Having a stable, sturdy and safe home is critical. Does this sound like your house? Or do wall cracks and inward movement ring a bell? Are you aware of the condition of your home, specifically what’s holding everything up?

No one wants to have to think about their home potentially failing, or even what they’re going to have to do to fix it. It’s just another thing to add to the to-do list. Like that wall that has some cracks in it. You’ll get to it at some point, right?

That’s a dangerous outlook to have about your home. Maybe you put issues like wall cracks and movement on the back burner because you just haven’t had the time or money to deal with them. Or maybe you think it’s not all that bad. But the truth is that by ignoring foundation problems, you are putting your safety and the lives of your loved ones at risk.

Would you feel comfortable knowing your house actually could endanger your family? Don’t expose them to a hazardous living environment. Get the problems fixed right the first time with trusted repair solutions.

Signs of foundation failure can be scary, but we at Indiana Foundation Service are here to help you enhance and protect the health and safety of your most significant investment – your home. We are proud to serve homeowners in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie, Terre Haute, Lafayette, Anderson, Kokomo, Carmel, Columbus, Greenwood, Richmond, Noblesville, Brownsburg, West Lafayette, Crown Point, Marion, Goshen, and the surrounding areas in Indiana.

What Are the Signs of Common Foundation Problems? 

Do you notice any of these signs and symptoms in and around your house? If so, you’ve got a problematic foundation on your hands. 

• Bowing Foundation Walls 
• Settling Foundations 
• Sagging Crawl Spaces 
• Foundation Wall Cracks 
• Floor Cracks 
• Uneven Floors 
• Heaving Foundations 
• Sticking Windows and Doors 
• Tilting Chimneys 
• Collapsing Retaining Walls 
• Sinking Outdoor Concrete 

What Causes These Foundation Problems? 

Indiana foundation repair problems can be caused by different issues. However, many are traced back to one source – the soil. Some of these issues include improperly compacted fill soils, poor soil maintenance and expanding or contracting soil bases. They may appear to be irreparable, but they can be easily fixed if caught in time. 

Various soil types exist throughout Indiana, but three main ingredients make up these soil types and their textures – sand silt, and clay, and any combination of the three. Sandy soils tend to drain water faster, silt has more intermediate drainage properties, and clay is more likely to hold onto water. 

Indiana has all three of these soil ingredients and is particularly rich in clay soil. Indiana also has a state soil called Miami, which is made up of silt loam and clay loam.  

Additionally, there are various ways the soil and its composition can impact your home. These are the most common ways: 

• The Clay Bowl Effect and Hydrostatic Pressure
  Once your home’s foundation was completed, previously excavated soil is replaced or “backfilled” around the walls. This soil is loose and fluffy, and not as dense or tightly packed as undisturbed soil farther away from the house. Because of this water can easily collect in the soil directly surrounding the home and create a “clay bowl.” The soil expands and contracts as it becomes saturated and dries out. When saturated soil expands, it exerts pressure on the foundation walls known as hydrostatic pressure. When this constant force becomes more than the walls can handle, they will begin to show signs of failure in the form of cracks and inward movement.
   
• Settling Soil and Poor Chimney Soil Support
  Similarly, it is common for soil to settle over time. But as it does, it can do so at an angle and slope towards the foundation. This allows water collecting near the wall to easily seep inside as well as contribute to the previously mentioned problems. Plus, if the soil under your home sinks unevenly, this also leads to foundation settlement. You’ll start to notice diagonal cracks in drywall and from corners of windows and doors, and windows and doors may not properly function.
  
  A more dramatic and scary sign of soil and foundation settlement is a chimney that is cracking and leaning away from the house. Exterior chimneys may not always be built on the same soil or foundation as the rest of the house, or even have the proper footing. When the soil underneath can no longer support the chimney, it will start to separate from the rest of the structure.
   
• Water and Moisture in A Vented Dirt Crawl Space
  Just as water can easily leak inside porous block foundation walls that also have fallen victim to hydrostatic pressure, there’s another way it can enter your home – through crawl space vents. An open dirt crawl space is a recipe for disaster, as water, moist air, and pests all wreak havoc on this area under your house. Any metal support systems will rust, corrode and begin to fail, and wooden supports will bend, warp and sag. All of this leads to uneven floors above, impacting the safety and structural stability of your living space.

Can These Problems Be Solved? Why Should I Fix Them? 

