Foundation Problem Signs
If you’ve seen issues such as floor cracks, gaps in doors or windows, sticking doors or windows, cracks in the corners of doorframes, nail pops, bowing walls, or other foundation damage, Ohio Basement Systems can help. We will find the source of your problem and provide you with a quality foundation repair solution.
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Jamming, Sticking Windows & Doors
While there are many issues that can lead to sticking windows and doors, the two most common foundation-related causes are settlement and crawl space supports that have settled, shifted, or deteriorated.
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Bowing Basement Wall
This guide examines bowing basement walls, their causes, warning signs, and permanent repair solutions provided by OBS.
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Crack in Foundation Wall
Don't ignore the cracks in your foundation walls. Learn about Ohio Basement Systems' reliable repair and prevention methods.
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Foundation Settlement & Sinking
Signs of a settling foundation can be very subtle at first — many homeowners can go months or even years before noticing a crack in their foundation.
Have you noticed uneven floors in your home? Are wall cracks growing and worsening? While it is common to see these problem signs in your home, they can indicate significant foundation damage beneath the surface. This is dangerous for your home and family, and it is important to have these issues fixed before serious injuries result. When it comes to repairing and protecting your foundation, you are not alone. Our experienced, friendly team at Ohio Basement Systems will accurately diagnose what’s going wrong with your foundation and recommend solutions best suited to your home’s repair needs. Get started by requesting your free inspection today!
The Causes of Foundation Problems
Factors such as expansive clay soil, hydrostatic pressure, and freezing water can create too much stress on basement walls, causing them to push forward and even collapse entirely over time.
While sandy soils remain stable as water passes through them, soils rich in clay undergo significant changes based on their moisture content.
When clay type soils dry out, they shrink significantly — so much that the ground can become covered with cracks. But after a heavy rain, the cracks are gone and the soil is fully saturated with water.
Because clay soil absorbs so much water, it expands during wet weather. Expansive clay soils can put enormous pressure on your basement or foundation walls. When the pressure becomes more than the wall can handle, the wall will begin to push inwards.
Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid due to the force of gravity.
To understand how hydrostatic pressure can damage foundation walls, imagine how much heavier soil becomes when it’s soaked with water. When the weight of water is added to the weight of the soil, you’ve got much greater pressure pushing against a foundation wall.
Hydrostatic pressure effectively amplifies soil pressure against a foundation wall. When pressure exceeds the foundation wall’s ability to withstand it, the wall will begin to bow, buckle, tilt inward at the top, or move inwards at the bottom.
In areas with cold winter climates, frost heaving can sometimes put enough pressure on foundation walls to make them fail.
When water turns to ice, its volume increases by about 9%. If wet soil experiences a deep freeze, the wedging or heaving force that results can be extremely powerful.
Frost heaving can put literally thousands of pounds of force against your foundation walls, causing cracks, bowing, and heaving.
Award-Winning Service
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Clinton Borgia from Ohio Basement Systems completed a comprehensive ‘water-proofing system’ inspection installed in 2018. He also replaced a ‘sump pump with backup’ leaving us with the confidence that our home is well protected from water intrusion.…
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Adam Apinis was amazing! Was very thorough and explained everything well. Would highly recommend him and his company.
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Adam came out before the expected time and was thorough and explained what was best and an excellent value
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Matthew and Robert and Cody did an awesome job today! Arrived on time and got the job done before the estimated time! I would do business in the future
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Adam Apinis did a very professional inspection of our home. The reason OBS was called was that Inoticed that the hall above our main support beam was squeaking more. Upon our inspection we saw that the supporting post had rusted at bottom.. …
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Thankyou to Ohio Basement Systems, Bob Hayes and the Ohio Basement System Crew. I am very pleased and satisfied with the waterproofing job done on my Basement. My Basement looks Great! and my family and I have a piece of mind. Thankyou Bob Hayes for…
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Everyone here is so helpful. I filled out an inquiry for a quote on Sunday morning, and someone called me that day and told me Lloyd would see me the next day. When Lloyd arrives, he was kind and warm, and when he looked at my basement, he pointed…
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Adam Apinis came out today to do an inspection of our basement. He was very thorough and thoughtful about his questions and answers. I appreciated his honesty and openness.
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Adam Apinis very knowledgeable and efficient in explaining work needed done! Pleased with this company highly recommend consulting.
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Totally took me by surprise when my basement flooded with the July rains. When Zach, Alec and Jose came out to do the work needing to be done so my basement wouldn’t flood they were want was needed. Yes professional – most important to me was the…
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From the moment I called to set up the inspection, everyone was professional and helpful. The crew of Rashawn, Ovid and Tristen did a great job. Rashawn was especially helpful explaining everything that was being done waterproofing the basement…
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Adam Apinis was very helpful and explained the problem and solutions.
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Adam Apinis was very thorough and knowledgeable. He called to let us know exactly when he would be arriving and arrived on time.
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Alex Detloff represented this company well, he was clean cut, and very personable. A definite asset to your company.
