foundation repair Archives

January 24, 2022 by Ron Lee

Basement foundation repair and replacement

Pioneer Basement Solutions is a basement foundation repair and replacement contractor offering permanent solutions with lifetime guarantees. There is help if you have a bowing, cracking, and or deteriorating foundation. Our inspectors will start with identifying the cause of your foundation problem. We will explain how your basement got to it’s current state and review your foundation repair options.

There are several different types of structural basement foundation problems. Here are a the most common:

Bowing basement walls

Bowing basement walls are a result of a weakened foundation that becomes susceptible to soil pressure. When water gets into the foundation it will cause deterioration or weakening of the mortar joints. This compromised foundation will crack when soils expand and deflect inward. Sometimes this is due to poor construction methods. Block walls that were not reinforced during construction are not strong enough to resist soil pressure.

Settling foundation

Settling foundations are a result of poor soil conditions underneath the foundation. Sometimes this soil condition is caused by poor drainage. Sometimes poor soil conditions existed from the beginning of construction and the result is gradual settlement over time.

Shifting basement walls

Shifting basement walls are a result of a weakened foundation that becomes susceptible to soil pressure. Weak mortar joints can become loose from the blocks and result in a shifting basement wall. This happens because of increasing soil pressure against weak mortar joints.

Which basement foundation repair and replacement method is best?

Contact us today for a free evaluation of you basement foundation repair and replacement needs. Our experienced inspectors will get to the point and give you the answers you need. They will start with identifying the cause of your problem, then review the repair options, and finally leave you with a quote. We offer carbon fiber reinforcement, steel I Beam reinforcement, foundation Piering, and foundation replacement.

We never ask for a commitment on our first visit, no sales games or pressure tactics. Check out our online reviews to see what our customer say about us. Contact us today for a visit

We look forward to helping with your basement foundation repair and replacement needs!

May 9, 2020May 10, 2020 by Ron Lee

Basement Wall Repair

How do you know what the best basement wall repair is for your basement? There are several types of foundation repair methods available and each is designed to solve a specific issue. There are basement walls that are tipping in at the top and basement walls that are bowing in along a horizontal crack. Then there are foundations that are crumbling or have severe mortar rot. Some basements have settling issues which result in vertical cracks in basement walls or stair step cracking in the walls. And then there are basement walls that have a sheer break in them resulting in the wall sliding inwards along the break.

Danger: Basement foundation problems can be dangerous. Please call 1 (330) 454-8066 to schedule an inspection by a basement professional.

Interviewing foundation repair companies can add to the confusion because you may get differing proposals. The reason this may happen is due to the numerous foundation repair companies that hire and train salespeople to sell a specific product or method. Foundation repair contractors that are part of a national chain or franchise will only propose (quote) the solutions they have contractual agreements to sell. These contractors often present many solutions and go through a sales process to bring you to a conclusion that the one product they install is the one you need. So look for locally owned and operated foundation repair contractors who can not only offer different solutions but also install any of them when you need basement wall repair.

bowing basement wall needing basement wall repair

Bowing basement walls

Basement wall shifting off base / sheering

Basement wall collapse

Basement wall with mortar rotting and block decaying

As a rule of thumb, basement walls that are bowing in can be reinforced to prevent further movement. Note: up to 2″ of inward bowing or less is required, anything beyond that and your wall is no longer structurally sound and should be replaced. Some basement walls can be straightened, but only if there are open cracks that have never been filled in. Continuing the thought of straightening bowing basement walls, to do it properly you must excavate the soil away on the outside first to relieve the pressure allowing the wall to go back to its best position. Walls that have the cracks caulked or filled in will not straighten up. The filler binds the joint and prevents the crack that opened from closing back up which is what straightening the wall is actually doing.

Back to reinforcing bowing basement walls. Steel I beams as a basement wall repair method can be used. Steel I beams are to be buried below the floor and cemented in at the bottom and properly attached to the wood structure above. In this scenario the floor below and the wood structure above are actually holding the I beam in place. Steel beams are straight so they only touch the wall where it is bowed out. The gaps at top and bottom between the wall and beam should be filled in to prevent the wall from shifting behind the beam. Downsides are steel beams are unsightly, can rust, and still can flex. Also if the soil conditions outside push on the wall it can cause the beam to put pressure on the wood structure causing it to shift or twist.