Cracked walls, doors that won’t close and chimneys that separate from the house are symptoms of the underlying foundation settling issues. But here’s the good news – yes, these problems can be fixed! And the experts at Indiana Foundation Service can help you address the underlying foundation settlement. We have helped hundreds of Indiana homeowners do so. 

A concern many homeowners grapple with is foundation repair vs. foundation replacement. Some homeowners may jump to the conclusion that if their foundation has a problem, they’re going to have to pull out all the stops and remove and replace the entire foundation. This method is time-consuming, expensive, invasive, and doesn’t address the root of the problem. Depending on the problem and symptoms, various repair methods can instead be used to mend the issues your home is facing. 

There are so many ways you, your family, and your home will benefit from foundation repair. Here are just two of the major perks: 

• Enhanced Safety and Structural Integrity
  Everyone deserves a safe place to call home, but it won’t exist of the walls collapse or the floors sink below your feet. You might have other projects you’d like to tackle, but the longer you ignore foundation problems, the more expensive they will be down the road and the more danger you’re subjecting your family to. By properly addressing foundation cracks and movement, you’ll ensure the safety of your home and your family today and for years to come.
   
• Improved Real Estate Value
  You may intend to live in your house for the foreseeable future or selling could be something you’ve been entertaining. Either way, your home is going to be on the market at some point, and you want to make sure it is ready. The real estate/resale value of your home depends on a wide variety of factors. There are many people out there who enjoy renovating and flipping fixer-uppers, but most homebuyers expect pristine worry-free homes. Foundation problems can reduce your home’s resale value by 10 to 30 percent, and buyers could have problems getting a mortgage. Something you must do as an Indiana homeowner selling your house is complete the Seller’s Residential Real Estate Sales Disclosure form to the best of your ability. This includes disclosing any foundation and structural problems, as well as any areas that were treated for wood–destroying insects.
  

What Is the Best Way to Fix These Foundation Problems? 

After reading about typical foundation problem signs, their causes, and why they should be fixed, don’t you feel motivated to nip these problems in the bud? Are you ready to take back your home? 

You have a wealth of resources at your disposal all over the Internet and even at local hardware and home improvement stores. But before you decide to take on a project on your own, hear us out for a minute. 

You may be very handy and capable, but foundation repair is a big deal. It’s not meant to be something you can tackle in your free time with a friend. A lot can go wrong with quick fixes, and you’d just end up spending more time and money to have those repairs re-done. Fix your foundation issues the right way the first time with trusted solutions from a reliable contractor.  

No doubt, you’ve probably heard stories about other homeowners and friends who have had awful experiences with contractors. Or you may have already experienced it firsthand. The homeowner-contractor experience has a history of tales of shoddy work, damage, messes, incomplete projects and more.  

Don’t get caught up in this inaccurate depiction of contractors as a whole. If your home requires foundation repair, arm yourself with knowledge and research about potential contractor partners. Do yourself a favor and do your homework before you make up your mind about which contractor to hire. Learn as much about a company as you can, and ask for contractor must-haves like licenses, insurance, certifications, and other pertinent documents. It’s also good to learn about a contractor from its customers. Check out reviews, ask for references, and turn to third-party resources like the Better Business Bureau for further information and customer input. 

What Can Indiana Foundation Service Do to Help Me? 

If you are facing foundation repair problems, the team at Indiana Foundation Service is your solution. We are not like other contractors, and we can prove it to you. We are challenging and changing the way homeowners work with contractors. When you choose to work with us, you will have an experience like you’ve never had before with a company, and we will provide world-class solutions and world-class service. 

Indiana Foundation Service is proud of our foundation team. They have received advanced training and certification as part of the Groundworks network. When we come and visit your home, we bring the knowledge of hundreds of successful foundation repair projects with us. 

Gives us a call today at 1-800-978-6980, and one of our certified field inspectors will visit your home for a free foundation inspection. During this consultation, our foundation expert will complete a thorough evaluation of your home, identify the issue, and explain the solution. The inspector will answer any questions you have, as well as put together a full, written cost estimate of recommended repairs tailored to your home’s specific needs. He also will take your budget into account and review payment and financing options. 

Take your time to review the recommended project and reach out to your inspector with any questions or concerns. Then, after the work, price, and schedule sounds good to you, we take care of the issue. You can expect expert service, permanent solutions and fast installation. You are our top priority, and our work is not done until you are completely satisfied with the project. So, don’t be afraid to speak up with any questions or if something does not meet your expectations. Also, keep in mind that we offer service and maintenance opportunities to ensure our work and your home remains protected. 