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Worked with Adam Apinis to have our basement assessed. Was very kind and detailed about what we need done. Very truthful and reasonable with their prices and products.
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Jason Hamblin was very honest with us, very nice person and Ohio Basement systems will do our project.
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Benny Hinkle is as professional and honorable as a person can get. He explained everything in detail and was also not only able to but graciously answered all of my 1000 questions. The dude is worth his weight in gold to whatever company he works…
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Inspector Adam Apinis came out today to inspect our basement concerning water entering our basement. He was on time for the appointment, professional, and very informative. Very nice and made sure I knew exactly what they would have to do to fix our…
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DARNELL, ETHAN & CODY ARRIVED ON TIME TODAY AND DARNELL GAVE A HEADS UP PHONE CALL BEFORE ARRIVAL WHICH IS GREAT !! ALL WERE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONABLE AND PERFORMED THE JOB RIGHT THE FIRST TIME !! I JUST WANTED TO THANK THEM AND OHIO BASEMENT…
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Foundation Repair Solutions
Your foundation has a big job to do in supporting your entire home, and it may need a little help sometimes. Having the right solutions to repair any damage and stabilize it for good is extremely important. The solutions we offer are fully customizable to meet your home’s specific repair needs. We’ve got what you need to ensure your home stays on solid ground.
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Foundation Wall Anchors
The Wall Anchor System permanently stabilizes your basement walls, offering the best opportunity to straighten the walls without the cost and disruption of foundation replacement.
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The IntelliJack™ Crawl Space Support System
The IntelliJack™ system provides solid support for sagging and undersized beams, restoring stability and straightness to sagging floor joists in a crawl space.
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The IntelliBrace™ Foundation Wall Repair System
The IntelliBrace™ is a patented foundation wall repair system that’s designed to stabilize failing basement walls and provide the potential t straighten walls over time.
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The Helical Pier System
Helical piers can stabilize settling foundations by connecting footings and walls to solid, load-bearing soils.
Is Foundation Repair the Right Solution for Me?
Just as your foundation is responsible for ensuring the structural integrity of your house, it’s your responsibility as a homeowner to give it some help from time to time. Your home may need foundation repair solutions to help ensure its durability and combat common foundation issues.
It doesn’t matter how old a home is or how recently a house was built. Homes of all ages have the potential to experience foundation problems like cracking and bowing walls, sagging floors, and sticking windows and doors. Issues with construction can sometimes come into play, but the root of damage to a home’s foundation is usually what lies beneath – the soil. Areas around Greater Cleveland and Northern Ohio have a mix of soil types including sand and silt, but clay is the most prevalent and problematic.
When overly saturated clay soil expands – thanks to the region’s wet weather – it creates hydrostatic pressure that is forced upon foundation walls. Too much pressure leads to wall cracks, bowing, and basement leaks. Wall repairs and reinforcements are needed to better protect the foundation from these hazards.
FAQs
Recognizing the signs of foundation settling will save you from having to spend money on repairs that won’t solve anything until the foundation has been stabilized. If the problem is caught early on, it will also save your home from experiencing extreme structural damage.
Here are typical signs you’ll notice if your foundation is settling:
- Sticking doors and windows
- Drywall cracked
- Drywall nail pops
- Wall and floor gaps
- Sagging, uneven floors
- Cracking, tilting chimney
- Exterior brick cracks
Foundation settling often gets detected after the house is falling apart. If you’ve spotted the problem signs and have determined that your foundation is failing, you need to act fast. Settling only gets worse with time, which means that what you are seeing will become more of a problem later on. If allowed to go on for too long, the house may even become too structurally unsound to live in. Before that happens, call your local foundation experts for repairs.
Foundation problems are not something you can just DIY, like a paint job or hanging a painting. For the job to be done right, professional solutions are required. At Ohio Basement Systems, we provide the best foundation repair options for the homeowners of Youngstown, OH, such as helical piers and push piers. These pier support systems will permanently stabilize your foundation and completely stop the settling. The piers even have the potential to lift your home and even it out again.
After repairs are done, you can go about repairing any damage created by the foundation settling. If any door and window frames are warped, get them replaced. If any walls have cracks, get those patched up. It’s not worthwhile to repair your home when it’s settling, since anything that isn’t a support pier will not stop the damage caused by settling. If you haven’t already, also consider waterproofing your foundation, since some problem with the foundation drainage may have caused the settling.
One common misconception about trees on a property is that the tree roots will damage your foundation. The truth is, it isn’t really the tree roots themselves that cause the problem, but the soil.
As tree roots grow to find moisture, they move the soil around. Displaced soil is looser, allowing for easier soil erosion. Properties with loose soil tend to have more foundation and concrete settling problems.
If you have a tree that is close to your home, consider getting a root barrier and cutting down and replanting the tree. Trees should be 15 to 20 feet away from the house.
When you first move onto a new piece of land, you’ll want to do what you can to stabilize the soil beneath and around your home. While professionals can do the bulk of the hard work for you – and should – there are a few other experts you can work with if you want to protect your home.
