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Foundation Repair

Investing in foundation repair is beneficial for any home. The process ensures your home's safety and stability. Discover more with Basement Authority of West Virginia!

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Having a solid foundation is key to success. It’s not just a way to motivate people – your home simply can’t function properly without a foundation.

That’s why maintaining your home’s foundation is important and demands high-quality solutions, a custom-fit approach, and the expertise of highly skilled professionals. Basement Authority of West Virginia is committed to providing your home with these things in mind.

Over time, neglected foundation issues get worse and become more costly to fix. Improper foundation repair can even compound these problems. At Basement Authority of West Virginia, we believe in doing things right the first time, no exceptions.

Year after year, we provide our top-notch, transparent foundation repair services to thousands of homes across West Virginia, making us a trusted name in the region.

With BAWV, expect a complimentary in-depth analysis from our trusted local team, along with service that targets foundation problems with precision. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection. Let’s strengthen your home’s foundation and preserve your home.

Why Prioritize Foundation Repair?

BAWV recognizes that the foundation repair process may feel intimidating, primarily due to the potential for high expenses. For that reason, it’s common for homeowners to put off repairs, but this only makes the damage worse and more expensive to repair. Acting now will mitigate foundation issues, alleviate your fears, and save money in the long run.

Safety Risks

One of the biggest challenges you’re confronted with is potential structural failure and a host of safety risks that come with foundation damage. Lesser issues like uneven floors may not appear that significant (until they become tripping hazards), but a leaning chimney poses a risk of collapsing if ignored. Stuck doors and windows may seem like minor annoyances, but in an emergency, they could be dangerous. You’re entitled to a safe living space, and that’s why we’re committed to permanently stabilizing your foundation and eliminating potential risks like these.

Diminishing Home Value

Many homeowners wonder if foundation damage affects their home’s value. Foundation damage might progress slowly, but even slight damage will eat away at property value. The most obvious signs of foundation issues are cracks in walls and floors, and these will be noticed by prospective buyers and home inspectors. Concealing these problems won’t work because, without addressing the underlying cause, they’ll keep reappearing. When it comes to your most important investment, your home, opting for a cheap, quick fix won’t solve any problems. With Basement Authority of West Virginia, you’ll receive nothing but the best.

Reduced Home Functionality

Foundation damage disrupts the normal daily uses of your home. Doors and windows fail to function properly, items are prone to rolling off countertops, and kitchen cabinets rattle when you walk into the room. We’ve seen wheeled highchairs rolling across uneven floors by themselves! Daily tasks become a frustrating reminder of the growing problems underneath your home. We understand how irritating this can be, and we believe you deserve better than feeling as though your home is falling apart.

Rising Repair Costs

The stark reality is that as foundation damage worsens, repair costs soar. Foundation problems don’t fix themselves: if left untreated, they worsen and lead to secondary damage like cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling. By tackling the root cause of foundation problems early on, you save on future repairs and reclaim your home.

Protect Your Investment and Ensure Your Safety

Schedule Free Inspection

Call us or book your appointment online to set the best time for one of our certified field inspectors to visit your home.

Consult with our certified inspector

Our certified field inspector will visit your home to observe the problems in your home and inspect other areas of your home that may have been impacted.

Installation of customized solutions

Our professional production crew installs patented, American-made solutions in each home with care and strives to leave the area better than we found it.

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Identifying Foundation Problem Signs

Foundation damage causes a variety of problems in your home. The most common problems include: 

Also, consider that foundation damage may cause mold problems. In West Virginia, it’s not uncommon for high amounts of rain and snow to bombard your home. Over time, water might sneak into your basement or crawl space. This will lead to mold on the walls.

If you notice any of these problem signs, contact a professional foundation repair contractor as soon as possible.

View more problem signs >>

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What Causes Foundation Damage?

Water and soil are the two main elements that contribute to foundation damage. Their interaction poses numerous problems for your foundation. 

In West Virginia, an abundance of rain and snow causes the soil underneath your foundation to erode. This creates unstable soil and makes it difficult for the foundation to stay supported. This also disrupts the foundation footers that bear your home’s weight. Rapid shifts between too much and too little water cause soil to alternately expand and contract, further aggravating foundation issues. 

In West Virginia, known for its silt, sand, and limestone soils, the most common problem arises from soil erosion after heavy rain and snow are absorbed into the ground. However, a multitude of factors can cause oversaturated soil:

  • Inadequate drainage (malfunctioning gutters, inappropriate yard grading) 
  • Groundwater (aquifers, subterranean lakes, or rivers) 
  • Natural disasters (flooding, tornadoes) 

The Basement Authority of West Virginia Solution

No matter what challenges your home may be facing, Basement Authority of West Virginia has the expertise and products to address them. Our custom-engineered solutions are designed to withstand the test of time and the pressures of Mother Nature. With every job, we go the extra mile to ensure your satisfaction, backed by our Life of the Structure Warranty and transferable warranties for all our products.