The latest basement wall repair method for bowing basement walls is carbon fiber mesh “straps” which are embedded into the face of your foundation walls. And the latest of those are made by Fortress Stabilization who has developed a system made of both carbon fiber and Kevlar meshed together giving them the ultimate in tensile and shear strength. These straps are smooth to the wall and paintable making them barely noticeable. Carbon fiber / Kevlar mesh straps are embedded into the face of the wall with a two part epoxy becoming part of the structure. How this method works is that the straps are inflexible / do not stretch so they create tension on the wall preventing movement. Soil pressure outside is diffused and the wall is permanently stabilized.

If your basement wall has a sheer, meaning a row of block has slid inward off of the row below it a half inch or more, it needs to be replaced. Some basement walls with a sheer less than a half inch can be stabilized with steel beams to prevent further movement but for the most part this is an indication of severe drainage problems resulting in water build up at the bottom of the basement wall outside. This build up results in the foundation and or mortar rotting out, becoming weak, and resulting in the shift. Often times this results in dirt and/or mud coming into the basement through the broken areas.

Tipping basement walls are a result of them not being well attached to the structure above during construction. This is a wall that is straight from bottom to top but leaning inward at the top. This is different from bowing as you will not see a horizontal crack that is opened up. Fixing tipping basement walls involves first removing the soil outside to relieve pressure. Then a system of steel beams and screws / jacks are used to slowly push the wall back into its best possible position. The steel beams can be left in place to hold the wall from further movement or other methods can be used to secure the structure above to the foundation to prevent movement.

Obviously if you have a collapsed basement wall, it would need full replacement, enough said.

Crumbling and rotting foundations occur due to the original waterproofing seal failing, allowing water into the basement wall. In many cases, if this is caught early enough the wall can be excavated, repaired, reinforced, waterproofed, and ultimately saved. The cost of going through all of that may be getting very close to replacing the basement wall and some walls with rot and decay should simply be replaced.

Settling foundations are those that are sinking into poor soil conditions. Signs of a sinking foundation include stair-step cracks, vertical cracks, and issues in the living space above such as cracked walls, ceilings, and doors that do not close properly. To stop a settling foundation it requires installing reinforcement below the foundation installed into a solid substrate. This method is often called underpinning or piering. We favor the Stabil-Loc Foundation Piering System. Its patent-pending load-bearing design installs directly under the wall being lifted. Its unique interlocking high strength steel construction can support up to 300,000 lbs. There are no bolts, no brackets, no breaking the footing, and no off-set loads. This pier carries an Engineer Certified safety factor of more than 10 to 1.

Contact Pioneer today to schedule a no-pressure visit to evaluate your foundation and the basement wall repair methods available.

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February 10, 2018 by Ron Lee

Foundation Piers – How Do They Work?

What are foundation piers? Most homeowners have never even heard of the term until they started experiencing foundation problems. Of course, there are various remedies for different types of foundation movement. You can learn more about them HERE. The purpose of this article is to discuss the concept and technique of foundation piering to give you a better understanding of how the system works.

What is Foundation Piering?

Piering is the process of driving sections of steel pipe or concrete pilings underneath of a foundation in order to stabilize it and prevent further movement. The piers are pushed into the ground with a hydraulic pump. Concentrically loaded foundation piers are installed directly under the center of the wall being lifted and use the foundation as resistance to push the pier into the ground. The piers must be driven deep enough to hit bedrock or other stable strata in order to be effective. This serves as the strong base needed to support the piers which in turn support the foundation. Piering is the strongest and most dependable method of stabilizing a foundation that is settling or sinking.

There are various types of foundation piers on the market. The most dependable method of structural piering is the patented Stabil-Loc piering system. This is because Stabil-Loc piers are installed directly underneath the footer (base of the foundation) of the home, which is where all of the weight of the house is. The pier is also constructed of a patented double wall interlocking system preventing failure between the segments. This method comes with a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty and full stamped and certified structural engineer documentation.

Other types of piers are installed next to the footer and attached to the side of it with a bracket. These types of piers are susceptible to offset pressures that can bind and snap the bolts or brackets causing failure of the pier.

Are They Strong Enough to Work?

Note the following information, which can be found directly on the Stabil-Loc website:

Our double walled heat extruded steel tube positioned directly under the center of the wall to be lifted or stabilized and driven hydraulically all the way to bedrock or stable strata provides the deepest, strongest foundation support available.

