Get matched with top foundation repair specialists in Grayson, LA

Water damage to a foundation often starts as a slow leak or water vapor problem that worsens over the course of months or even years. The speed at which foundation leaks worsen depends on a few factors, including your climate and location, the soil composition around your home, the foundation drainage system you have in place, if any, and the type of foundation you have. Even if you have a minor issue that’s slow to develop, it’s best to have a professional address the issue immediately.

Most single-story homes don't have foundations strong enough to support a second story, but they can be reinforced for an addition. A structural engineer can assess your foundation and what needs to be done to get it ready. They'll look at any cracks or unevenness in your current foundation and consider any special framing or beams your home needs, especially if it’s in a high-wind or hurricane area.

“To support a second story, many structural engineers will require that you install additional concrete piers in the crawlspace,” says Tschudi. “This involves hand excavating, pouring a large concrete footing—usually with specially coated rebar—and then building concrete piers right up to the girders.”

Cement companies offer a wide variety of services, including delivering and pouring concrete for home foundations, walkways, patios, driveways, concrete steps, pools, pool decks, and more, plus concrete repair and patching. Most companies also have the ability to demolish and haul away old concrete landscaping features. It’s a good idea to reach out to a few different companies before hiring to make sure you choose one that can tackle the entirety of the project you have from start to finish. This method will typically save you some money over hiring multiple contractors.

Underpinning is a type of foundation repair in which a repair specialist installs piers under your foundation to provide additional support for the concrete and structure above. Foundation repair is an umbrella term that includes many other repair methods, including foundation crack repair, waterproofing, cosmetic repair, concrete block wall stabilization, and more.