Foundation Repair & Crawl Space Encapsulation in Florence, KY

Any and all concrete cracks can pose a threat to the surrounding concrete as well as to your foundation given enough time. However, not every homeowner will have the time to treat every crack or sign of damage they might come across around their home. This is where knowing which cracks can be ignored for a short period of time and which cracks must be treated as soon as possible. Any cracks that measure less than 1/8 inch wide are known as hairline cracks and will not pose any immediate threat to the surrounding concrete, nor will they spread down to the foundation right away. The same can be said for any cracks that measure anywhere between 1/8 and 1/4 inches wide.

Of course, these cracks can also expand at any time, so it is important that you do not leave these cracks alone for too long. Any cracks that measure wider than 1/4 inch must be repaired as soon as possible. Not only can they spread damage out to the surrounding slabs, but they can easily creep down to the foundation, too. You need a concrete lifting solution that will prevent this damage from spreading as well as protect your concrete from being damaged again in the future.

The SettleStop PolyRenewal™ injection foam repair solution will do just that and more. It can stabilize both the supporting soil below and the concrete slabs themselves, filling in any cracks and other damage along the way. The foam is made up of eco-friendly materials as well. If it mixes with water, then it will not ruin your lawn or landscaping. It is a nondisruptive repair solution that will not require any heavy equipment or loud construction to install and will cure in minutes!

Once some part of your home becomes damaged, it is quite natural for Cincinnati homeowners to at least attempt to fix that damage on your own, regardless if you have even dealt with such an issue before. Of course, the foundation is not a structure you should treat lightly. Your home’s infrastructure depends on it to stay upright and level. Without a stable foundation, you might find all kinds of damage around your home. Your floor may sag or bounce. The doors and windows in your home might be harder to open or close. You might even notice your walls bowing if you ignore this damage for too long.

Attempting to repair the foundation on your own can often result in you inflicting even more unintentional damage that will require other costly repairs later on anyway. Call the foundation experts at Ohio Basement Authority as soon as you spot any infrastructural damage around your home. Feel free to take advantage of the free home inspections we offer all homeowners. Our experts will easily be able to pinpoint the cause behind your foundation damage as well as provide free quotes on all our powerful repair solutions.

It is possible your foundation may have shifted or settled after a storm has washed out the supporting soil. Our pier systems can stabilize and even lift any shifted or settled foundation with ease. The piers can also close any cracks that have sprouted along the concrete foundation’s surface over time as well. These piers will later help brace your foundation against moisture damage. We can also offer your home our complex wall anchor system, carbon fiber wall straps, and our SettleStop IntelliBrace™ I-beam system. Calling Ohio Basement Authority’s experts is always the best call!

You never want to try and repair sagging floors or a damaged crawl space on your own. Instead, if you think the structural integrity of your home is at risk, reach out to the professional contractors in your area. After an initial home inspection, they can let you know about the repair and replacement methods that might suit your home best. When you’re contending with sagging floors and a moisture-damaged crawl space, these methods can include:  

• Repairing Your Sagging Floors  

The floors in your home often start to sag when their joists give out. To stop that sagging, you’ll need to replace and reinforce the joists in your crawl space. This process can see contractors import stronger, water-resistant woods to install throughout your home. Professionals can also seal these woods to limit their exposure to moisture in the long term. Before installing these new joists, they can even place a secondary plank beneath your existing floor to better lift the old material back into place. Then they can secure your joists—usually I-beams, though your options will vary based on the make of your home—and ensure that your home is as stable as possible.  

That said, you can usually blame joist damage on unusually high levels of moisture in your crawl space. With that in mind, you’re going to need to invest in crawl space repairs before you install new joists throughout your home. To do so, the professionals serving Cincinnati and Columbus, OH, will need to identify how that unwanted moisture is making its way into your home. After a thorough inspection, professionals can fill or patch cracks, lift your crawl space back into place, or even use wall anchors to secure your drooping walls. Once these issues are properly seen to, you can rest easy knowing that the worst of your crawl space’s water damage—and subsequently your floor—is behind you.  

• Getting Ahead of The Damage  

One of the best things professionals can do after repairing your damaged floors is to help you get ahead of any comparable losses. This often means waterproofing your home. There are a few different ways you can waterproof your property and your crawl space, in particular. The means that suit you best are going to vary based on the size of your crawl space, the damage you’ve seen in the past, and any new installations in your crawl space.  

Vapor barriers and full crawl space encapsulations tend to benefit homes that see more humidity than they do physical flooding. Sump pumps and interior drains help eliminate the standing water that might otherwise negatively impact your home. Professional landscapers may even be able to help eliminate some of the moisture from your home by regrading the soil around your perimeter. You can pair these home waterproofing measures with one another for improved benefits. If you’re not sure which ones to consider first, sit down with the professionals in your area for an initial consultation.