SettleStop Pier Systems

If you’re experiencing wall cracks, popping noises, or problems with doors and windows, unstable soil may be the culprit. BAWV’s SettleStop pier systems are your solution for permanent stabilization, reaching bedrock or load-bearing strata to prevent future settling. 

Plus, there’s an opportunity to lift your home back to its original position. Our pier systems come with a fully transferable lifetime warranty, ensuring your home is protected from changing soil conditions.

Basement Authority of West Virginia uses two types of pier systems to accomplish this – helical and push piers. Each pier system accomplishes the same goal but has a slightly different design.

Here’s how these pier systems work:

Helical Piers

Basement Authority of West Virginia’s SettleStop Helical Pier System anchors your foundation securely in stable soil using steel piers with helical plates. Our expert team removes soil to expose the footing and uses hydraulic equipment to install the piers next to the foundation. 

With heavy-duty steel brackets secured to the footing, the weight of your home is transferred through the piers to stable soil below. We install benchmarks for extra assurance and to confirm the security of your foundation. Helical piers are ideal for lighter structures.

Learn more about helical piers >>

Push Piers

SettleStop Push Piers offer safe and effective foundation support when soil conditions are unstable. With long steel rods and brackets secured to the footing, our crew drives the piers deep into the earth, bypassing problematic soil until reaching bedrock. As with helical piers, we install benchmarks on your exterior foundation walls above the piers for assurance and verification of stability.

SettleStop Wall Repair Tools

Moisture in your basement is never a good thing. Foundation damage can cause cracks and bowing in basement walls, creating an entry point for water. 

Our wall repair options provide a clean and fast installation process inside your basement, minimizing disruption to your home and yard. With SettleStop Wall Repair Tools, your basement is better protected against issues like mold or efflorescence.

We offer multiple wall repair options that will permanently stabilize your foundation. Our solutions include wall anchors, I-beams, carbon fiber reinforcement, and crawl space support posts. 

Each solution is expertly designed to suit tight spaces and unique circumstances.

Wall Anchors

SettleStop Wall Anchors provide lateral support to bowing or leaning basement walls. These innovative anchors use anchor plates installed on the interior basement wall and in the ground outside the foundation, connected by steel rods. 

Tension is then applied to the rods with specialized wrenches to pull the plates toward one another, preventing further inward movement and restoring the structural integrity of your basement walls. Don’t let your home’s foundation be at risk – choose SettleStop Wall Anchors for reliable, long-lasting support.

Learn more about Wall Anchors >>

I-Beams

Strengthen bowing or leaning basement walls with SettleStop Wall Anchors. Our anchor plates are installed inside the basement wall and outside the foundation, and they’re connected by steel rods. 

By tensing the rods using specialized wrenches, the plates are pulled towards each other, restoring the structural integrity of the walls and preventing further inward movement. Ensure the safety and stability of your basement walls with SettleStop Wall Anchors.

Learn more about IntelliBrace™ >>

Carbon Fiber Reinforcement

Maximize the limited space in your basement with SettleStop Carbon Fiber Straps. Designed specifically to provide superior strength and stability to basement walls, our carbon fiber reinforcement solution fits comfortably in tight spaces.

The installation process is quick and easy, involving the application of high-strength carbon fiber straps using an epoxy adhesive. These straps resist hydrostatic pressure and provide added support to basement walls.

Our minimally invasive installation process takes place entirely within your basement, ensuring that the beauty and integrity of your home remains intact. Trust SettleStop Carbon Fiber Straps to provide strength and stability to your basement walls, without sacrificing valuable space.

Learn more about Carbon Fiber Reinforcement >>

SettleStop IntelliJack™ Crawl Space Support Posts

Are your floors creaking, causing tripping hazards or furniture to rattle? Don’t let sagging floors ruin the aesthetics of your home or cause potential safety issues. Trust SettleStop’s IntelliJack™ crawl space support posts to solve the problem.

Our steel crawl space support posts reinforce sagging or weak floor joists, providing additional stability. For a sturdy and level floor, crawl space support posts are installed beneath the floor joists and secured to the support beams above. 

Our adjustable support posts offer reliable upward support to the floor joists, keeping your space stable and secure.

With an allowable load capacity of more than 24,000 lbs. per support jack, our crawl space support system has passed rigorous industry tests and certifications. Trust in SettleStop’s IntelliJack™ to not only solve your sagging floors but also ensure a durable and safe solution.


Learn more about IntelliJack™ >>

We understand how important your home is because we’re homeowners too. That’s why we know you deserve locally trusted experts and best-in-class products designed for your home. And that’s why we can guarantee permanent stabilization of your foundation.