The Stabil-Loc Foundation Piering System segmented the shaft of the pier into 12-inch interlocking segments so the pier could be installed directly under the center line of the weight of the wall being lifted. The bracket was then inverted and rides against the bottom of the footing as a load bearing plate that rotates as the structure is lifted. The location and configuration of the pier combined with the highest compressive load carrying capacity in the industry makes it obvious– THIS PIER CANNOT FAIL!

Is Piering Right for Your Home?

If your foundation is sinking or settling, you may notice the following symptoms:

Stairstep cracks in the basement wall
Drywall cracks
Misaligned windows or doors
Foundation Cracks

If you would like to find out whether or not your house would be a good candidate for piering, contact us today! We can perform a free* foundation inspection and make a recommendation that is tailored to your house’s unique needs.

Pioneer Basement Solutions has been in business since 1979. We serve homeowners in the following areas and more:

Stark County, Summit County, Portage County, and Medina County.

*Free for homeowners

Foundation Piers During Installation.

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December 18, 2017December 18, 2017 by Ron Lee

Foundation Wall Repair

If you have foundation problems, you may be wondering what your options are for foundation wall repair. Here are some of the most common symptoms of a foundation issue, and what those symptoms could mean:

Stair step cracks in basement wall, which may indicate settling or shifting.
Horizontal cracks may mean your basement wall is beginning to bow in.
Cracks in the floor of your basement could indicate settling.
Difficulty opening/closing doors and windows may mean the foundation is sinking.

There is good news though! Most common foundation issues can be resolved. There are several solutions to the different causes of these problems. Therefore, we are going to review some of the methods we offer for foundation wall repair.

Carbon Fiber / Kevlar Mesh

We use the advanced technology of Fortress Stabilization for bowing basement walls. The carbon fiber and Kevlar straps are meshed together and applied vertically to the basement wall. This combination provides incredible strength to stop basement wall movement in its tracks. The straps are flat to the wall and paintable. This method comes with a lifetime warranty.

Structural Piering

The most dependable method of structural piering is the patented Stabil-Loc piering system. We install the piers directly under the footer of the home. Each section of pier is driven into the ground under your foundation with a hydraulic pump until it hits bedrock or other stable strata. This is the strongest and most dependable form of stabilizing a settling structure. To learn more about the Stabil-Loc pier as well as other piering systems, please visit our foundation piering page.

Traditional Steel I Beams

In some cases, a traditional steel I beam can be installed against the basement wall. The beam is attached to the structure above as well as cemented in under the floor. This method offers a limited warranty.

Basement Wall Replacement

If a basement foundation wall is totally beyond repair, we offer complete replacement of the wall itself. We stabilize the house and remove the wall and then replace it with all new block. We can replace the entire foundation or just a section, depending on the severity.

If you would like to learn more about the foundation wall repair methods we use, contact our office. We can have a foundation specialist evaluate your basement and present the best options for your specific situation.

Our warranties come standard with the work that is performed. No extra charges or yearly maintenance fees. We believe in our products and solutions enough that we don’t have to put conditions in our guarantees or charge a fee to continue them. We feel confident that we can offer a solution for whatever foundation wall repair needs you have.

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June 30, 2017June 30, 2017 by Ron Lee

Foundation Piering Systems – A Basic Overview

If you have done your research, by now you have realized that there are a variety of foundation piering systems. The purpose of this blog is to give a basic overview of the most commonly used systems.

There are two ways in which a pier can bear the load of a home’s foundation:

Eccentrically Loaded – This type of pier is attached to the edge of the footer with a large bracket. The bracket is used as resistance to push the pier into the ground. Thus, this type of pier creates an offset load.

Concentrically Loaded – This type of pier is installed directly under the footer. The weight of the building is used as resistance to drive the pier into the ground. Therefore, this type of pier creates a direct load.

Types of Foundation Piering Systems

There are five basic designs and we will go through them one by one.

Offset Steel Pier-

As stated, a bracket is attached to the footer and it is an industry wide practice to cut out part of the footer to get the bracket closer to the wall to reduce the offset load. The pier is driven into the ground until it hits stable strata. It is not the course of wisdom to remove a portion of a home’s footer, nor to create an offset load. The tested and published safety load factor for this type of pier is 2 to 1.

