Foundation Repair in California

What Does Foundation Repair in California Entail?

Foundation repair involves employing carious methods and products to counteract damage to its structural components. Damage may arise from sinking or settling soil, excess water, improper drainage, and other factors. Addressing issues promptly is crucial to prevent additional damage and avoid increasing expenses.  

Foundation Strategies is Your Local Expert

Choosing a foundation repair company with the experience to properly diagnose and address problems is essential. Our company, founded 35 years ago by owner Ken Coleman, utilizes extensive construction knowledge to deliver top-notch services in San Jose, CA area. With an team of knowledgeable professionals and dedicated workers, we offer the best foundation repairs tailored to your needs. 

What are the Signs of Home Foundation Failure?

Recognizing signs of foundation failure in your home is vital. Common issues include settlement cracks in sheetrock, sticking doors and windows, uneven or sloping floors, foundation cracks, cracks in mortar, and leaning walls or chimneys. These signs may indicate foundation settlement or building pressure on your home. Luckily, there are several common issues you can look for to determine if you need to call a professional, like:

• Settlement cracks in sheetrock – This is caused by a shifting foundation and can create huge cracks in the walls & ceilings that will later lead to bigger problems.
• Doors/Windows sticking – Again, often caused by foundation settlement, sticking windows and doors can be a sign you need some professional assistance
• Uneven & sloping floors – When your home is shifting and settling, it might even be slipping slowly down the hill your home is perched on. This can cause uneven and sloping floors that must be fixed by a professional
• Foundation cracks – Cracks found directly on the foundation walls are definitely a sign that there is too much pressure mounting on your home’s foundation.
• Cracks in mortar – Cracks in the mortar of your brick home often mean there is too much pressure building, meaning bigger problems are right around the corner.
• Leaning walls or chimney – Anytime a wall or other facet of your home is leaning, it’s not a good sign. This could indicate foundation settlement or building pressure on your home.

What Causes Home Foundation Failure?

Foundation failure in San Jose is caused by several outside elements that affect your home over time, including:

• Expansive soils: As soils expand and contract with changing temperatures and elevated water levels, the soil moves along with your home. Sometimes this movement has no impact, but other times, structural repair is needed.
• Excessive rainfall: Rainfall can cause soil to expand and contract, leading to problems. Recent flooding or an incredibly rainy season may gather near your home, pushing on the foundation and causing failure.
• Tree roots: Trees planted close to your home have roots that can grow into the foundation walls, moving the foundation over time and causing bigger issues.
• Poor grading/excavation: If the soil under your home wasn’t properly graded or excavated before it was built, your home could be on uneven ground or have obstacles that were never removed. If you bought the house after it was built, it might be hard to know the exact processes used during construction.
• Poor construction: Sometimes contractors forget steps, either not building the foundation properly to handle weight and change over time or not considering future changes to the home’s structure or the impact of a growing family.
• Transpiration: Plants take in moisture from the soil. During dry periods, plants could take more moisture away from your home. The drier the soil, the more likely it is to contract and shift your home.
• Slope failure/mass wasting: Building on a slope can cause your home to slowly creep downhill due to the dirt’s tendency to move downward. Unless built with anti-slope piers, your home is likely to slide over time.

Why Should You Repair Your Home’s Foundation?

Your foundation is the most important part of your home. It’s what keeps everything standing after a heavy storm. You can’t assume that it will be fine forever, especially as it ages. Foundation issues not only compromise the safety of your family but your health as well. Cracks and openings in your home can invite pests, mold, and mildew inside. Foundation issues can also decrease the value of your home, so if you plan on moving in the future, you should consider repairs. Besides all that, the longer you wait to repair, the worse it’s going to get, costing you more money in the long run. 

What Do I Do First?

First, you should inspect your home’s foundation as well as the interior of your home for any signs of foundation problems. If you happen to notice something, even if you think it’s small, call our professional team right away. Once you call, a professional will connect with you to set up the best time to inspect your home. After thoroughly inspecting your home, our team will devise a plan, detailing the products and services we will use, to provide you with a free quote. If you accept the quote, we will then work with you on financing options and then the actual foundation repairs.

We will always ask what the best times are to work on your home so that we aren’t in the way or disrupting your daily life too much. Once we complete the project, we want to ensure you’re satisfied with our work. If anything doesn’t meet expectations, we will work with you to the best of our abilities to fix it.

What Are the Solutions For Foundation Repairs?

At Foundation Strategies & Construction, we have a number of solutions for your home’s foundation problems. We can install push piers, helical piers, slab piers, helical tiebacks, and more. These are great for all your settling foundation, uneven foundations, and other stability problems your home might face. Grip-Tite Manufacturing, a company with over 90 years of experience, sources all of our solutions. Rest assured, we have the perfect fit for your home.

Quality Foundation Repairs Near You

When you need a foundation repair expert in the Bay Area, turn to the team at Foundation Strategies and Construction. We have more than three decades of experience providing results for our customers. We’re available throughout San Jose and the surrounding communities, including San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and many more! Check out our service area page for a full list of the communities we serve. Then, call today for your free quote.