What Tools Will Be Used to Repair My Foundation? 

We take your home and your safety seriously. That is why we only use the most reliable solutions. Manufactured here in the United States, each product is carefully designed and tested by a team of structural and geotechnical engineers. All our systems come with a long-term written warranty, giving you complete peace of mind. 

Our strong wall reinforcement and piering solutions are made with galvanized steel to prevent rust, corrosion, and damage, and stand up to the toughest forces.  

Here are the solutions we’ll use to address foundation problems in your home: 

Wall Repair and Reinforcement Systems – What is used to repair and protect your foundation walls depends on factors such as the extent of damage and interior or exterior access. 

• Wall Anchors – Wall Anchors are the most effective method for permanently stabilizing moderate to severely distressed or bowed basement walls. They extend out to more stable, untouched soil well beyond your home’s foundation, providing an anchor point to brace the foundation wall. This stops inward movement and prevents wall failure. The anchors can be tightened over time to help move your foundation walls back toward their original positions. 
• IntelliBrace™ Beams – Like Wall Anchors, IntelliBrace™ beams permanently stabilize foundation walls and can help straighten them over time. This system is ideal to use when there is little or no access available outside of the home for exterior wall repair. 
• Carbon Fiber Supports – Our heavy-duty Carbon Fiber supports firmly adhere to walls with minimal to moderate cracking or bowing. They permanently reinforce the walls, hold them in their current positions, and prevent any further cracks or inward movement. Their low profile and smooth finish allow them to easily be concealed by paint or basement finishing materials. 

Foundation Piering Systems – We use pier systems on settling foundations and walls to permanently stabilize them, stop settlement, and help lift them back to their original positions. Each system is installed into deep soil strata better able to support the structures. 

• Push Piers – Push Piers are hydraulically driven through a bracket attached to the foundation footing and down to bedrock or stable soil. This is the most common type of pier used for most foundation settlement applications. 
• Helical Piers – Helical Piers perform the same function and are installed almost the same as Push Piers, but Helical Piers are manually advanced or screwed into the ground. These round shaft helicals do not bend like square shaft pieces. These piers typically are used in specialty foundation settlement applications and for very light structures like porches.  
• Slab Piers – Slab Piers can be installed the same way as Push Piers and Helical Piers. They are used to stabilize your concrete slab foundation and lift your home back toward its original position. 

Crawl Space Support System – We use IntelliJacks™ to stabilize and help lift sagging crawl space or basement floors and floor joists back to level. They are five times stronger than builder’s grade support jacks, and they can support loads exceeding 60,000 lbs. 

Additionally, we can use the unique PolyRenewal™ concrete lifting and leveling system on cracking and settling concrete. This system typically is applied outdoors to sidewalks, driveways, and patios, but we also can use it on slab floors and in garages. 

How Much Does It Cost to Repair My Foundation? 

The cost of repair probably is the most commonly asked question regarding foundation repair. Money matters, and it’s natural to want to know how much to plan on spending.  

But there is a lot to consider when it comes to repairing your foundation. That’s why it is important for one of our inspectors to physically visit your house and look at exactly what is going on with the foundation. 

Things like the extent of any damage, square footage and material usage also go into the mix. And our inspector will customize the solutions to meet your specific repair needs. No two foundation problems are alike, and our solutions are not “one size fits all. Every home is different and requires its own unique repairs. The inspector you meet with also will take your repair goals and budget into consideration. 

To give you an idea, average home improvement spending typically is around $7,500, and most homeowners pay from $4,000 to $10,000 on foundation repairs. Some average foundation repair product prices are $1,000-$3,000+ per foundation pier, $500-$1,300+ for leveling/slab jacking, and $2,000-$6,000 for sealing/subfloor drainage. 

Be sure to check with your insurance carrier if you are concerned with your repair needs and insurance coverage, as all policies are different. Some policies cover losses from fires, but many exclude coverage for issues like foundation cracks or settling. Coverage may kick in if the foundation has been damaged from other problems such as broken plumbing. (Source: SF Gate) 

Can you put a price on your family’s health, safety and happiness? When you choose to work with us, what you are really investing in is peace of mind. 

You are closer than you realize to a safe and stable living environment for your family! We at Indiana Foundation Service would be honored to assist you during your foundation repair journey. Contact us now to receive a free cost estimate and start investing in your home’s foundation. 

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