Foundation Heave

Slab flooring with cracks, gaps, or holes is not ideal for your home.

If you notice cracks in your foundation walls or floors, uneven slab floors, and settling sections within your home, you might be experiencing a structural issue known as foundation heave. This condition affects the integrity of your home and poses a significant risk to your family’s safety.

Our team at Baker’s Waterproofing has more than 45 years of experience assessing these types of problems and implementing customized foundation repair solutions to address foundation heave and prevent further damage.

After reading this page, you’ll understand the causes and problems associated with foundation heave and how professional repairs protect your home.

What Is Foundation Heave?

Foundation Heave refers to the upward movement of a building’s foundation or slab caused by the underlying soils that expand or swell. This expansion is often due to an increase in moisture or freezing conditions.

As a result, you may notice a variety of symptoms, such as:

Cracks in walls
Floor cracks
Uneven slab floors
A visibly raised foundation

Unlike foundation settlement, which involves sinking, foundation heave pushes parts of your foundation upwards. This issue is particularly prevalent with slabs, as they have less weight to counteract the force exerted by swelling soil.

What Causes Foundation Heave?

Several factors contribute to foundation heave, including:

Initial Construction: Due to soil stabilization issues, newly built homes are more susceptible to foundation heave within the first few years.
Soil Type: Expanding soil exerts pressure on foundation walls. For instance, clay-based soil absorbs excess moisture, leading to expansion.
Inadequate Drainage: Poor drainage systems, including gutters and downspouts, can exacerbate this issue by allowing water to collect around your home’s foundation.
Changing Weather: Climatic factors such as frequent rainfall or snowfall, followed by freezing temperatures, can also lead to soil expansion. Frost heave during freezing weather causes water in the soil to freeze and expand, pushing the foundation upward.
Tree Roots: Nearby trees with invasive root systems can displace the underlying soil and extend beneath the foundation, causing it to expand and rise.
Settling Issues: Foundation heave is closely related to foundation settlement or sinking. When a portion of the foundation settles more than the rest, it may appear to heave in other sections.

Identifying these contributing factors early on is essential to tailor the right solution.

Can You Fix Foundation Heave?

Yes, foundation heave can be fixed effectively. However, it’s not just about addressing the upward movement; a whole-home solution is crucial for lasting results. This requires professional assessment and customized solutions to address the specific causes in your home.

Baker’s Waterproofing provides free inspections to determine the root cause of the problem and recommend comprehensive repairs, which may include measures for foundation stabilization, water management, or a combination of both.

How to Fix Foundation Heave

Baker’s Waterproofing understands that every home throughout Pennsylvania is unique. We tailor our approach and repair solutions to meet your needs. Here is our strategy for addressing foundation heave:

Comprehensive Inspection

During a free inspection, our experienced team thoroughly evaluates your home’s interior and exterior to identify the areas affected by foundation heave. We also evaluate soil conditions, document damage such as floor cracks, and record measurements. This allows us to recommend repairs best suited to your home.

Foundation Stabilization

Foundation damage—whether caused by settlement, sinking, or heave—requires immediate repair. We permanently stabilize and can help lift misaligned foundation sections with our foundation pier systems:

Push Piers: Steel piers are pushed deep into the ground, transferring the weight of the home to more stable underlying soil.
Helical Piers: These steel piers with helical blades are screwed into the earth, allowing them to securely grip stable soil below.
Slab Piers: As pictured here, slab piers share similarities with push and helical piers, but they are specifically engineered for homes with slab foundations.

Every home’s foundation is unique. The experts at Baker’s Waterproofing will determine which pier is appropriate for your situation.

Wall Reinforcement

Heaving foundations can push foundation and basement walls out of alignment, necessitating reinforcement and repair. A thorough inspection helps verify which method will work best on your foundation walls:

Water Management

Moisture significantly contributes to foundation damage like heave, so managing how much water encounters your home is crucial. Depending on your home’s foundation type, we will install basement waterproofing solutions like interior drainage and sump pumps, or crawl space encapsulation products, including vapor barriers.

We offer our own proprietary products, personalized to your home’s specific issues, giving us a competitive edge in resolving foundation heave effectively.

Why Address Foundation Heave Now

It’s important to address foundation heave right away because:

Further movement and foundation damage will likely occur if left untreated.
Cracks resulting from heave can lead to water intrusion and mold growth.
Structural issues pose a significant risk to your home and family.
Early intervention can save you expensive repairs down the line.
A stable foundation is crucial for maintaining your property’s worth.

Baker’s Waterproofing provides comprehensive inspections and solutions to foundation heave. Unlike products from big box stores, our treatments are designed based on decades of experience and are far more effective.

Contact Baker’s Waterproofing for Foundation Heave Solutions

Don’t let foundation heave compromise the safety and value of your home. Trust Baker’s Waterproofing for unmatched customer care and a personalized approach to fixing these issues.

Your home deserves the best repairs to ensure its security and longevity. Contact us today to book a free, no-obligation inspection to get started on the path to a safer, more stable home.

FAQs

What are the signs of foundation heave?

Look for cracks in walls and floors, uneven flooring, and doors that stick or won’t close properly. Contact foundation repair professionals like Baker’s Waterproofing when you notice these issues. Quick action enables long-lasting, cost-effective repairs.

How long does it take to fix foundation heave?

Repairing foundation heave typically takes a few days to complete. However, repair times vary depending on the severity of the issue and the solutions implemented. Contact Baker’s Waterproofing for a free inspection, repair estimate, and accurate timeline breakdown.

Is foundation heave covered by homeowner’s insurance?

Foundation issues, including heave, are generally not covered unless caused by specific conditions outlined in your policy, like flooding. Contact your insurance provider for more information about your coverage if you are unsure.