The Ultimate Guide to Foundation Repair in Western Pennsylvania

If your home had an actual job, it would be a professional bodybuilder. It must have muscles the size of Cadillacs and be as strong as an ox to support the entire building and everything and everyone in it.

This specifically applies to the home’s foundation. Strength is essential, but wear and tear can take its toll over time, resulting in damage like cracked walls and uneven floors. Your foundation needs to stay in shape with foundation repair, just as a bodybuilder needs to keep their form finely tuned.

This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of foundation repair in Western Pennsylvania, from common problem signs and why they develop to how to repair house foundation issues and why professional solutions offer lasting results.

Minor Issues

• Small, unchanging cracks (less than ¼ inch wide)
• Seasonal changes (doors and windows sticking)
• Slightly sloping floors
• Small, unchanging tile floor cracks
• Small puddles of water near the foundation after rain that evaporate

Major Problems

• Cracks in basement walls or foundation walls wider than ¼ inch
• Inwardly bowing basement walls
• Large drywall cracks or nail pops
• Significantly uneven or bouncy floors
• Doors and windows that no longer function properly

• Expansive Soil: Expansive soil contains significant amounts of clay. It swells when it soaks up moisture and then shrinks when it dries out. This creates movement under the foundation that can eventually lead to foundation settlement. 
• Erosion: Some soil types are prone to erosion and washing away from underneath a foundation, usually due to problematic drainage. This creates voids the foundation settles into, often resulting in differential or uneven settlement.
• Improper Site Preparation: Soil must be tamped down before anything is built on top of it. If this isn’t done correctly, the foundation can shift after construction.

• Poor Drainage: Poor drainage, including damaged downspouts and improper soil grading, saturates soil and can lead to structural damage.
• Hydrostatic Pressure: Factors like expansive soil and poor drainage during excessive precipitation act together to create immense pressure, known as hydrostatic pressure. When this force is great enough to push against foundation walls, the walls begin to crack and bow inward.

DIY Inspection Checklist

• Place a marble or ball on the floor to check for unevenness.
• Walk around your house to check for exterior cracks or erosion.
• Use a level on floors and walls to check for unevenness.
• Pay attention to how water drains after it rains.
• Measure wall cracks and monitor for changes.
• Check the basement or crawl space for moisture and excessive humidity levels.

Preventative Tips

• Clean your gutters regularly to prevent clogging and overflow. 
• Add downspout extensions and ensure they are properly sloped.
• Regrade your yard so that it slopes away from the foundation.
• Plant trees and bushes at least 10 feet away from your foundation.
• Keep the amount of moisture surrounding your house consistent to avoid soil expansion and contraction.

If the issue is foundation settlement, underpinning using foundation piers is the most effective solution. This process involves installing sturdy steel piers deep beneath the foundation to help support and strengthen it. These piers can potentially lift settling sections back to their original positions. Three durable options include:

• Push Piers: Rely on resistance; ideal for heavy structures
• Helical Piers: Screwed into the ground; best for lighter structures
• Slab Piers: Specific to concrete slab foundation repair

Crawl Space Jacks: Shoring Up Structural Supports

Western Pennsylvania homes with crawl spaces often have sagging floors due to wood rot or other problems with the floor joists and other flooring components. Durable crawl space jacks tailored to each crawl space’s height help reinforce the problematic flooring. They can also be adjusted at intervals to potentially improve the condition of sagging, uneven floors.

• Wall Anchors: Anchors secured in stable ground outside the home; can potentially straighten compromised walls; recommended for walls bowing inward more than two inches
• Wall Braces: Resist external soil pressure from within the basement; can be tightened over time to improve wall alignment; effective for walls with moderate structural damage
• Carbon Fiber Straps: Sleek and unobtrusive; up to 10x stronger than steel; suited for walls showing small cracks and inward movement under two inches

Moisture Management: Preventing Structural Damage

Waterproofing systems don’t directly fix foundation issues, but they play a crucial role in preventing moisture buildup that can cause problems like wood rot and weakened structural integrity. These methods may involve basement waterproofing or crawl space encapsulation. Both approaches focus on installing drainage solutions to manage water, block moisture entry, and regulate humidity.

Dealing with foundation issues can be overwhelming, but they can be addressed efficiently with the right guidance and expert support. Whether it’s a small crack or a more serious foundation concern, acting early is key to preserving the value and safety of your home.

In Pittsburgh and across Western Pennsylvania, Baker’s Waterproofing delivers customized foundation house repair services built to tackle the region’s unique soil conditions and shifting weather patterns. Homeowners have trusted us for over 50 years, and we look forward to restoring your peace of mind, too.

Don’t let small problems escalate into costly repairs. Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation foundation inspection and receive personalized solutions for your home.