture is needed, you’ll need to run a soaker house approximately one foot away from the foundation, allowing the water to run until the soil is only moist.

Call the Professionals

MitchCo Foundation Repair has over 30 years of experience in foundation repair, as well as foundation restoration and maintenance services to customers in the San Antonio area. Call our office at (210) 485-1995 and discover how we can help keep your foundation in the best shape possible.

A pier and beam foundation will provide your home with excellent structural integrity, while also providing you with a spacious crawlspace. Over the years and seasons, however, your pier and beam foundation will eventually require routine maintenance and repairs. A team of concrete contractors near San Antonio will have the tools, knowledge, and expertise needed to restore your pier and beam foundation repair to excellent condition. To help you prepare for your foundation and concrete repair services, here is a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about pier and beam foundation repair. What are common causes of pier and beam foundation issues?

In order to properly repair your foundation problem, it is important to identify your underlying repair problem. There are a few common causes of issues in pier and beam foundations. Improper initial installation of the piers can also lead to maintenance issues at a future date.

One main potential issue with pier and beam foundations is the possibility of a drought. Droughts can cause settling of the posts or plumbing leaks, and excessive rain can cause a foundation to move or shift. Your foundation could permanently alter when there is a period of heavy rain followed by droughts for long periods of time. This could also cause your foundation to become unlevel and must then be structurally leveled and raised.

How do I repair my pier and beam foundation?

A pier and beam foundation repair is a major procedure that is best left to the professionals. During your foundation repair, your team of contractors will carefully inspect your foundation to determine the source of the damage. If improper drainage has caused the soil underneath your foundation to expand, it may be necessary to perform drainage correction services. A shoring installation can also help to stabilize a weakened foundation structure.

Will my pier and beam foundation repairs be expensive?

Some homeowners worry that foundation repair services will be cost prohibitive. If you neglect to repair your pier and beam foundation for too long, you may find that you have to schedule very costly repairs in the future. When you schedule a pier and beam foundation repair appointment today, your contractor will be able to work with you to help you create an affordable payment plan for your services.

Foundation repair issues can be a major inconvenience for any homeowner. In this video, you will take a look as the founder of MitchCo describes some of the most common foundation issues that are found in San Antonio homes. If you start to notice shifting window sills, foundation cracks, or other signs of foundation problems, you should schedule services with MitchCo’s foundation repair experts serving San Antonio.

As a general rule, it is also a good idea to schedule foundation inspections at least once a year. During your inspection, a team of concrete contractors will inspect your foundation for signs of structural issues. Using state-of-the-art construction methods, your MitchCo technicians will create a foundation that has been built to withstand the test of time.

Because it’s out of sight, a home’s foundation is also out of mind for many people. However, ignoring your foundation can set you up for a wide range of problems. One important part of maintaining your foundation is repairing it at the first sign of a problem. If you’re in need of foundation repair in San Antonio, then read on to learn about this service.

The Role of Your Foundation

When constructed properly and in good condition, a home’s foundation is what holds the structure above ground, insulates it against cold temperatures, keeps moisture at bay, holds back soil, and protects it from movements in the surrounding land. Without a good foundation, your home becomes vulnerable to a wide range of structural and functional problems.

What Affects Your Foundation

The longevity and integrity of your home’s foundation rely on several things. First, you should know that drainage plays a critical role in the health of your foundation because too much water on your property can damage the concrete and lead to cracks and deterioration. Also, the state of the soil around your home can impact your foundation. Changes in the way the soil sits or a lack of proper compaction before its construction can result in shifting and settling that causes the foundation to crack. Lastly, tree roots can be an incredibly strong force, and as they seek out water, they can burrow through your foundation, weaken it, and leave it more susceptible to water damage.

The Foundation Repair Process

When you contact a foundation repair company, they will start the process by performing a thorough evaluation of your property to assess the land, inspect your foundation for damage, and identify the cause of the problem. Next, the foundation may require leveling and stabilization to restore its structure. Then, any necessary fixes will be performed. For some homes, soil stabilization and drainage correction will be needed to protect the repaired foundation from problems in the future.

Foundation damage can make a massive impact on your home, but foundation repair serving San Antonio is not something you should undergo without a contractor. Foundation repair may not be the only service that your contractor offers, however. Your professional contractor may also help you with drainage correction so you can avoid foundation issues in the future, as well as waterproofing services that can keep your home dry, comfortable, and efficient. Here are a few reasons to call a foundation repair contractor.

