RESIDENTIAL SERVICES

Foundation Repair

Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio Foundation Repair

All foundations move over time, but problems can arise when portions of your foundation shift be it bowing, sinking or lateral movement. This is referred to as differential settlement and leads to foundation cracks amongst other issues that require foundation repair.

Foundation problems start as minor issues such as small cracks or sticking doors and can rapidly escalate into costly structural damage. These problems can lead to significant consequences, including:

Structural Compromise: You will observe significant cracks, uneven floors, and in a worse case scenario, total collapse.
Safety Hazards: Tripping hazards, difficulty opening/closing doors leading to potential injury.
Significant Repair Costs: Poor reaction time to make repairs leads to extensive damage and higher costs.

Don’t risk your family’s safety or your home’s value. If signs of foundation issues are present in your home, schedule a professional inspection immediately.

Does Your Home Need Foundation Repair?

If you observe one or more frequently seen symptoms, it may be telling you that your foundation needs professional attention.

Bowing or Bulging Foundation Walls
Bowing or bulging walls that also have cracks in the mortar joints or block in your foundation walls are a major indicator that your home may be suffering from foundation damage caused by soil pressure on the other side of the wall.  

Cracked or Sinking Foundation
Stair step cracks in your foundation walls as well as difficulty opening/closing doors and windows, strange cracks in drywall and/or gaps in between floors and walls are major indicators that your home may be suffering from foundation damage.  

Basement Wall or Floor Cracks and/or Cracked Exterior Bricks
Basement wall and floor cracks are indications that your home’s foundation is settling unevenly or experiencing excessive stress. Further evidence of this can appear on the brick veneer that has cracks and is crumbling!

There are additional symptoms that may also be telling you that your foundation needs professional attention:

Common Causes of Foundation Issues

Foundation problems can develop for many reasons, especially in regions like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, where soil conditions and weather patterns put added stress on structures. Common causes include:

Expansive or clay-heavy soils that swell when wet and shrink when dry, causing movement around the foundation
Hydrostatic pressure from saturated soil pushing against basement walls
Poor drainage or improper grading that directs water toward the home instead of away
Foundation settlement caused by loose, weak, or poorly compacted soil beneath the structure
Freeze–thaw cycles that expand and contract soil during winter, shifting the foundation
Leaking plumbing or excess moisture that washes away supporting soil
Tree roots or large vegetation growing too close to the foundation
Natural aging and material deterioration in older homes
Heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or groundwater intrusion increasing pressure around basement walls
Construction on fill dirt or disturbed soil that was never properly compacted

Foundation Repair Solutions

Our Greater Pittsburgh, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio foundation repair services often involve repairing or stabilizing your foundation from further deflection or settlement. A variety of repair methods to meet your foundation needs are available and include any of the following:

Wall Anchors: This is a process where additional support is added to the foundation walls to either stabilize the wall or straighten it from inward deflection. Stabilization is achieved by installing the wall anchor system into the existing wall and using the earth as a cantilever to support the wall To straighten the wall, it is excavated by removing the soil and taking the load off of the foundation wall. At that time, the wall anchors are installed and typically the wall is straightened.
Carbon Fiber Straps: This stabilization tool is used for foundation walls that are bowing with less than 3” of deflection.
Piering/Underpinning: Matthews Wall Anchor installs steel piers (push or slab) mated to a substantial steel footer bracket into the ground beneath the foundation to support it.

Each method has benefits and limitations. Matthews Wall Anchor’s Foundation Specialists will evaluate all factors (soil type, water drainage, severity of the damage) to help you make the right choice.

Foundation Repair Cost

Although it is tempting to delay making foundation repairs because you are concerned about the cost, it can come at greater cost to delay! Your house may well be your most valuable asset worth the investment in keeping it safe and sound.

Making the choice to invest in this most valuable asset improves the quality of your home, your life while you live there, and preserves your homes’ resale value when it’s time to move on. Our team of experts will do everything within our capabilities to ensure that your home gets the attention and service it requires!

Experts in Foundation Repair

If your foundation is telling you that its feeling unstable by looking at it, Matthews Wall Anchor is the first name that should come to mind. Matthews Wall Anchor Foundation Specialists are at your service too:

Examine your foundation,
Walk you through what the problem is, what caused it,
Explain what the solution is and why it’s the correct the solution is.

Your satisfaction is important to us, which is why we exclusively use high-quality, tailored solutions to stabilize your homes’ foundation to get the job done right the first time. Matthews Wall Anchor offers a transferable 50-year guarantee, so you can rest easy knowing we will make every effort to get the job done right the first time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the signs that my foundation may need repair?

A: Signs that your foundation may need repair include cracks in the walls or floors, doors and windows that stick, uneven floors, cracks in the brick veneer or foundation walls, and gaps around windows or exterior doors.

Q: How long does foundation repair typically take?

A: Foundation repair can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the specific solution being installed. Consult with a Matthews Wall Anchor Foundation Specialist for a more accurate estimate based on your need.

Q: What caused my homes foundation problem?

A: Foundation problems can be caused by any number of factors, including soil swelling, soil movement, poor construction, poor exterior rain water management (gutter and downspout failures), plumbing leaks, and tree roots, etc. Identifying the specific cause is critical for effective repair.

Q: Will insurance cover my foundation repair?

A: Matthews Wall Anchor isn’t an authority on insurance settlements and recommends if you have questions regarding such a matter, give the insurance company a call to discuss with them.