Sinking Foundation

Your home’s foundation is integral to the entire structure, ensuring its safety and stability, as well as your family’s safety.  

Signs of a sinking foundation, such as foundation wall cracks or doors that stick, should raise immediate concern. Ensuring the integrity of a sinking foundation requires the appropriate foundation repair solutions. 

Ohio Basement Authority can do just that. We have been repairing and protecting homes throughout Central and Southern Ohio for almost 15 years. Homeowners trust our commitment to excellence, attention to detail, exceptional customer care, and reliable repair solutions. 

By the end of this page, you’ll understand foundation sinking, the significance of early intervention, and how Ohio Basement Authority can help. 

• Uneven floors 
• Cracked floors 
• Floor and wall gaps 
• Foundation wall cracks
• Drywall cracks 

• Drywall nail pops 
• Sticking doors and windows 
• Exterior brick cracks 
• Tilted or cracked chimneys 

• Snow: We typically don’t see much snow during the winter, usually 15 to 20 inches on average. But when we do get a significant amount of snow, it can take a while for the ground to absorb the water.  
• Rain: Cities like Columbus and Cincinnati get more than 40 inches of rain per year, which is above average. Most of this rain falls during the spring, fall, and humid summer months. As depicted in this image, this can be a lot of water for the soil to manage, especially following dry spells. 
• Natural Disasters: Flooding can quickly occur in areas with high water tables or within floodplains. This can take a toll on your foundation in many ways. Additionally, while they may be rare in our region, earthquakes can destabilize your home’s foundation and lead to sinking and other damage. 

Here are other common soil issues that lead to a sinking foundation:  

• Drying and Shrinking: As seen here, a lack of moisture causes the soil to dry up. The particles then shrink and leave voids in the ground. Homes built on shaky ground may have such gaps below, which can cause settling and sinking.  
• Wetting and Softening: Conversely, abundant precipitation leads to saturated soil that cannot manage excess water. As a result, the ground becomes softer and cannot provide the foundation with solid support. Rainfall may also wash some dirt away, leaving gaps in the earth.  
• Poorly Compacted Soil: Some soil types are not properly compacted, and as a result, they contract under the weight of the building. Excavation, filling, and leveling of the soil at the construction site are necessary before the construction of a house. Well-compacted soil should prevent foundation sinking and settlement.  

• Push Piers: Push piers, also known as resistance piers, are comprised of metal tubes hydraulically driven down into the ground and attached to the footing with a heavy-duty bracket. They depend on the structure’s weight to push them into the ground and are ideal for heavy, multi-level buildings. 
• Helical Piers: Helical piers are similar but feature helix blades resembling screws and are used to “bite into the ground.” This makes them more suited for problem soils that are unstable deep below the frost line and for use under lighter structures. They are also more adaptable and can be installed at an angle.  
• Slab Piers: Slab piers function and are installed similarly, but they are made particularly for homes with slab foundations. In this case, brackets are fastened to the underside of the concrete slab rather than the footing.  

A sinking foundation is a serious structural issue that requires immediate repair. If you suspect your home’s foundation is compromised or sinking, contact Ohio Basement Authority as soon as possible. Our expert team will provide a thorough inspection and recommend sustainable solutions. 

Foundation repairs may seem daunting, but we make the process easier with flexible financing options. With nearly 15 years in the business, we offer reliable, warranted repairs. Schedule your free inspection and estimate today!