Helical Foundation Anchor-

These are relatively new to the marketplace. They are also attached with a bracket to the footer. Helical piers typically must be driven into the ground at an angle, which creates stress on the threads. This can lead to failure of the pier to bear the load properly. Additionally, they are not driven deep enough to hit bedrock, or load bearing strata. And helical piers also create an offset load.

Concrete Piling-

They are 6” in diameter and 12” long. They are concentrically loaded, which is good, and they work well in sandy soils, but they are too large in diameter to go deep enough to be effective in clay soils.

Concrete Shoring Pad-

Fourth, an older technology that is still sometimes used is a concrete shoring pad. The idea is to dig under the footer to pour a bigger footing under the one you have. This has not been proven to permanently fix a settling foundation. The new footing can continue to settle right underneath of the old footing.

Stabil-Loc Pier-

Last but not least, the Stabil-Loc Pier is designed to be installed directly under the foundation wall. Its unique interlocking high strength steel construction can support up to 300,000 lbs. Hydraulic pressure is monitored while the pier is being driven into the ground. There are no bolts, no brackets, no removal of the footing, and no off-set loads. The Stabil-Loc pier carries an Engineer Certified safety factor of more than 10 to 1.

A Final Word

At Pioneer, we only sell and install products that we firmly believe in. For example, we choose not to use products that create an offset load. We also avoid piers that feature brackets or pieces that create weak spots and could potentially break. That is why we use the Stabil-Loc pier. It has been proven to be a permanent solution to stabilize settling foundations. We work closely with engineers and local building officials to ensure that we provide the best possible solution for your foundation. You can learn more about Stabil-Loc piers by clicking here.

Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on our latest blog posts. Feel free to explore our website to learn more about us.

Foundation Piering Systems

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May 1, 2017February 1, 2021 by Ron Lee

Foundation Repair Contractors – How to Choose Wisely

When it comes to foundation issues, there are usually telltale signs when there is a problem. For example, you may notice cracks in the basements walls or floor, settling or sinking, or a bowed wall. When you begin researching foundation repair contractors, the choices may seem overwhelming. There is certainly no shortage of options when it comes to available contractors. Just a quick online search may reveal a dozen or more companies who advertise foundation repair services. At the same time, when it comes to something as important as the foundation of your home, it is imperative to choose carefully. This article is designed to help you know what to look for with regard to foundation repair contractors.

What to Look For

How long has the company been in business? Just because a company claims to have many years of “experience” does not mean they have actually been in business that long.

What is the company’s reputation? There are many online resources such as Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau, and even social media outlets to search for reviews on the company.

Is the company insured? Any reputable company should be able to easily and quickly provide proof of this information.

Do they offer multiple repair options? Be leery of contractors that offer the same “one size fits all” solution to every customer, regardless of what the problem is. For more information on various repair options, click here.

Is a permit required? An honest company will make the effort to comply with local building codes and standards.

Does the company have references? References should be readily supplied with contact information for each customer.

Do they offer a warranty? Any foundation repair work should be backed by a warranty. Furthermore, the terms of the warranty should be clear and easy to understand.

Who will be on the job site? Will there be a foreman or supervisor on site? Are the workers employees of the company or temporary labor and/or subcontractors?

Why it is Important

Although it may be tempting to go with the cheapest proposal, or even try a DIY option, this is not the best course of action. In fact, this could end up costing you more in the long run. If you make it your goal to find a contractor that will get the job done right the first time, you can have peace of mind in knowing that your foundation will be strong and structurally sound for years to come.

Pioneer Basement Solutions has been in business since 1979. We offer various options for foundation repair, stabilization, and replacement, as well as basement waterproofing. Visit our About to learn more.

BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and ZERO complaints

Twelve Time "Super Service Award" Winners from Angie's List

Home Advisor Screened and Approved

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April 15, 2017December 1, 2022 by Ron Lee

Foundation Repair Methods Review

If you have noticed a wall in your basement bowing in, basement wall cracks, or a shifting foundation, you are probably starting your foundation repair methods review. There are various reasons why a foundation may begin to settle or crack. Poor soil conditions, improper maintenance, and/or poor footing may all be factors. Consider the following information.

