Whether you know you’re in need of foundation repair in San Antonio , or you make it a habit to inspect your home regularly, you should add “checking the foundation” to your list of regular home maintenance. If you can catch a small problem early, such as a crack or leak, it hopefully won’t turn into a much larger problem later. Here are some tips for examining your home for foundation issues.

Look Inside

If you notice that doors or windows, which used to open easily, are jamming often or won’t close at all, you might be in need of a foundation repair. Cracks, inside and out, may be your biggest alarm that there is a problem, though. When you notice cracks appearing in your walls or in your tile—if it’s tiled over a concrete floor—you should make it a point to call a contractor who specializes in foundation repair. Also, check your basement or crawlspace. The posts and concrete supports, otherwise known as piers, should look straight and firm. If you notice any puddles or wet spots around the framing, you may have a problem with drainage coming into the foundation.

Look Outside

When you walk the perimeter of your foundation, stop at each corner and look down the line for any leaning walls or bulges. This might be a sign your foundation has shifted or your soil underneath the foundation is shifting. Consult a foundation repair contractor who can give you a definitive answer and suggestions.

Check Your Concrete for Weaknesses and Cracks

If you notice your concrete foundation is flaking or chipping, poke the concrete with a screwdriver. The concrete shouldn’t be damaged, but if it chips even more, call your contractor right away. The concrete might have originally been made from a bad mixture, and it’s possible you will need a new foundation. It’s normal for concrete to have a few cracks, but if you notice horizontal cracks, you may be in trouble. Call your concrete contractors to find out what the problem is and the estimate to fix it.

As long as the water isn’t leaking through the roof, you probably don’t give too much thought or concern to your home’s drainage. However, considering that water damage is the leading culprit of foundation problems and is responsible for millions of dollars in repairs each year, it’s important that you take steps to correct the drainage around your home. Consider some of the ways in which poor drainage can damage your home and then contact a drainage correction company in San Antonio to prevent major problems down the road.

Water Damaged Basement

If you have a basement, puddles or pooling water around your home’s foundation can eventually result in expensive water damage to your basement. Depending on the age and condition of the basement walls, the water that percolates through the soil can find its way through tiny cracks and holes around the basement. The added moisture can facilitate mold growth and further structural damage that can increase the risk for flooding, which itself can be expensive considering the water damage to furniture, electronics, and anything else you have in your basement.

Foundation Problems

The most serious threat from poor drainage is to your home’s foundation. In addition to pooling around your foundation and causing it to deteriorate over time, water that doesn’t properly drain away from your home can also cause the soil directly underneath your home to expand and contract. The shifting, swelling, and settling of the soil can cause the foundation to crack, which in turn can threaten the structural integrity of your entire home. If you recognize any of the warning signs of foundation damage , contact a foundation repair company to learn about your repair options and how drainage corrective services can prevent further foundation problems.

To prevent these and other problems associated with poor drainage, contact a foundation repair provider in San Antonio who specializes in drainage correction services, which might include basement waterproofing, French drain installation, under-slab tunneling, and slop correction.

What is soil settling? What are the signs of foundation damage? What does a “bad” foundation look like? What causes foundation problems in the first place? What’s hydrostatic testing? What does a foundation examination entail? These are just a few of the common questions homeowners have regarding foundation repair. Luckily, MitchCo owner Edward Mitchell answers these and other questions in this clip from a segment on Fox Daytime @ 9.

Still have questions about foundation repair? Call the foundation experts at MitchCo today and get answers to all the questions you have. You can get in touch with a foundation repair contractor in San Antonio by calling (210) 787-2965 . You can also contact MitchCo online if you have questions or would like to request a free estimate on foundation repair for your home or business.

