Foundation Repair Contractor in
Greater Rochester, Western New York

Causes of Foundation Problems

To have a strong home, it's vital to base it upon a strong foundation. If that New York foundation hasn't been placed on solid ground, its strength can be meaningless. Various changes in soils around the home have been proven to be the greatest source of foundation damage This damage can be caused and worsened by changes in soil density, weak load-bearing soils, and changes in moisture content within the strata. Weak load-bearing soils, changes in the density of supporting soils, and varying levels of moisture are all significant contributors to Brockport, Greece, Brighton, Irondequoit, or Rochester foundation problems.

Moisture Conditions in Foundation Soil

When moisture levels change dramatically in greater Rochester, New York including Rochester, Brighton, Irondequoit, Gates Center foundation soils, the extremes between drought and heavy rains can result in significant foundation damage.

Foundation Soil Drought and Flooding

Between drought and rainy conditions, changes in the moisture levels of New York soils can easily lead to significant foundation damage. When the soil dries back out, the change in density will then cause the foundation to settle downwards again. And as foundation soil dries out, the change in soil density will cause the foundation to shift back downwards. And clay soils especially shrink dramatically in drought conditions, causing even further disturbance and potential damage to a foundation.

Weak Bearing and Consolidated Soils

When foundation soils in East Rochester, Avon, Hilton, Webster, Geneva, Hilton, Batavia, Webster, Fairport, Henrietta, or East Rochester are too weak to support the weight and pressure of a foundation, it can sink into the soft soils and sustain damage to the structure. It's possible to design a home with a footing specifically designed to spread out the weight in a way that reduces the potential of shifting and settling, but most residential construction plans have been designed with general guidelines in mind and not the specific soil conditions of the home. This soil consolidation causes downward movement in foundations. The home can continue to sink for several years before it finally ceases to sink downwards. The process is gradual, sometimes taking several years before the home stops sinking downwards into the earth.

Poorly Compacted Foundation Soil in New York

Greater Rochester, Western New York foundations aren't always built on completely level ground. If there are dips and raised areas in the area where the house is planned, they must first be leveled off and filled in to create the flat area where the foundation would be placed. Sometimes, this can create a situation where one section of the supporting soil underneath the home is dense, packed soil and another section is light, fluffed backfill. When this happens, your foundation can begin to settle unevenly under the inconsistent support, potentially causing foundation sagging, cracking and other problems.

Landscaping, Trees, and Plants around Foundations

Foundation settlement is also commonly caused by foliage, vegetation, and large trees. The expanding root systems of growing foliage draws more and more moisture from the earth as they continue to grow, and as they dry the area, the soil will shrink. When this vegetation is close to the foundation in New York, the drying soil will cause the foundation to settle in the compacting strata.

How Foundation Wall Failure Happens in Greater Rochester

Foundations with Poor Drainage

When a home has poorly-maintained gutters, has poor drainage, or experiences high water volume, the additional moisture adds weight to the soil that then presses against the foundation walls. This pressure can build to the point where it begins to exceed the load-bearing capacity of the walls and cause them to crack, bow, shear, or lean under the weight. As water builds up, it can begin to exceed the design capacity of the walls, causing them to bow, lean, crack, or shear. This soil expansion will create a great deal of pressure on the walls, sometimes leading to several tons of lateral pressure per square foot! This expansion creates enormous pressure on the walls, sometimes with levels as high as several tons of weight per square foot!

Foundation Repair Specialists in New York

ABS Basement Systems of Gates Center, Brighton, Irondequoit, and Rochester knows that any signs of fatigue in the foundation can potentially pose a serious and possibly expensive threat to your home. Our trained foundation specialists are available to provide FREE no-obligation written estimates on all foundation repairs.

If you have foundation problems in Greater Rochester, Western New York call or contact us today!