71% of Upper St. Clair Homes are 55+ Years Old – Is your Foundation Sinking?

Suburban Pittsburgh feels like a world of its own; Upper St. Clair, in particular, is full of interesting architecture—from stately and historical houses to quaint Craftsman single-family homes. It’s easy to instantly fall in love with this charm, but it often comes with a price.

Do you know the age of your house? If you’re among the many Upper St. Clair residents living in a home built before the 1980s, you’re in good company—over 70% of houses in our community were constructed during this era, particularly in the 1970s housing boom. These homes are brimming with character, but they also face unique structural challenges that modern homes don’t.

The combination of aging structures and Upper St. Clair soil conditions creates a perfect storm for foundation issues. But here’s the good news: understanding these risks is your first step toward protecting your home’s safety, stability, and value.

Minor Issues

• Small hairline cracks (less than 1/8 inch wide)
• Small vertical cracks in foundation walls
• Slightly uneven floors (less than 1/4 inch slope) that have been stable for years
• Minor sticking of doors and windows during seasonal changes

Serious Warning Signs

• Foundation cracks wider than 1/4 inch, especially horizontal ones
• Doors or windows that suddenly won’t close properly
• Noticeable sloping or sagging floors
• Stair-step cracks in brick or block walls
• Walls pulling away from the house
• Water pooling around your foundation after rain

In Upper St. Clair, the combination of silt loam and silty clay loam soils creates a particular vulnerability to this problem. When these soil types are saturated with water from rain or snowmelt, they can lose bearing capacity, causing sections of your foundation to sink unevenly.

Accompanying symptoms, including noticeably sloping floors and gaps between your walls and floors or ceiling, let you know this is happening. This issue is often more prevalent in homes built in low-lying areas or properties with poor drainage.

What makes this particularly challenging in Upper St. Clair is how the expansive clay soil interacts with our region’s seasonal fluctuations. During rainy periods, the soil expands and pushes against your foundation; during dry spells, it contracts and potentially creates voids beneath your home’s supporting structure. This continuous cycle accelerates foundation sinking, especially in homes built before modern soil testing and foundation preparation techniques became standard practice.

What are the conditions of cracks in your walls, floors, or foundation? Walk around your home and look for new or expanding cracks. Mark the ends of any cracks and measure their width. Check back in a month to see if they’ve grown.

Check the functionality of your doors and windows. Do you see gaps? Are they aligned properly? Can you open and close them without difficulty?

Use a level on your walls and floors. Are the walls perfectly vertical? Do you notice any dips in the floors?

Pay attention to how your home responds to Mother Nature. During rainfall, observe how water flows around your property. Check your basement for moisture or musty odors.

Sinking Foundation Repair Solutions

We may suggest the following systems to address movement and foundation settlement:

• Foundation Piers: Our diverse foundation piers—helical, push, and slab—are installed deep into the ground until they reach more stable soil for proper foundation support. Along with permanent stability, these systems can potentially lift the house back toward its original position and help close cracks and gaps.
• Crawl Space Jacks: Durable crawl space jacks bolster damaged or sagging floors or floor joists. They are adjustable to fit the height of your crawl space and may raise uneven floors.

Wall Repair Methods

Basement walls that start bowing or are thrown out of alignment if the foundation sinks can also be remedied. Wall anchors and wall braces can help return moderately damaged walls back to plumb, and carbon fiber straps prevent further movement on minimally damaged walls.

Moisture Management

Moisture is your home’s No.1 enemy, so it’s best to protect structural components with basement waterproofing or crawl space encapsulation methods. We install systems specifically designed for each environment, but they include interior drainage, sump pumps, vapor barriers, and dehumidifiers.

Preventative Measures

You can take various precautions around your house to prevent foundation problems, including:

• Ensuring consistent soil moisture around your foundation, especially during drought periods when soil shrinkage can cause sinking foundations.
• Maintaining gutters and downspout systems and regrading your yard as needed to ensure proper drainage.
• Monitoring existing minor cracks for changes that might indicate more serious movement.
• Scheduling regular foundation inspections, particularly if your home was built prior to the 1980s.

Many foundation issues develop slowly over time, but catching them early can make the difference between a simple fix and major structural work. Not all cracks spell disaster, but when in doubt, consulting with a foundation expert familiar with the unique challenges of Upper St. Clair homes can give you the clarity and solutions you need for a safe, stable home for years to come.

Need a professional opinion on your foundation’s condition? Our experts understand the specific challenges posed by Upper St. Clair’s expansive clay soil and aging home construction. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection to put your mind at ease.