Foundation Reinforcement

If you have a basement wall that is bowing in with open horizontal cracks, you may be able to stabilize it from further movement or even straighten it back into its original position. Carbon fiber mesh straps can be utilized for this purpose. Fortress Stabilization has developed a system made of both carbon fiber and kevlar meshed together giving them the ultimate in tensile and shear strength. These straps are smooth to the wall and paintable making them barely noticeable. Once installed, your wall becomes stronger than it was originally and will have a lifetime structural guarantee.

Furthermore, excavation may also be required to remove the weight from the wall before the straps are applied. This removes the pressure from the soil on the outside of the house so that the wall can be straightened back into position.

Foundation Repair methods review for Bowing Wall

Bowing Basement Wall

Structural Piering

If the foundation is sinking and settling due to poor soil conditions, structural piers may be the best option. The Stabil-Loc Foundation Pier System is installed directly under the concrete or mason wall that needs to be lifted or stabilized. Piers are driven deep within the earth into bedrock or stable, load-bearing strata which is verifiable with load-testing. As the home is lifted, a mechanism allows the part of the piering system under the footer to be rotated. This prevents the footer from breaking, which is a feature not found anywhere else. Installation can be done quickly, with minimal excavation required. This system is designed to restabilize the sinking structure by shifting the weight of the home off of the foundation and onto the piers. This redirects the load to more reliable earth layers underground.

Structural Piers

Foundation Replacement

If severe mortar rot is occurring or if the blocks are shifting, completely replacing the foundation may be the best solution. A single foundation wall can be replaced if it is the only area that is affected, or the entire foundation can be removed and rebuilt. There are many factors to take into consideration when deciding whether or not to replace a foundation wall.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Option

So after this basic foundation repair methods review, are you starting to get an idea which of these methods would be best for your foundation issues? Just as important as the method is the foundation repair contractor. How do you know which contractor to choose? Keep in mind that there are various kinds of foundation issues, therefore, a company must be able to offer various solutions. A single solution will not work for every foundation problem. Make sure your foundation repair contractor can offer a specific solution to fit your unique problem.

We perform each of the above mentioned foundation repair options all over northeast Ohio, including the following areas:

Stark County, including Canton, Massillon, North Canton, Alliance, and Louisville.

Summit County, including Akron, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls, Hudson, and Barberton.

Portage County, including Kent, Ravenna, Rootstown, Streetsboro, and Atwater.

Wayne County, including Wooster, Orrville, and Dalton.

Carroll County, including Carrollton, Minerva, Delroy, and Malvern.

Tuscarawas County, including New Philadelphia, Dover, and Sugar Creek.

For a complete list of our service area click here.

Pioneer Basement Solutions has Certified Structural Evaluators on staff. We also work closely with various local structural engineers. Contact us for an evaluation of your basement and a professional foundation repair methods review.

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May 23, 2016 by Ron Lee

Foundation Settlement Repair

Foundation settlement repair consists of installing support below the foundation to stop it from sinking into poor soil conditions. The Stabil-Loc Foundation Pier System is installed directly under the concrete or mason wall that needs to be lifted or stabilized. The pier is driven deep within the earth into bedrock or stable, load-bearing strata which is verifiable with load-testing. As the home is lifted, a mechanism allows part of the piering system that makes contact with the bottom of the footer to be rotated to prevent breaking the footer- a feature not found anywhere else. Installation can be done quickly, and with minimal excavation required. This system is designed to re-stabilize the sinking structure by shifting the weight of the home off of the foundation and onto themselves, redirecting the load to more reliable earth layers underground.

Stabil-Loc Foundation Piering Systems are patented piers for virtually any foundation settlement repair. What separates them from any other pier systems is the unique method of installation and how the system was designed. Engineers created a new method and started from scratch using a piering system that places the bracket directly underneath your home and the pile (the pole of the pier) attached to the center of the bracket. This gives a much stronger and durable system that no other pier can provide- withstanding any shifts of soil conditions or pressure. These piers are also designed to drill deeper than any other system, resting the structure’s weight on bedrock or load-bearing strata (the most stable of earth’s crust layers).

The Difference of Stabil-Loc Piers for Foundation Settlement Repair

Using traditional brackets along the side of your structure (often called offset piers) proved to be an inadequate technique for foundation repair. Lifting the structure with piers and brackets at an angle (helical piers) or offset to the side of your home would eventually bend, break, or improperly raise the foundation. In the diagram to the left you can see the instability of other systems that lead to foundation failure. Your investment in a Stabil-Loc Foundation Pier system is reliable using linear lifting instead of angular, offset, or using concrete materials. This provides a more stable and natural method of leveling your foundation.