Professional Foundation Repair

When you realize that you have foundation problems, you’ll want to figure out a solution as soon as possible. Foundation problems will make it difficult to use your doors and windows properly, as they might not align with their frames once the base of your home shifts. Unfortunately, foundation repair is not a task that you can take on by yourself. Thus, you will have to call your foundation repair contractor to ensure that the job is done properly. Make sure you choose a contractor that is licensed and insured, and work with professionals who will come back and check on your foundation in the future.

Efficient Drainage Correction

Many people experience foundation damage because they don’t have an efficient drainage system for their homes. This means that instead of directing water away from the base of the home, moisture is allowed to pool there. The good news is that your foundation repair contractor can offer drainage correction options like French drain installation. This ensures that any water collected in your gutters will be sent to a safe location rather than pooling around the home. With professional drainage correction from your foundation repair contractor, you can enjoy a dryer, a more sanitary, and a more structurally sound home.

Interior and Exterior Protection

Your foundation repair contractor may also provide you with interior or exterior basement waterproofing. This helps to prevent water from seeping into your foundation from the soil that surrounds it, which means you’ll be less likely to experience a mold problem in or around the home. Talk to your foundation repair specialist about your options.

Not everyone is an expert in foundation repair serving San Antonio , but there are some things that everyone should know about the process of hiring a contractor and restoring your house. The foundation is what keeps your home level, and your contractor can ensure that it stays that way. Watch this video clip on what San Antonio residents need to know about foundation repair.

When the soil surrounding your foundation shifts, it fails to support your home in the way that it should. This can be extremely detrimental to your home’s structural integrity as well as make it difficult to open and close your windows and doors properly. Foundation repair seeks to level out your foundation again by raising the structure to its initial position. You’ll need the help of a contractor, so choose someone who is licensed, insured, and willing to stand by the work that has been done.

The expression “walking on eggshells” refers to the chance that the floor will figuratively fall out from underneath you. You don’t want to turn this expression literal at your home or your workplace, which is where foundation repair serving San Antonio comes into play. Your concrete contractor can help you keep your floor even and solid as well as make it easier to use your windows and doors by repairing your concrete slab foundation. Read on to find out how you can protect your investment with concrete slab foundation repair.

A sturdy foundation is a must if you want your home or place of business to stand up properly over time. If you or your concrete specialist notice any problems with your foundation, you should set up a foundation repair plan sooner rather than later. Your foundation repair pro can use a few different methods to fix up your foundation, but the right choice depends on the structure in question and your geographic location. Hydraulic steel piers, under slab tunneling, and concrete pressed piling systems represent a few examples of concrete slab foundation repair techniques. Talk to your concrete professional to find out which one might be right for you.

Water is an extremely powerful element that can cause serious damage to your home and foundation. In order to avoid the need for foundation repair, you may want to schedule waterproofing and drainage correction services for your home. A contractor in San Antonio can evaluate the overall quality of your current drainage system and determine whether your existing gutter and drainage correction could be doing more harm than good. With expert drainage correction, you will be able to divert water away from the vulnerable areas of your home and foundation. Here is an overview of some signs that drainage correction could be jeopardizing your property.

Overflowing Gutters

Proper home drainage starts with your gutters. When rain falls on your home’s roof, it will be diverted to your gutter and downspout system. If your gutters overflow when it rains, this is a sign that your home does not have proper drainage. By correcting your gutter problems, you may be able to direct water more efficiently throughout your drainage system.

Dumping Downspouts

When you are looking for signs of drainage problems around your property, you may also want to assess the performance of your downspouts. Downspouts that dump water around your home’s basement and foundation could be seriously compromising the structural integrity of your home. Puddles of water around your home’s foundation are a sure sign of a drainage and downspout issue. In order to improve your drainage and correct your downspouts, you may want to ask your contractor to install longer downspout pipes around your roof.

Water Stains and Leaks

You can also identify home drainage issues by looking at the interior condition of your home and basement. When your house has a drainage problem, you may find that your basement starts to develop water stains and leaks. Visible signs of water damage are a sure sign that your home is experiencing drainage issues. By correcting your drainage on the outside of your home, you can protect the quality and condition of its interior.