Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair in Lancaster, PA

When your home sinks and settles into the ground, it is generally because the foundation is not properly supported by the underlying soil.

As the soil shifts and your foundation moves with it, you’ll start to notice various symptoms around your property, including:

• Drywall cracks
• Basement wall cracks
• Drywall nail pops
• Sticking windows and doors
• Sagging and uneven floors
• Wall and floor gaps
• Cracking exterior brickwork
• Leaning chimneys

As soon as you spot any of these issues, reach out for professional inspection and repairs before serious, costly damage results.

Hydrostatic pressure is a natural force created by the weight of the soil and the water that it contains.

Sudden or significant increases in hydrostatic pressure can be caused in different ways, but it is most likely to occur because of heavy rainfall. This can cause the soil to wash out or flood, or expand and press against your basement walls.

When this happens, structural damage is almost certain because hydrostatic pressure is often applied laterally. Concrete is durable, but it really cannot bend or flex. Lateral pressure can then cause it to crack and buckle. Bowing walls and foundation fragmentation are common outcomes when hydrostatic pressure gets too high. 

Most crawl spaces are flawed in their design. Typically, they are built with open vents and lack a proper vapor barrier. This allows water and humidity into your crawl space, which leads to other problems like flooding, wood rot, mold, and pest infestations. None of these issues is safe or healthy for your crawl space, home, or family.

To protect your family’s health and your home’s structural integrity, it’s important to control water and humidity in your crawl space with waterproofing and encapsulation. This includes installing interior drainage, sump pumps, vapor barriers, thermal insulation, and dehumidifiers.

When installed together, these systems work in tandem to intercept and remove leaking water, as well as seal and condition your crawl space. In turn, this creates a water-tight environment, as well as improved air quality and energy efficiency for your home.

SettleStop PolyRenewal™ foam injection is one of the most effective concrete lifting products on the market today. Compared to older methods like mudjacking, polyurethane foam is less messy, less likely to overburden already weak soil, cures quickly, and easier for skilled professionals to install.

During a professional inspection, our experts at Baker’s Wateproofing will determine the area and amount needed for installation. When the crew arrives to lift your concrete, here’s a look at their process:

• Small, penny-sized holes are drilled into the affected concrete.
• Injection ports are placed in these holes.
• The two-part foam is mixed.
• The foam is injected under the concrete, expanding to fill voids between the soil and slab.
• The slab lifts back to the proper height as the foam cures (within 15 minutes).
• The injection ports are removed.
• The drilled holes are filled and sealed, as are any visible cracks.