View more Foundation Repair Solutions >>

Key Factors That Influence the Cost of Foundation Repair

Several factors play a crucial role in determining the cost of foundation repair for a home. Among these factors are:

  • Type of Foundation: Different types of foundations require distinct repair techniques, affecting the overall cost. For instance, repairing a slab foundation could involve different repairs than those needed for a crawl space foundation.
  • Extent of Damage: The severity of foundation damage is a critical factor in establishing repair costs. Fixing minor cracks is less expensive than addressing significant foundation shifts or structural damage.
  • Soil Conditions: The type and condition of the soil around the foundation can impact repair costs. Expansive soil, which swells and shrinks in response to moisture changes, may cause more significant foundation issues, upping the repair expense.
  • Location: Where the home is located can also affect foundation repair costs. Regions with higher living costs or stricter building codes may require additional fees for repairs.

All things considered, the cost of foundation repair is determined by various factors unique to each home and the severity of foundation issues requiring attention.

Award-Winning Service

What to Expect from Basement Authority of West Virginia Foundation Solutions

All too often, homeowners find themselves dealing with contractors who fail to deliver on their promises, communicate poorly, and cut corners.  

At Basement Authority of West Virginia we prioritize communication, safety, and transparency in everything we do. We pledge to deliver top-notch service and treat your home with the utmost respect. From wearing clean and covered work boots when we enter your home for the initial inspection to ensuring a thorough cleanup of the work site before we leave, we act as careful stewards of your space. We’ll take care of your home as if it were our own.

  • Scheduling an Inspection: Schedule your inspection effortlessly by calling us, submitting a request through our online contact form, or booking directly on our website. Rest assured that regardless of the booking method, we will send you a confirmation email with more details about BAWV and the innovative solutions we offer.
  • 48-Hour Confirmation Call: Two days before the inspection, you’ll receive a call and a text to confirm the time we will arrive at your address.  
  • On the Way Call: Our Certified Field Inspector will give you a heads-up call when they’re on the way for the inspection. With our GPS system, you can track the progress of the team live and know when they’ll arrive. Enjoy complete transparency throughout the whole process.
  • Arrival & Introduction: We understand that having a stranger inspect your home can be stressful, which is why our Certified Field Inspectors always introduce themselves politely upon arrival. They will take the time to listen to any concerns you have about your home and will clearly communicate the inspection plan and areas of focus based on your input. Rest assured, we prioritize your peace of mind throughout the entire process.
  • The Inspection: Our expert inspector will conduct a thorough evaluation of your home’s interior and exterior. They will assess every detail and create a comprehensive diagram. With your permission, they will also capture reference photos to help our installation team. Our inspection process makes sure that any concerns you mentioned will be addressed before repairs even begin.
  • Review of Outcomes: Once your inspection is complete, we will review the key findings with you and present a comprehensive repair plan. You pick the work we do, not us, but the plan gives you everything you need to make the best, most informed decision for your home. We provide same-day estimates, so you know the foundation repair costs and financing options on day one.  
  • Schedule Work: Once you are comfortable with the solution, we’ll schedule the work immediately and decide on an installation date that works for your schedule. Our team obtains any necessary work permits, reviews the proposed solution, and has a licensed structural engineer oversee foundation work when required—another level of protection guaranteeing the safest and most professional service possible.

FAQs

One widespread myth regarding trees on West Virginia properties is that their roots can cause foundation problems. The truth is that it is the soil, not the tree roots, that is the source of the problem. When tree roots develop to a certain size in order to get moisture, they displace the soil by pushing it around. On your land, displaced soil will be much looser, allowing for simpler soil erosion. Foundation and concrete settling problems are more common in properties with loose soil.

If you have a tree close to your house, you should consider installing a root barrier to prevent root growth. If you can’t find one, you may have to take the tree down and replant it further away from your foundation. The distance between the house and the trees should be 15 to 20 feet. You can also look for smaller trees with roots that aren’t as extensive as larger ones. If you want a tree but are concerned about foundation damage, these are the trees to choose.

If you’re concerned about how your property will appear, keep in mind that the health of your foundation is just as vital as the appearance of your home. Beautiful trees can always be replaced but paying for maintenance on a regular basis isn’t ideal. Give us a call for a free foundation inspection if you’re not sure if your tree is causing foundation damage.

Foundation settling has an impact on the entire home. There are numerous indicators that this is the case, and they are easy to identify, especially if the settling has been ongoing for some time. The problem with recognizing foundation settling is that the symptoms are frequently treated as isolated instances. Homeowners strive to solve the myriad structural difficulties created by settling but often are unable to address the root of the problem. You’ll be able to detect the problem and get the necessary repairs if you know what to look for and how it all relates to foundation failure.

