Foundation Repair Markham
We are well aware of how to solve some of the most complicated foundation repairs, due to our years of experience both repairing and restoring foundations. Water seeping into your basement can cause extensive structural damage to both the foundation and basement walls, especially if it’s left untreated.
Foundation Inspection and Broken Home Envelope Repair in Markham, ON
A common problem for basement foundations can be water getting in from the exterior of the building. Our goal is to eliminate extra water from getting into your house through any type of break in the foundation envelope.
Contact Us For Details
Repairing Foundations in Markham, ON
Often, our home is the largest purchase we make in our lifetime. A foundation repair can dramatically lower the value of your Markham home, and the damage can be quite dangerous if it’s not fixed.
StayDry Waterproofing is the most trusted contractor in Markham for repairing foundations and concrete foundations. We pride ourselves on our experience and the knowledge we have to help you solve your problems. We’re happy to guarantee you a solution to your foundation issue that you can rely on for decades to come, and we use the best quality materials in the industry to provide you with peace of mind after the repairs are completed.
Assessing Damage and Foundation Movement
Movement and foundation damage can vary depending on the reason for the damage, the direction of the movement itself, additional environmental factors, and the overall size of the foundation cracks.
- If you notice horizontal cracks you should have them evaluated by a professional as soon as possible.
- Do you have a foundational wall that is leaning? It’s possible that the walls could move further or collapse, depending on how badly they’re leaning and what’s causing the issue.
- Diagonal cracks can be caused by the footings settling or by issues caused by frost. It’s important to inspect the area for stability.
- After the foundation settles, vertical cracks are more common and less severe. If they get larger or appear to, or if they are big enough to notice, it may be time to have your foundation inspected by a professional contractor.
There are numerous types of movement with your foundation that are important to keep in mind, especially if you’re looking at existing foundation damage as well as the possibility of more damage in the future. Not all types of damage are the same. Some can pose a direct threat, some are more serious, and still other types can be watched carefully and temporarily left alone.
Horizontal Foundation Wall Movement
Horizontal cracks are some of the most serious, as they can be a sign of a threat to overall structural integrity. They can be caused by frost damage, wall movement, movement of the footing, soil pressure, and numerous other factors. Because horizontal movement is quite serious, it’s important to have a waterproofing and foundation expert inspect any damage and then diagnose the reasons for the movement. Then you can evaluate the best options for preventing additional damage, as well as repairing the existing damage.
Hydrostatic Pressure
Water in the soil causes hydrostatic pressure, which creates force around your foundation that can trigger cracking and water damage if this pressure isn’t relieved. Waterproofing and drainage are important parts of protecting your foundation and preventing movement and cracks. Draining the water away, instead of letting it build up pressure against the walls of your building, is an important part of preventing additional damage and cracks.
Wet and frozen soil creates hydrostatic pressure on your foundation walls, and over time it can damage them quite a lot if the drainage isn’t set up correctly.
Underpinning Willl Restore Your Foundation & Add Living Space
Damaged foundations can benefit from underpinning because the excavation and new concrete will fix previous settlement issues. In other words, Underpinning stabilizes the overall foundation. For such an extensive task, trust only a waterproofing and foundation repair company with years of experience. Underpinning has great benefits, but it must be done right the first time to avoid future structural or water issues.
Why Is My Basement Settling?
You may need an explanation as to why you need repair work on your foundation in the first place. What’s causing the foundation to settle enough that it’s become noticeable?
Soil Issues
Improper drainage can cause the surrounding soil to retain too much water, eliminating its ability to hold weight, leading it to shift dramatically, causing the foundation to settle overall, and even causing cracks in the foundation.
Water Issues
Water damage from a plumbing issue or water seeping in from outside can cause issues with the foundation over time, leading to mold, cracks or the foundation shifting entirely.
Temperature changes
Moisture imbalance, temperature changes, and frost damage, can all cause dramatic issues with a home, especially if it causes the soil to lose its compaction or move away from the building.
Construction
Construction or seismic activity in the area can cause issues with your home’s foundation, such as settling or cracks, depending on the proximity to the work and what kind of work is being done.
Markham Foundation Repair & Restoration FAQs
I've been told that horizontal cracks are more of an issue than vertical ones - why is this?
A horizontal crack is seen as a structural failure in the building. The wall can buckle over time, due to the weight of the soil, excessive moisture, and temperature issues. This can be a slowly moving but inevitable process, where the wall is damaged more in every frost cycle. If these cracks are caught soon enough, they can be waterproofed from the outside and the structure can be supported from the inside. However, if they are ignored for too long, replacing the wall entirely may be your only option.
What does it Mean to Underpin a Foundation?
Underpinning is a way to fix structures that have settled, or that have been damaged, due to sinkhole issues, shrink/swell clay, or buried organics. Underpinning can support the foundation of a building, moving the weight of the structure off of the foundation, using the unstable soil, to focus the weight on more stable material like bedrock.
Is it possible for my foundation to be damaged by tree roots?
Trees can contribute to the foundation damage of a structure, although numerous other factors are often at play. Most foundation damage is actually triggered by changes in the condition of the soil. Trees need water to survive, so their roots take it from the soil, which can trigger a change in the soil that your building’s foundation was laid on.
What Does it Cost to Repair a Foundation?
There is not one specific answer to this question. Repairing a foundation in Ontario can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. This can be caused by the wide variety of issues that can occur, ranging from a small, easily repairable crack all the way to a full foundation replacement. Foundation repairs can vary based on factors like the type of foundation, size, the severity of the damage, and more. At StayDry Waterproofing, we can set you up with a free on site review of your problems and a no obligation quote for the cost to repair them.
Is it better to repair cracks in the foundation from the outside or the inside of your home?
Fixing foundation cracks from inside the house won’t remove any water that is already inside the foundation wall, and it will not prevent additional water from seeping in to the house’s foundation. If you have water seeping into your basement, you’ll need to have this damage repaired from the exterior of your home.
Do cracks in concrete grow?
Yes Shrink and swell cycles in the soil around poured concrete walls are the main way that this type of crack can grow over time.