Sinking/Settling Foundation Problems in Michigan
Identifying & Solving Problems Related To Foundation Sinking & Settlement
Some types of soil are stronger than others.
There are usually a number of different soil layers underneath a house. Foundation settlement can occur when one of these soil layers can't support the weight of the home.
The Problem:
Your home is showing signs of damage related to foundation settlement.
Telltale Signs:
- Stair-Step Cracks In Brick Or Concrete Block Foundation Walls
- Leaning, Tilting Chimneys
- Cracks Around Doors & Windows
- Jamming, Sticking Doors & Windows
- Cracks In A Concrete Slab Floor
- Cracks In Drywall
How to Fix It:
We fix foundation settlement issues by installing steel foundation piers. These piers will extend beneath the foundation, contacting strong supporting soils that will permanently stabilize your structure.
At Foundation Systems of Michigan, we solve foundation settlement issues of all kinds!
Call us for a free foundation settlement repair quote today!
We serve Ann Arbor, Warren, Sterling Heights, and many nearby areas in Michigan.
Identifying Foundation Settlement Issues
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. The long-term damage from foundation settlement, however, is ongoing and will lead to more severe foundation problems.
Signs Of Foundation Settlement
As a foundation settles, many telltale signs will become evident. What follows are some of the most common ways that foundation settlement can become visible to the homeowner.
Stair-Step Cracking
Stair-step cracking is one of the surest signs of foundation settlement and is very common in brick in concrete block walls.
As the settlement continues , vertical cracks may widen or become uneven as wall sections tilt away from each other, indicating more severe displacement.
Keep an eye out for cracks that are wider at the top than at the bottom, as this is a sign of advancing settlement.
Tilting Chimneys
Tilting chimneys that are separating from the home are one of the most intimidating and dramatic signs of a settling foundation.
Sometimes a chimney is built on a footing that is not connected to the house foundation, making it even more at risk of settlement.
Damaged Doors & Windows
An opening cut in any wall is a weak point, so signs of foundation settlement often show up around door and window openings located above settlement areas.
Doors and windows frames may be racked out of square. Cracks may extend from the corners above doors and windows. Doors may separate from the framing or exterior finish. Other signs of foundation settlement include sticking, jamming doors and windows and locks that stop working.
Slab Floor Cracking
Cracks in your concrete floor slab can be a sign of foundation settlement, but they may also be a sign that the slab floor alone has settled.
There are times when your slab floor may sink or lift independently of the foundation walls, damaging the floors but not necessarily the walls.
Drywall Cracks
Cracks in drywall throughout the house are reliable indicators of foundation settlement. Cracks will often be larger and more obvious in the home's upper levels.
Typical drywall cracks during foundation settlement are commonly located at the corners of doors and windows and along drywall seams. Drywall tape can also be a good indicator, especially of it's ripping or coming loose. Drywall cracks can also be a sign of sinking crawl space supports, sinking floors, and heaving floors.
We Repair Settling Foundations in MI!
At Foundation Systems of Michigan, we can identify and repair any issue you may be having with settling, sinking foundations. We have a wide variety of solutions for foundation repair that have been tested and proven effective throughout the United States and Canada through the Foundation Supportworks™ network of foundation contractors.
Each of our foundations solutions includes a free, written foundation repair quote, including a personal consultation with one of our in-house foundation experts, a personal inspection, and a copy of our 90-page color foundation repair book. To schedule an appointment with one of our specialists, call or e-mail us today!
We proudly serve Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Warren, areas such as Farmington Hills, Livonia, Flint, Rochester Hills, Taylor, West Bloomfield, Waterford, and nearby.
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