Damage to the walls and ceiling should be your primary priority. Because one side of the home is sinking, the other half bears a great weight, forcing the walls and ceilings to crack. Because the settling is bending and fracturing the frames, doors and windows become regularly stuck. The joists and supports in your basement or crawl space begin to sink with the rest of the foundation, resulting in uneven floors. If you have any internal columns, they will crack and tilt as well, which you can measure with a level.

If your West Virginia home has a basement, damage to the actual foundation is often visible. The strain of a settling home can cause the basement walls to bow inwards and crack. Because foundation shifting makes it simpler for groundwater to enter through breaches in the basement walls and floor, if your basement floods frequently and you see structural damage, it’s most likely due to foundation settlement. Outside the house, structural damage can be evident, mainly in the lower half. Stair-step fractures along masonry walls are a strong sign of foundation settling.

There are two equally valid responses to this question. The most common source of damage to the foundation and larger structure of properties is hydrostatic pressure. Second, hydrostatic pressure is a natural force that is formed and amplified by the soil and climate of the location. Because the soil in West Virginia is mostly silt loam and the environment can be highly wet at any time of year, hydrostatic pressure can be extremely high, causing a variety of problems. 

Hydrostatic pressure is something that all buildings, to some extent, are built to withstand. The problems that frequently arise as a result of hydrostatic pressure occur when the pressure has reached an uncomfortable level that is well over the typical, planned level. Poor drainage, unusually high rainfall, localized or widespread flooding, and even flooding from a property’s plumbing system can all contribute to this. 

There are a variety of concerns that can occur after hydrostatic pressure exceeds the capacity of your home. The lateral pressure that is produced can cause sinking, lateral movement. In buildings with a basement, bowing walls are the typical result, in addition to potential damage to your property’s foundation. Each of these problems can lead to secondary and tertiary problems such as moisture, increased humidity, mold growth, wood rot, pest infestation, floods, and rust and corrosion of your home’s plumbing and appliances. 

A variety of factors can lead to foundation deterioration, but they always fall into one of three categories: pressure, lack of support, or defects. Although each of these problems is distinct, they all present themselves in similar ways. Spreading cracks, unevenness, moisture, sinking, and heaving are the most common indications of foundation problems. If the damage to your West Virginia foundation has been there for some time, you may notice secondary issues such as wood rot or mold. Because the symptoms are pretty consistent regardless of the source, it is critical to get expert help to discover the cause and the appropriate treatment.

The least likely but most significant underlying cause is a fundamental error or deficiency in the construction or structure of your West Virginia property’s foundation. Defects can occur as a result of faulty design like architectural miscalculations, or the use of poor materials including poorly mixed concrete. In either case, the damage will be difficult to repair, and foundation replacement will most likely be required in part or in full. Damage produced by pressure or a lack of support, on the other hand, can usually be remedied and avoided.

Only the earth itself can apply enough pressure to cause harm to a property (and incidentally, issues with support tend to be soil-based as well). Monongahela soil is the most common in West Virginia, but it isn’t necessarily hospitable to foundations. Unfortunately, this type of soil settles with time, causing a gradual shift in the foundation as well as the formation of fractures and structural weaknesses that allow water to reach the foundation and inflict significant damage. If exposed to continuous flooding or high rains, this type of soil may begin to migrate. When this happens, the hydrostatic pressure around a house can rise dramatically, making soil runoff far more likely. Both of these concerns can result in foundation deterioration such as fragmentation, sinking, cracking, and lateral movement, among other things.

Foundation damage can show itself in many ways. There are various problem signs you’ll notice in and around your West Virginia home, including the following:

  • Wall Cracks (Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal, Stair-Step)
  • Floor Cracks
  • Bowing Walls
  • Sticking Windows and Doors
  • Uneven Floors
  • Sagging Crawl Space
  • Foundation Settlement
  • Tilting Chimney

If you spot any of these signs on your property, it’s important to contact a local foundation repair specialist, like the expert team at Basement Authority of West Virginia, as soon as possible. These symptoms indicate deeper issues with your foundation that need to be addressed before serious damage or injury results.

Only the best foundation repair options are used by our team. The products we install are made in the United States and have been tested and proven to restore and protect your home permanently. To give you an idea, our trustworthy wall reinforcement and piering systems are built with galvanized steel to avoid rust, corrosion, and damage, providing you with a sturdy and long-lasting solution.

Every house and foundation is distinct, and each one needs a separate set of repairs. Our solutions aren’t “one-size-fits-all,” and they can be tailored to meet your unique repair requirements. These solutions include wall anchors and/or specialized wall repair beams to help stabilize and straighten bowing walls, carbon fiber supports to reinforce cracking and slightly bowing walls, pier systems to put your settling foundation back on solid ground, and crawl space supports to shore up sagging floors and floor joists.

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Charleston, WV

132 Rocky Step Rd.,
Scott Depot, WV 25560

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