Indications of a Sinking Foundation:

• Stair step cracks in blocks and bricks
• Misaligned windows and doors
• Doors or windows sticking
• Cracked interior walls
• Uneven floors

The foundation is excavated and steel piers are strategically placed to provide the needed lift. As the structure is lifted, concrete grout is injected into the void created under the foundation. The purpose of this grout is to evenly distribute the load, add additional strength, and prevent erosion and pest infestation.

After the structure has been repositioned, the piers are permanently locked off, filled with concrete and the foundation is backfilled to a rough grade.

Indications of a Bowed Basement Wall:

• Stairstep cracking
• Walls bowed inward
• Horizontal cracking

Leaning vs. Bowed Walls
There is a difference between a bowed wall and a leaning wall. A leaning wall usually has a horizontal crack at the top third of the wall and is usually caused by expansive soil. A bowed wall also can have a horizontal crack, but it is usually midway down the wall and is almost always caused by hydrostatic pressure.

Causes
Ground water and poor drainage near the foundation lead to hydrostatic pressure. The causes of cracked, bowed or leaning walls are: improperly compacted fill, inadequate drainage, a change in “run off” water, blasting and a number of other less common causes.

A1 Difference
A1 Concrete Leveling and Foundation Repair’s method is more invasive than most other methods of repair. The difference is that “We Treat the Problem Rather Than The Symptom”. While other methods of repair stabilize or strengthen the wall, A-1 Concrete leveling and Foundation Repair actually straightens and strengthens the wall.

The Fix
The affected area is excavated. Specially designed braces are positioned in the basement and the wall is jacked back to its original position. Rebar is then inserted vertically from the outside into the cells of the block. The wall is then pumped full of grout from the outside. The braces are left in place for approximately 4-7 days while the wall “cures”.

Indications of a Leaning Chimney:

• Pulled away from house siding and roof
• Leaks around flashing
• Birds and other animals nesting between
  house and chimney
• Moisture between house and chimney

How to Repair Foundation Cracks
Basement waterproofing begins with concrete crack repair. The repairing of structural deficiencies and/or wall seepage as a result of foundation cracks are a critical aspect of the basement waterproofing process. Today, the most efficient and economical way to repair poured foundation cracks is with low-pressure injection of either epoxy or polyurethane foam.

Repair Foundation Cracks Before They Become A Bigger Problem:
Most concrete foundation cracks are strictly leaking problems, especially during heavy rains. Not only can excess water in the basement potentially damage or ruin valuable items, but chances for mold and mildew growth are significantly higher, which directly impacts a home's indoor air quality. Basement wall cracks also have the ability to widen. While a particular crack may not necessarily be a problem at the time, that can change as soon as the next heavy rain storm arrives. After a foundation crack forms, the prospect of water seepage (whether slight or major) is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. If water leakage from a foundation crack is minimal now, the potential exists for the crack to widen, allowing further seepage into the basement.