Foundation Repair in Wilmington NC

Look for patterns, not single marks. A hairline crack that has not changed in years is usually not a concern. Cracks that are wider than a quarter inch, that grow, or that run in a stair step pattern through brick are more serious. Doors and windows that stick, floors that slope and gaps along walls are also warning signs.

A good test is time. Mark the end of a crack with a pencil and the date, then check it every few weeks. If it grows, call us. We can come out, look at the crack, check the grading and drainage and tell you what we think. If the problem looks structural, we will say so and suggest the right expert.

Take a few photos of any cracks and send them with your call. Photos help us plan foundation repair in Wilmington NC before we visit. Ask us for a short written note after the visit.

The main causes are water and soft ground. Sandy soil can wash away under a slab edge. A high water table can leave the base weak in one spot. Heavy rain, leaking plumbing and poor grading make it worse, and so do clogged gutters and sprinklers that soak a wall.

We look at all of these. Often, the first fix is to control the water. Extend downspouts, fix the grade so water runs away from the house, repair leaks and keep sprinklers from soaking the slab edge. Then we repair the damage that has already happened. Without the drainage fix, the problem usually returns.

Keep a short log of where and when problems show up. Foundation repair works best when we know how the movement changes with the weather. Take photos of each crack with a tape measure beside it, and add the date, so we can see how the crack changes from one visit to the next.

Often, yes. Concrete leveling lifts a sunken slab by filling the empty space under it. It works well on patios, garage aprons, walks and some slab edges that have dropped in one piece. It does not work when the slab is badly broken, or when the ground is still washing away quickly.

We check the slab and the ground, then tell you if lifting will last. If it will, leveling usually costs far less than tearing out and pouring again. Read more on our concrete leveling page. If the problem is a house foundation, we explain which parts we can help with and which need a structural specialist.

Water control is the most important step in foundation repair, so we always look at gutters, slopes and sprinklers first. Tell us if you have seen standing water near the slab after storms, since that is often the first clue to the real cause of a settling edge.

The price varies a lot. A small crack repair with a drainage fix costs far less than lifting a whole house. The cost depends on the size of the problem, how much concrete is involved, how easy the area is to reach and what method is needed. Prices also differ between companies, so get a written estimate.

We give a free written estimate after we look at your foundation. We list what we will do and what we will not do. If we see something outside our work, we say so clearly. Be careful with any company that offers a price over the phone without seeing the foundation, because every house and every lot is different.

Always get the estimate in writing. A good foundation repair plan should list each step and what is not included. Ask us what we will do to keep water away from the foundation, since good grading and gutters are the best protection for any coastal slab.

Do not wait too long. Small cracks let water in, and water makes cracks grow. Sealing a crack early can keep the problem small. Cracks that are growing, that show height differences between the two sides, or that let in water should be looked at soon.

We can fill and seal cracks, repair broken edges and level sunken sections. If the crack points to deeper movement, we say so, and we plan for the cause. See concrete repair and concrete slab installation. A quick visit costs nothing, and it can save you from a larger repair bill in a year or two.

Photos before and after a storm are the best record you can keep, and they help us tell storm damage from older wear. Tell us if you have an engineer's report or a past repair record, since those papers help us plan the concrete work and avoid repeating earlier fixes.

Maybe, maybe not. After a storm, walk around your slabs and check the soil along the edges. Look for new gaps, washed out sand, fresh cracks and doors that now stick. If the water went through your home, call your insurance company and a licensed building professional first.

For the concrete side, we can look at slabs, steps, walks and driveways, and we can fill voids, lift settled pieces and repair edges. We tell you honestly what is storm damage and what was already there. Photos taken before and after a storm help a great deal, so keep them. We can write up our findings for you.

If your foundation repair needs go beyond concrete work, we will say so and help you find the right specialist for the next step. Ask us for options in writing, from a simple drainage fix to full slab edge work, so you can decide with real numbers and a clear plan.