If you recognize any of the warning signs of foundation damage, including staircase cracks on the walls and doors or windows that constantly get stuck, you may be wondering what’s caused your home’s sturdy concrete foundation to break. Ironically enough, it might be something as seemingly inconsequential as the soil beneath your home. Although the soil itself doesn’t harm the foundation, the shifting and settling of the earth beneath your home can cause the foundation to rise and fall in response. Poor drainage can increase the moisture content in the soil directly beneath your home, which can lead to more soil movement and subsequent foundation damage.

The good news is that foundation instability and damage can be corrected with the help of a licensed foundation repair contractor in San Antonio . Soil stabilization and drainage correction are two of the steps foundation repair contractors can take to prevent future foundation problems, at least those resulting from soil expansion and deterioration.

When you are building a home, one of the most important decisions you will need to make is what type of foundation to use. Before you do, consider whether a concrete slab foundation or pier and beam foundation will work best for you. Watch this video to see which type of foundation you should have your contractor in San Antonio install.

When making your decision, think about the possibility of having to do foundation repair in the future. A concrete slab foundation is cheaper to install than a pier and beam foundation initially, but it will be much easier to repair a pier and beam foundation later. You should also have a contractor take a look at your lot to see which foundation might make the most sense for your home. Be sure you’re making the right choice before you start building your foundation.

There are many homeowners in Texas who are forced to call for San Antonio foundation repair as a result of problems with their home foundations. This is due in large part to the clay soil that many homes in the area are built on. The soil will often fill with water over time and then dry out, which will ultimately cause your home’s foundation to sink. You will need to have a company that does foundation repair serving San Antonio to help you with it. Check out some other things you should know about your home’s foundation.

The Causes of Foundation Problems

Clay soil is just one of the things that can cause the need for foundation repair. You may also need to have foundation repair done if you have a concrete slab foundation that was not installed properly. A concrete slab foundation should be laid on top of limestone to avoid issues. If a contractor doesn’t put it on top of limestone or fails to prepare the site of your home properly by removing loose soil and tree roots, your foundation may shift or sink in the future.

The Signs of Foundation Problems

If you have a foundation problem, you will be able to identify it by looking for the signs of one. Cracks in interior and exterior walls, unlevel floors, and sticky windows and doors are just a few of the signs that will indicate the need for foundation repair. As your foundation shifts, your home will have trouble keeping up with it and will begin to show these signs on the inside and outside of your house.

The Repairs for Foundation Problems

One of the most effective ways to fix a faulty foundation is to install a pier and beam foundation . Piers will be driven down to the hard rock deep below your home and beams will be used to connect the piers and hold your home up. It’s an effective way to deal with any foundation issues you may encounter. Draining water away from your home can also prevent further problems in the future.

If your home’s foundation is not strong or the soil underneath of your home is causing your foundation to shift, you may begin to experience many problems with your home. Cracks in your interior and exterior walls and uneven floors are signs that you need foundation repair . Watch this video to learn how general contractors in San Antonio can fix your problem.

Foundation repair involves digging holes on the outside of your home in order to access your foundation. A company like MitchCo Foundation Repair can send a contractor to you to dig down to examine your foundation and then install piers and beams that will hold your foundation up and prevent it from shifting or sinking. Fix your foundation issues as soon as they start, and you will not experience any dramatic changes in the structure of your home anytime soon.

If you’re like most people, you don’t spend a lot of time thinking about your home’s foundation until something goes wrong. However, a strong foundation is the most important part of a well-built home, and if it fails, your whole house could face major damage. The best way to keep your foundation in top shape is to pay attention to the condition and call a foundation repair company at the first sign of problems. If you notice cracks in your walls or doors that stick, these could be signs that your foundation is cracked, shifting, or sagging and requires attention from a foundation repair expert. Get to know more about your foundation in this infographic from MitchCo Foundation Repair . We offer foundation repairs in San Antonio, along with other services such as drainage correction and basement waterproofing. Avoid costly damage and contact us when your foundation shows signs of trouble. Help your neighbors avoid similar issues by sharing this information.