Get matched with top foundation repair specialists in Devils Lake, ND

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.

The foundation repair that will work best varies based on the extent of the damage, the underlying cause, soil conditions, weather conditions, and more. Permanent foundation solutions like underpinning and exterior drainage solutions are better than temporary fixes that don’t address the source of the issue. Some examples of more temporary solutions include mudjacking or slabjacking, waterproof paint, and dampproofing. The best course of action is to have a reliable foundation specialist inspect your issue, treat the underlying problem, and restabilize your foundation.

Many horizontal cracks in home foundations result from water and soil pressure from outside of the building or from a footing that is shifting. Under those circumstances, horizontal cracks are a structural problem that requires repair before they become worse and more difficult to fix. However, in very specific cases, thin horizontal cracks may simply be a cosmetic blemish due to concrete shrinkage.

Although some concrete cracks are cosmetic, others can be more serious. Cracks wider than ⅛ inch or that extend through the slab are serious and can cause structural damage. If you notice these types of cracks in your concrete patio, contact a local contractor who installs concrete patios to inspect the damage and determine how to fix it.