Get matched with top concrete repair specialists in Hamilton, GA

Barring extreme home foundation problems, most horizontal foundation cracks are fixable using one or more methods. Most of the repair methods require professional expertise to accomplish, and include plate anchors, steel reinforcement, soil anchors, reconstruction, or carbon fiber strip applications. Contacting a professional to diagnose the problem early can minimize repair expenses.

You can buy a home with foundation issues, but understanding the extent of the problem and what solution you need is critical. If you learn that a home you’re trying to buy has a foundation problem, it’s not necessarily a deal breaker, but you should have a professional assess the issue to see how severe it is and know when to walk away from a foundation problem. Foundation issues can necessitate simple and affordable solutions or complex work that costs thousands. 

The best foundation repair method will depend on the issue you’re having, but usually, foundation instability is best fixed using supportive piers, like steel piers or helical piers. A professional foundation repair contractor or structural engineer should always decide what the best course of action is, and even then, it’s imperative that you also take measures to treat the underlying issue as well, like soil erosion or oversaturation from runoff.

Some foundation repairs are permanent, like underpinning and exterior drainage systems like the French drain. These fixes address the underlying problems—insufficient support from the soil and hydrostatic pressure on your foundation walls, respectively—so they can last for many decades, making them “lifetime fixes.” There are other solutions to address these issues that will last for up to a decade, making them temporary. These include slabjacking to raise concrete slabs back into place and dampproofing to reduce the water in the soil that interacts with the concrete foundation.