Foundation, Concrete or Water Problems Got You Down?

Find someone who offers sensible and budget-friendly solutions to house structure, wet basement or sinking concrete slab situations.

If you have a feeling your property is experiencing an issue in one of these areas, just make a quick call and talk about it.

Your contractor can probably offer some advice right on the phone. They can also arrange a convenient time to come over and inspect your situation.

I’m Not Sure I Have a Problem

Sometimes homeowners don’t have any problem noticing they have a problem. Sometimes it is really obvious. Other times, the symptoms are really hard to see.

But in a lot of the cases these technicians see, the circumstances fall somewhere in the middle of the two.

The homeowner notices an unusual crack, or a wall looks slightly bowed wall or there is a floor that seems to slope slightly. But there isn’t enough visual evidence for the homeowner to make their own conclusion.

That’s where the skills of an experienced foundation inspector comes in.

You Should Be Aware of Any of the Following Issues:

(1) Gaps around an interior door, exterior door or garage door
(2) Exterior or interior brick walls or mortar have cracks
(3) Significant cracks in a concrete foundation or basement floor
(4) Cracks running up and down in sheet rock, even if they aren’t too long
(5) Uneven or weak interior floors
(6) Separation between exterior walls or wall and chimney
(7) Doors or windows are closing hard or sticking to their frames
(8) Cracks in exterior walls
(9) Water gets into your basement more than once
(10) A wet crawlspace or puddles of water near your house after rains
(11) Separation or cracks in interior molding
(12) Gaps between walls and the ceiling or the walls and the floor
(13) Your basement feels humid or seems damp

Worried The Solution Will Be Expensive?

The average homeowner worries that their house problem is going to be nearly impossible to make right and cost a bundle.

But most houses in these situations can be repaired. These repair jobs happen every day. Sometimes the cost is high, but other times, not so much.

Of course, these types of house repairs take a trained and experienced foundation repair contractor and crew, working with the right equipment, to correct a sinking house foundation, perform a house leveling or other make good any serious structure issue.

Waterproofing Basements in West Seattle

If you’re tired of having a wet basement, there is a specialist that can figure out what is causing water to get into it.

Your West Seattle basement waterproofing situation may not require any work on the inside of the structure itself. Sometimes all the necessary work is spent just on the ground and landscaping surrounding your home.

Whatever your situation is, they will come up with the right plan to correct it.

Sunken Concrete Slab Lifting in West Seattle

If a section of your concrete walkway, patio or driveway has sunk below where it once was, they can fix that too. They use a process called mudjacking (also called slab jacking).

Mudjacking is where your contractor forcefully shoots a caulk-like substance underneath a sunken concrete slab. Once this substance collects under the slab, it forces the slab to rise up to the height you want it to be.

Once your concrete slabs are all the same height, your walkway, patio or driveway will look a lot better and people won’t be tripping on the uneven joints any longer.

Why Do These Problems Happen Around Alki Beach?

Well, it’s basically just the science of soil. The soil sitting under your home slowly changes, shifts and moves. It expands and contracts due to exposure to water and temperature. This slow, yet constant, expansion and contraction of the soil can place substantial stress on even a well-built home.

While you can’t control our Western Washington weather, having your home built on a lot that has poor drainage and improper grading or neglecting to install good rain gutters can be major factors in whether or not your property develops a foundation or water problem.

Some homeowners have issues in these areas; many others do not. One of the best ways to prevent house foundation problems is to keep water from being around and under the home.

The exact type of soil your house was built on is a major factor as well. Some kinds of soil will swell more than others when they get wet.

Fortunately, in the Alki Beach and West Seattle area, the soil is only mildly absorbent, it doesn’t absorb as much water or swell as much as some soils do in some other areas of the country.

Another predictor of property issues is having a large tree that is way too close to your home. This can cause problems as the roots grow underneath the house and put pressure on water and sewer pipes and your concrete slab.

These kinds of stress can contribute to the development of small cracks in your home’s structure. These small cracks will allow in moisture, air and even bugs, and those small cracks will get bigger as time goes on.

Can I Worry About This Later?

If you have an issue at your WA property, you should get it inspected soon and fixed if it is called for. The inspection, at least, is not something you should put off.

You shouldn’t simply ignore the issue and hope that it goes away. It won’t go away.

Foundation crack repair is an issue you should deal with sooner instead of later.

Remember, your foundation literally supports your entire house. The walls and floors depend on it. If you don’t take care of it you may end up in a serious situation later.

Anytime you have water in your basement, it indicates a problem. When water gets into your house it can cause problems including mold. And it will just get worse over time.

If you are thinking about selling your home, just remember, no home buyer wants to buy a house that has a structural issue or has signs of water being in the basement.

As a real estate seller, you have to disclose to the buyer any known significant problem with your property or you could end up in civil trouble later.

You shouldn’t worry about it without knowing the facts.

Many situations that seem way too difficult to fix in the homeowner’s eyes can actually be corrected. They might involve a complicated and sometimes difficult series of steps, but they can be done.

You Should Call

There are a few local companies that have been working in this field for a long time. These local contractors and teams have the experience to conduct detailed foundation inspections and effectively solve your situation.

What Suburbs Are Serviced?

They work at homes all over the metro area including the Admiral, Alki and Fauntleroy neighborhoods. This includes the 98116, 98136 and 98126 zip codes.

Typical Job Tasks:

– Making a Basement Waterproof
– Home Foundations
– Mudjacking
– Leveling a House
– Repair of Concrete Cracks

  206-539-1117

206-539-1117