So how do you know if you have a foundation settlement problem? A settling foundation is very different from other foundation problems so for reference we’ll briefly look at the common foundation problems. Horizontal cracks in basement walls lead to basement walls bowing in. Poor attachment of the structure above can lead to basement walls tipping in at top / in effect sliding out from underneath the house above. Bad foundation drainage can lead to water soaking into the block weakening the mortar joints and causing the basement wall to sheer off or slide off of itself. Water damage to a basement wall can also lead to decay or rotting basement walls. None of these issues qualify for foundation settlement repair, each issue having its own solution.

Basement settling cracks are typically vertical or they follow the mortar joints in a stair step pattern. The soft soil underneath the footing of the wall causes the footing to settle. The result being the wall that sits on the footing to drop causing the cracking. So if you have the following: vertical cracks in your basement walls, stair step cracks in your basement walls, large cracks in the basement floor which is becoming uneven chances are you need foundation settlement repair. Other tell tale signs are walls cracking in living space above, uneven floors and doors and windows that do not operate normally.

A professionally trained structural evaluator will be able to confirm weather you have a settling basement. Measurement should be taken to identify where the foundation breaks are and how much movement there has been. At Pioneer Basement Solutions our straight forward no sales nonsense approach can help you determine what if any needs you may have. We never attempt to sell anything to any customer that they do not need unlike many national or franchised companies which are large marketing and sales organizations that train sales people how to sell thier products to every prospective customer they get in front of.

Contact Pioneer Basement Solutions today to schedule your foundation evaluation and get the information you need for your foundation settlement repair.

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February 3, 2016February 3, 2016 by Ron Lee

Foundation repair methods

There are different foundation repair methods used depending on your foundation problem. Once you determine if you have bowing basement walls, a settling foundation, a shifting foundation or your basement walls are deteriorating (or some combination of the aforementioned) you can then explore the method that fits your problem.

settling foundation can cause step cracks

Settling foundations occur due to poor soil conditions underneath the foundation footing. The weight of the structure causes the footing to crack allowing the foundation to settle / sink down into the poor / soft soil. this can cause a ripple effect of cracking in walls above in living areas, doors that rub or won’t close and floors that slope. Installing piers underneath the footing and driving down into solid substrate will stop settling and can even lift the structure back into original position. Our method of installing concentrically loaded foundation piers comes with an engineer’s certification and lifetime guarantee.

Concentrically loaded foundation piers are installed directly under the wall being lifted and use the foundation as resistance to push the pier into the ground. Other methods such as helical piers or offset piers are more limited and are nut installed directly underneath the structure.

Settling cracks in basement walls can be in a stair step pattern or almost straight vertical cracks that are open wider at top and narrow towards the floor.

mortar rotting to point of wall shifting & near collapse

If your basement wall has rotted mortar joints and blocks are shifting then most likely it is a matter of time before a major problem or collapse occurs. Walls with mortar rot are weak from the inside so applying foundation repair methods to the wall will not ensure a stable foundation. In that case foundation replacement may be warranted.

bowing basement wall requiring foundation repair methods

bowing basement walls with horizontal cracks that are open due to soil pressure

If you have bowing basement walls with open horizontal cracks you may be able to stabilize it from further movement or even straighten it back into original position. Today’s latest foundation repair method for bowing basement walls is carbon fiber mesh “straps” which are embedded into the face of your foundation walls. Fortress Stabilization has developed a system made of both carbon fiber and kevlar meshed together giving them the ultimate in tensile and shear strength. These straps are smooth to the wall and paintable making them barely noticeable. Once installed your wall becomes stronger than it was originally and will have a lifetime structural guarantee.

To properly straighten bowing basement walls you must first excavate the soil away from the outside. Once the soil is removed and the soil pressure is relieved the wall can be pushed back into position. If the cracks have been filled in with mortar or caulking then the wall will only go back as far as the crack will close. So be weary of foundation repair contractors who want to install clamps through your wall to the dirt outside (wall anchor) without digging it and tell you they can crank it back into position… especially if there are no open cracks!

After the walls are restored to their best position, then the stabilization straps must be applied to the face of the basement wall inside to prevent them from opening right back up. The wall is then waterproofed and back filled with gravel to protect it from further pressure or damage.