Assess the Stability of Your Landscaping
Landscapers in your area may be able to make more sense of your trees and grade than others. If you’re moving onto a new piece of land, then, you can work with them to ensure that your concrete slab is as stable as possible.
Professional landscapers can do what contractors in your area may not be able to when it comes to the environment’s impact on your concrete slab. While landscapers can’t install waterproofing measures around your home, they can help you relocate trees whose roots might otherwise destabilize your soil. Similarly, they can regrade your lawn, ensuring that moisture rushes away from the perimeter of your home. You can take all of these steps long before your concrete slab starts to show signs of instability. This means that you can get ahead of the worst of the slippage that might otherwise negatively impact your home’s value.
Work with Area Professionals to Protect Your Home
The professionals in your area are among the best people equipped to make sure that your soil stays exactly where it needs to. You can work with area professionals to inject your soil with polyurethane foam or concrete slurry even before your concrete slab starts to show signs of wear.
Above all else, though, area professionals can regularly inspect the conditions in your basement, crawl space, and foundation. Because professionals will know what signs of damage to watch for, they can help you act when something starts to go wrong in your home. They can also help you maintain any home waterproofing measures you install, ensuring that you limit your repair expenses later down the line.
Why is Foundation Repair Needed?
Here are just a few of the many benefits foundation repair can have on your home:
Protected Safety and Structural Integrity
You may have other home improvement projects in mind, but it is best to start with your foundation and ensure your home’s safety from the ground up. A structurally sound home is a safe home and vice versa. Foundation repairs such as piers or wall anchors reinforce your foundation and not only immediately protect it but ensure its safety and stability for years to come.
Repair is More Cost-Effective Than Replacement
A lot of people weigh their options of foundation repair vs. total foundation replacement. The latter is very invasive and time-consuming and won’t actually get to the root of the problems. But various repair methods will permanently solve the issues, so you won’t have to worry about them again.
Improved Real Estate Value
Before selling your house, it’s important to make sure it’s ready and that it has retained its market value. Most home buyers expect to see houses that are free of problems like foundation cracks. A problematic foundation can decrease your home’s value by 10 to 30 percent, and buyers could have problems getting a mortgage. But a house that is structurally sound and properly protected is more attractive to buyers as opposed to a house with cracks and uneven floors.
Common Foundation Repair Tips & Mistakes
During our more than 20 years in the foundation repair industry, we have heard and seen a lot of repair attempts. Here are some things to consider when addressing your foundation concerns, as well as what to avoid:
Helpful Foundation Repair Tips:
- Trust a Local Company with Repairs: It can be difficult to differentiate foundation problems from other issues around your home, which also could be connected. But trusted local experts like our team at Ohio Basement Systems take the guesswork out of the process by accurately diagnosing and repairing foundation issues.
- Do Your Research: The best thing you can do is empower and educate yourself with knowledge and research. Do your homework and check things out. Make sure to learn as much about a company as you can. Ask your potential specialist for reviews, references, and work samples, as well as must-haves including proof of insurance, licenses, and other pertinent certifications.
- Keep Up with Regular Inspections and Maintenance: We care about you and your home not just when we are initially inspecting and repairing it, but beyond. Even when the installation is complete, our job is not done. You can take advantage of our annual maintenance program so we can help ensure our solutions continue to protect your home. If any further fixes are needed, we are happy to handle those as well.
Foundation Repair Mistakes to Avoid:
- Addressing a Problem Only If It Changes: Something homeowners might hear regarding fixing foundation problems is “continue to monitor a crack until something changes.” A wall crack could be cosmetic, but it also can indicate deeper issues below the surface. Treating any kind of crack you notice as serious can help fix the problem faster before it spirals out of control.
- Not Monitoring Foundation Settlement: Another inaccurate tip homeowners may have been told relates to settling – “all the settlement already happened, so there’s nothing you need to do.” True, most homes slightly settle into their permanent positions within the first few years after they are built. While that is normal, it is not normal for a home to continue settling. That means there’s a problem with your foundation, the underlying soil, or both. These issues need to be addressed promptly to avoid further damage, safety hazards, and expensive repairs.
- Investing in DIY Repairs: While DIY repairs have their place with some projects, your foundation is not one of them. Foundation damage can be complex and even dangerous, and it’s important to have specialized knowledge and tools to fix these issues. And instead of working with a general contractor who is a “jack of all trades,” opt for the professional experience of foundation specialists.
Find your service area
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland's wet weather can wreak havoc on your basement and foundation. Damage is common, but permanent repair and protection are achievable with our trusted team and solutions.
Youngstown, OH
Wet basements and settling foundations are common because of Youngstown’s consistent rain and problematic soils. Ohio Basement Systems can help you protect your home with trusted basement, foundation, crawl space, and concrete repair solutions.
Akron, OH
Wet basements and settling foundations are common in Akron. High-quality solutions from Ohio Basement Systems combat these forces for permanent repair and protection.
Mansfield, OH
Mansfield is home to a diverse number of soils vulnerable to poor drainage. This can cause structural issues to your property down the line—is your home protected?
