San Antonio’s clay soil, persistent dryness, and high summer heat present a perfect storm for foundation damage. In order to do its job of supporting your home, the foundation must first be supported by the soil underneath it.

When summer temperatures hit in Texas, moisture located between soil particles can evaporate, causing those particles to fall together and “shrink” under your foundation. This kind of shrinking action can cause the foundation to rotate, drop, or both.

Issues can also be caused during times of intense storms accompanied by soaking rains. These conditions can cause shifting due to an excess of moisture between soil particles, which causes soil to become slippery and the foundation to shift.

Symptoms of a Foundation Shift

Albeit subtle, there are several symptoms which indicate a shifting or sinking foundation that’s in need of repair. These include:

• Cracks in interior drywall
• Buckling tile in the kitchen or bathroom
• Gaps around windows
• Doors that stick

None of these symptoms should ever be ignored, as they can lead to major damage and expensive repair to your home’s roof and plumbing. This is why it’s so important to have your foundation repaired as soon as possible.

Taking the First Step for Foundation Repair

If you are seeing the above symptoms of a shifting foundation, your first step is to contact a company experienced in foundation repair. They should send out a contractor who will conduct a thorough evaluation of your property, including the land situated around your home. This will allow him or her to evaluate both the cause and extent of the damage.

Common Repair Suggestions

It may be that your foundation will require leveling, which involves lifting your home and then stabilizing the foundation with piers. In other cases, soil can be a main culprit of foundation problems. Where this is the case, the drainage around your home may require adjustment and the soil stabilized to prevent future issues.

Prevention Options

Once you’ve called a reputable foundation repair company to fix your foundation, you can apply prevention measures to ensure that your foundation doesn’t shift in the future. If the cause of foundation shifting was excessive dryness, hydration of the soil around your home will be needed.

You can gauge the dryness of the soil by digging down six inches at your foundation. If the soil is very dry, your foundation will require hydration. However, you should dig down at your foundation and test the soil in this way at each side of your home because the conditions can and do vary.

If moisture is needed, you’ll need to run a soaker house approximately one foot away from the foundation, allowing the water to run until the soil is only moist.

Call the Professionals

MitchCo Foundation Repair has over 30 years of experience in foundation repair, as well as foundation restoration and maintenance services to customers in the San Antonio area. Call our office at (210) 485-1995 and discover how we can help keep your foundation in the best shape possible.

Mature trees provide your landscaping with undeniable appeal. However, if your trees are planted too close to your pier and beam foundation, you may start to experience issues with the structural integrity of your home. If tree roots have started to damage your pier and beam foundation in San Antonio , you will want to get in touch with a team of concrete contractors. With professional concrete repair and foundation maintenance, you can make sure that your tree roots are not affecting the durability of your foundation.

There are a few ways that mature tree roots can affect the integrity of your home’s foundation. When tree roots start to grow and spread, they can easily make their way through the soil that forms the base of your foundation. As the tree roots continue to grow, they may cause your foundation to shift, crack, and experience other serious issues. By planting trees within a safe distance from your foundation, you can ensure that your property is safe from structural harm.

A pier and beam foundation will provide your home with excellent structural integrity, while also providing you with a spacious crawlspace. Over the years and seasons, however, your pier and beam foundation will eventually require routine maintenance and repairs. A team of concrete contractors near San Antonio will have the tools, knowledge, and expertise needed to restore your pier and beam foundation repair to excellent condition. To help you prepare for your foundation and concrete repair services, here is a look at some of the most commonly asked questions about pier and beam foundation repair. What are common causes of pier and beam foundation issues?

In order to properly repair your foundation problem, it is important to identify your underlying repair problem. There are a few common causes of issues in pier and beam foundations. Improper initial installation of the piers can also lead to maintenance issues at a future date.

One main potential issue with pier and beam foundations is the possibility of a drought. Droughts can cause settling of the posts or plumbing leaks, and excessive rain can cause a foundation to move or shift. Your foundation could permanently alter when there is a period of heavy rain followed by droughts for long periods of time. This could also cause your foundation to become unlevel and must then be structurally leveled and raised.

How do I repair my pier and beam foundation?

A pier and beam foundation repair is a major procedure that is best left to the professionals. During your foundation repair, your team of contractors will carefully inspect your foundation to determine the source of the damage. If improper drainage has caused the soil underneath your foundation to expand, it may be necessary to perform drainage correction services. A shoring installation can also help to stabilize a weakened foundation structure.

Will my pier and beam foundation repairs be expensive?

Some homeowners worry that foundation repair services will be cost prohibitive. If you neglect to repair your pier and beam foundation for too long, you may find that you have to schedule very costly repairs in the future. When you schedule a pier and beam foundation repair appointment today, your contractor will be able to work with you to help you create an affordable payment plan for your services.

Foundation repair issues can be a major inconvenience for any homeowner. In this video, you will take a look as the founder of MitchCo describes some of the most common foundation issues that are found in San Antonio homes. If you start to notice shifting window sills, foundation cracks, or other signs of foundation problems, you should schedule services with MitchCo’s foundation repair experts serving San Antonio.