Some foundations require a combination of foundation repair methods or replacement to solve all the issues. To learn even more contact Pioneer Basement Solutions and have one of our foundation experts evaluate your specific foundation needs with you. We offer a straight forward evaluation with straight forward pricing and no games or gimmicks. Established in 1979, Pioneer is the only foundation repair contractor in business with a perfect spotless record since day one because we always treat our customer the way we want to be treated.

Contact Pioneer today for an ion person review of the foundation repair methods available for your basement!

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November 17, 2015January 15, 2016 by Ron Lee

Basement foundation repair

We have seen an increase in customers searching for basement foundation repair recently due to foundation settling, basement walls bowing and shifting and other foundation problems.

There are different problems that would dictate different solutions so first we’ll review the three solutions and then take a look at what each solutions is designed to fix. First you have foundation stabilization, second foundation piering and lastly foundation replacement.

Foundation stabilization is basement foundation repair that stops bowing basement walls from bowing further and can even involve straightening bowing basement walls. If you see horizontal cracks in your basement wall or walls and these cracks are open then you have bowing basement walls, foundation movement that is causing the wall to push into the basement along the crack. The cause of this problem could be one of many different possibilities. The builder may have back filled the soil too quickly causing a minor crack that worsened over many years. A sloping patio or driveway could allow water to get to the wall causing the soil to expand and thus causing the crack, roof water overflowing at the foundation can cause soil to expand creating pressure enough to crack the basement wall. A heavy freeze can cause soil to expand and develop a crack in the foundation that worsens over time…and so on.

To straighten the bowing basement wall it needs to be excavated, removing the soil from along the foundation. This in itself may cause the wall to relax back into place, or a system of jacks can push the wall back into place. The variable is if the crack was filled in. If so, it can only close as much as the crack is open so a filled in crack will not allow the basement wall to be straightened.

You do not have to straighten a bowing basement wall if it is less than two inches out of plumb in order to permanently stabilize the foundation. Fortress Stabilization products which are a mesh of carbon fiber and Kevlar can be applied to the basement wall to lock it into place. This product causes tension on the face of the wall which diffuses soil pressure and the wall will not move further. This is a permanent solution to bowing basement walls. Learn more here.

Foundation piering is basement foundation repair that stops a foundation that is settling or sinking in the soil underneath. If you see vertical cracks that are open at the top and get tighter at the bottom of the foundation wall, or cracks that are in a stair step pattern you may have a settling foundation that needs piering to corr ct the problem.

A sinking home is actually a very common structural problem which is seen on homes in nearly all areas of the country. The problem can be attributed to poor soil conditions around the home, or from improper building techniques being used during the time when the structure was being built. Regardless of the cause of the issue, it is something that must be taken care of immediately before additional damage is done to the structural integrity of the home.

To correct the problem of a settling foundation we install foundation piering which is pushed deep within the earth into bedrock or stable, load-bearing strata. The pier will be able to stabilize the foundation and in many cases, level, and lift the home back up to where it needs to be. The Stabil-Loc piering system is installed directly underneath of the footings for direct load transfer unlike other piering systems which are helical or offset next to the footings. Learn more here.

Bottom of wall has broken off and is sliding out of place due to decay

Foundation replacement is required when basement walls are deteriorated to the point that they are no longer structural, or when the basement wall has bowed in more than two inches and not a candidate for straightening, or when the foundation has broken off along a mortar joint and is sliding out of place, also known as sheering.

Foundation replacement involves a full excavation of the area, removing the foundation wall, ensuring the original footings are solid or replacing them if needed and rebuilding the basement wall with new cement block. New waterproofing and drainage are installed to ensure the new structure will last. To learn more about foundation replacement click here.

This is a basic overview of the three types of basement foundation repair available. If you are experiencing basement foundation problems consult with a reputable professional basement foundation contractor who is full service offering all types of solutions. Many contractors offer one solution and train sales people to sell their “system”. Not all problems can be solved with a one size fits all approach.

Contact Pioneer Basement Solutions today for a free, no pressure consultation. A thorough inspection of your specific issue(s) will be conducted and a straight forward review of your options given. We do not practice pricing games or sales tactics. Just one fair price will be given for the solution you feel most comfortable with and no pressure for a decision on the first visit. At Pioneer we treat our potential customers the way we want to be treated and we don’t like pushy salespeople which is why we do not use them.

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