Get matched with top foundation repair specialists in Canutillo, TX

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.”

If your concrete steps have crumbled or chipped, you can fix them by removing any chips or flakes, cleaning and wetting the affected area, applying a concrete bonding agent, and finally applying new concrete, usually in the form of Portland cement. For widespread damage, you can consider concrete resurfacing instead. For fixing concrete spalling that has led to deep damage, you might need to remove damaged material, add structural supports, and pour new concrete into a mold.

Yes, it is worth repairing concrete cracks. Concrete cracks are normal, and they can be hard to keep from appearing. However, it is worth repairing cracks in concrete for many reasons. For example, it’s possible to repair concrete to the point where the repair is almost invisible. Also, if the crack is left alone, it can become bigger and more expensive to fix over time.

Yes, you can live with a cracked foundation—in fact, most people do. Virtually all foundations crack from normal settlement, and while settling cracks benefit from sealing to prevent water and moisture intrusion, most aren’t an issue. If you have structural cracks in your foundation, it might be safe to live in your home for some time, but you should address them immediately to prevent structure collapse and major property damage.