No matter how young or old a home is, cracks are common in concrete, and many aren't a problem. Concrete can develop smaller hairline cracks as it cures-- and it can continue to cure for many years after the home is built.
When cracks appear, the foundation repair specialists at Master Services are here to help. We are trained and ready to help you evaluate the cracks in your foundation walls. For a free foundation repair quote, call or e-mail us today! We serve Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City & all of East Tennessee.
Settlement is a big worry for homeowners. Luckily, there are telltale signs that warn of issues with a home's foundation. This home near Bluefield, VA was exhibiting signs of settlement, including stair-step cracks along the brick exterior. Our team corrected the problem by installing helical piers, which are installed along the foundation to provide stabilization.
A homeowner in Bluefield, VA, contacted Master Services regarding a sagging floor in his basement. Upon inspection, our team identified that the primary issue was the poor quality of the supporting wood beams. Over time, mold growth and uneven pressure tend to bow and alter the morphology of the wooden beams. To effectively address this problem, Master Services installed our reliable Smart Jacks system. These specialized jacks are designed to provide robust support for sagging floors, offering a long-term solution, especially when located within a basement. Our crew worked efficiently to minimize disruption to the cement floor.
We were dispatched to inspect a house in Tazewell, VA, in need of additional structural support. After evaluating the situation, our team suggested the installation of our Carbon Fiber Wall Armor system to relieve hydrostatic pressure on the wall. These carbon fiber straps, providing strength comparable to steel, eliminate the need for drilling or heavy machinery during installation. Furthermore, once the repair work is finished, it can be discreetly concealed.
In North Tazewell, VA, a home encountered foundation settlement, prominently displayed by one of its window frames. This issue commonly arises when the ground beneath shifts or erodes over time. To resolve this, the Master Services crew installed helical piers, similar to large screws, to firmly anchor the home to stable ground nearby. We strategically drilled holes and installed three helical piers at key points until achieving the desired stabilization. These devices, connected to the footing with steel brackets, guarantee stability, ensuring the house remains secure for years to come.
Master Services inspected a damaged basement wall at a home near Jewell Ridge, VA. We recommended our Carbon Fiber Reinforcement system, which involves soaking carbon fiber straps in epoxy, then pressing them against the wall. Once the epoxy cures, the straps provide stabilization and support to the wall.
If you find a crack in your foundation and you're not sure if it's problematic, follow these three simple guidelines:
In many cases, the foundation wall crack has been there for quite some time and hasn't happened overnight. However, it's important to treat each foundation crack you find as a potentially serious problem. Your first step should always to be to consult a foundation repair professional for an inspection.
Monitor any cracks you find regularly. If you suspect that the crack is moving, spreading, or widening, then this is a strong indication that you have a problem. In this case, your basement or crawl space could be experiencing a foundation settlement issue, which will lead to increased damage to the home over time.
Keep an eye on the crack by marking the ends of the crack with a pencil. Then, draw several straight "alignment" marks along the width crack, recording the date next to every mark. If you find that the ends of the lines don't meet along the crack, then this may indicate the crack is not shifting evenly, and a foundation repair professional should be contacted.
Foundation wall cracks can sometimes develop leakage, as groundwater invades from around your foundation. This can be extremely frustrating and inconvenient for homeowners, leading many of them to try to plug the crack with epoxy injection.
When epoxy hardens, it forms a strong bond in the concrete, hardening into a rigid seal. However, foundation walls shift and expand with moisture levels and temperature. When the wall moves, the epoxy cannot.
In the end, one of two things will happen, the epoxy breaks loose or a new crack forms in the wall.
Leaking foundation wall cracks do not necessarily mean that a more serious foundation problem is present- some leaking wall cracks are not due to a structural issue at all. However, it's certainly worth having a contractor inspect and repair these wall cracks. Most home wall crack repair methods-- such as epoxy, urethane, hydraulic cement, and caulk-- are not effective ways to eliminate this water.
If you do have a structural problem in your Greater Knoxville home, it's very important that you repair it as soon as possible. If a foundation issue is identified early enough, it should be possible to repair the problem without digging out the foundation and rebuilding the structure. This is a much less costly, invasive, and time-consuming foundation repair, so it's important to catch the problem as soon as you can.
Additionally, repairing the foundation without rebuilding it will address the problem that caused the foundation issue. Rebuilding the foundation replaces the failed foundation wall with a new one - one that faces the same conditions that destroyed the original wall.
Here at Master Services, we use a variety of foundation repair products, including wall anchors and foundation piers. When our professionals meet with you, they can identify and explain the nature of your problem, suggest a solution, and explain why this solution will lead to lasting results for your home.
As a foundation repair contractor in Tennessee, we service many cities and towns, including Knoxville, Chattanooga, Johnson City, Cleveland, Kingsport, Dalton, GA, Hixson, Ooltewah, Cookeville, Powell, and other neighborhoods nearby. Contact us today!
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