As a general rule, it is also a good idea to schedule foundation inspections at least once a year. During your inspection, a team of concrete contractors will inspect your foundation for signs of structural issues. Using state-of-the-art construction methods, your MitchCo technicians will create a foundation that has been built to withstand the test of time.

When you are seeking a durable alternative to a conventional slab foundation, you may want to consider constructing a pier and beam foundation for your home. A pier and beam foundation in San Antonio will be durable enough to withstand shifting soil and exposure to water. At MitchCo Foundation Repair, we will be able to help you keep your pier and beam foundation in excellent repair.

Our general contractors specialize in working with pier and beam foundations. If your foundation has shifted or developed other problems, we will be able to repair your pier and beam foundation and restore it to its original condition. Using our drainage correction techniques, we will also be able to prevent water from flowing underneath the crawlspace of your foundation. With our help, you can correct problems with your pier and beam foundation and make sure that future problems do not compromise the structural integrity of your home.

When you invest in a new home or commercial property, it is essential to educate yourself about its various structural components. A pier and beam foundation is a common foundation style that is found in many properties around the country. A contractor that offers foundation repair and drainage correction serving San Antonio can make sure that your concrete foundation is being maintained correctly. To help you gear up for your next property purchase, here is a look at what every property owner should know about foundations.

The signs of foundation damage are easy to spot

As you are considering investing in a new building, you should be aware of any potential indicators of foundation damage. While a foundation inspection is the best way to unearth structural issues in a foundation, you may be able to notice the signs and symptoms of foundation issues on your own. If the building sags to one side, the foundation is starting to show visible cracks in the walls or doors are not closing properly, these are all indications of serious foundation damage.

Many foundation issues can be corrected with proper repairs

When you discover foundation problems in the building that you are thinking about purchasing, you should not necessarily be daunted by the prospect of performing foundation repairs. A foundation repair company can repair many different types of foundation problems and restore the structural integrity of the building. In fact, you might be able to get a good deal on a property that has visible signs of foundation issues.

When you are in need of a foundation repair or drainage correction contractor, you will want to do your research before you make your decision. In this video from realtor.com, you will receive some essential tips and advice for choosing this contractor. To find a reputable contractor that repairs foundations and drains in San Antonio, you will want to check out the contractor’s customer reviews. It may also be a good idea to visit the contractor on a concrete repair jobsite.

Once you have found a contractor that has great reviews, you will be ready to start the building or remodeling process. From foundation repair to waterproofing, there are many types of jobs that can be accomplished by a licensed contractor. Before you start work on your project, it is a good idea to review any contracts or documents carefully.

Foundation repair serving San Antonio may seem like an extensive process, but it’s best to call your contractor and get started sooner rather than later. If you’ve suffered damage to your foundation, it might mean that you have a drainage problem that needs correcting. The cracks associated with foundation damage can reduce the curb appeal of your home, and the problem only stands to get worse as you wait. Take a look ahead for an overview of some of the top reasons why you shouldn’t delay foundation repairs.

Drainage Implications

A common cause of foundation damage is improper drainage. This means that moisture is settling on your property and affecting the soil around your foundation when it should be redirected to a safer place. Unfortunately, in this case, foundation repair is not all you have to worry about. Moisture that makes its way into the home can ultimately cause water damage, impact the indoor air quality in your household, and contribute to a mold problem. Your foundation repair specialist can take a look at your drainage and determine whether or not poor drainage was the cause of your foundation damage. Then he or she can set you up with drainage correction as well as foundation repair.

Aesthetic Setback

In addition to identifying and addressing drainage problems, you’ll want to call for foundation repair quickly in order to restore the appearance of your house. Foundation damage often shows as cracks in the walls of your basement or above your windows and doors. Severe cracks can take away from the aesthetics of your home, and they can show up on the inside or outside of your walls. This means that delaying foundation repairs can even affect your curb appeal.

Developing Problems

Just like most other problems, foundation damage will only get worse until you do something about it. The longer you wait, the worse the damage gets, and the more difficult it will be to fix. Talk to your contractor about foundation repair as soon as you notice the issue so you can make sure the problem gets better rather than worse.

Drainage correction serving San Antonio aims to help direct water away from the house so that it doesn’t settle around the foundation of your home. If you have interior or exterior basement waterproofing and an adequate drainage system as it is, chances are you don’t need drainage correction. Many homeowners don’t have adequate drainage, however, and this leads to a certain set of symptoms. Recognizing these elements is the first step in seeking drainage correction and avoiding a slew of problems. Keep reading for a look at some of the symptoms of settling that mean you need drainage correction.

When rainwater or water from your sprinkler rests around your house without being displaced, it can eventually seep into the soil and affect your foundation. This can bring about symptoms of settling, which happen when your foundation is no longer balanced. If you take a look around your house and notice cracks near your windows and doors, this may be a sign of settling. You could also find cracks in the walls of your basement or in your foundation itself, as well as water pooling around the home. If you notice these signs, be sure to call for drainage correction.