Seven Causes of Foundation Problems, Part Two: Drainage

For our ongoing series about solutions for your home’s foundation brought to you by PierMagic Foundation Specialists, your Kansas City foundation repair experts, as we look toward the impending rainy season in the upcoming months, and how drainage and waterproofing solutions can keep your basement dry.

First, let’s make sure we cover the basics. Your home’s foundation is literally the structure upon which your house sits. A solid concrete foundation is meant to provide stability and support to the rest of your home. In addition, a solid foundation protects the basement from water entering through the walls when it rains.

When to Call a Home Foundation Repair Expert

As a homeowner, there are several items on your to-do list at all times. When a homeowner begins to notice water in the basement, however, that is a definite sign to contact an expert foundation repair company to check out the issue and see if the home is in need of foundation repair or basement waterproofing. An experienced foundation repair company will be able to assess the situation and see if the water is coming in through cracks in the basement wall or from uneven flooring and soil beneath the home. 

PierMagic is the highest rated foundation repair and basement waterproofing company in Kansas City, ,and has extensive experience finding the root of the foundation and water drainage issues, while providing an effective solution. Some homeowners will hesitate to contact a foundation or waterproofing company for fear of the solutions, but leaving the issues unresolved can lead to further water entering the basement, which can damage the rest of the home, causing wood rot, mold, mildew, and, eventually foundation failure. PierMagic’s solutions can often include drainage solutions (back-up sump pumps, french drains), as well as crack sealing, polyjacking, and piering, depending on your home’s unique circumstances.

An In-Depth Look at Cracks 

When a homeowner discovers water in their basement after a rainstorm, they may think that this is somewhat normal. Typically, however, water in the basement is cause for concern and signifies a deeper issue. Where there’s water, there is an opening in the foundation to let it in, aka a crack. This also means that without repair, the crack will continue to grow, widen, and cause other cracks to form. 

While you might not be thinking of foundation repair the next time you spot water, you should easily be able to notice one of the tell-tale signs - cracks - that let you know a foundation solution is necessary.

A call to PierMagic can reduce your stress and lessen further damage. A home foundation repair expert will likely suggest concrete foundation repairs when the homeowner begins to notice the following types of cracks:

Horizontal or “stair-step” cracks

Horizontal cracks are evidence of a soil-expansion issue. The soil around your home expands with water when it rains (keep in mind that the clay soil in Kansas City is especially susceptible to expansion). When the soil expands, it puts pressure against your foundation’s walls, causing horizontal cracks or stair-step cracks that look like a flight of stairs. The opposite occurs when the soil freezes in the Midwest winter weather. The soil contracts, resulting in gaps pulling away from the foundation.

RELATED: Why is Soil Important to Your Foundation (https://www.piermagic.com/how-does-soil-impact-your-foundation) 

Cracks around windows and doors on the first and second floors of a home

Many homeowners notice cracks around windows and doors on the first and second floors before they notice cracks along the walls in their basement. If you are noticing cracks upstairs, these could be directly related to oversaturated soil around the foundation, especially after it rains. When the walls of the foundation move, the rest of the house is affected as well. Sometimes homeowners don’t associate cracks seen upstairs around windows and doors with their foundation, but the base on which your house is built affects everything on top of it.

Cracks in the flooring

Soil expansion during the rainy season can also cause cracks in the flooring of your foundation. Cracks that may have occurred during the laying of the original foundation and during settlement may also be areas where water can get in. 

Homeowners shouldn’t rely on Google to help determine whether the crack in your basement floor or wall is normal. You should trust a professional foundation repair specialist. Some signs of foundation distress can include water in the basement, cracks in your home’s walls, cracks above your doorways or windows, and foundation crumbling. 

Even better, call the pros at PierMagic, a locally-owned and operated Kansas City foundation repair company, and we can help make a determination about what can be left alone to be monitored, and what needs to be repaired to prevent further damage. Our industry-leading technology, including polyjacking and piering, have kept customers dry and safe throughout our 15 years as a locally-owned business.

Crack Sealing: A Concrete Foundation Repair Solution During Wet Weather

As Kansas City begins the season of more rain, homeowners may start noticing water in the basement or start noticing cracks allowing water in. 

Crack sealing is a solution provided by the reputable, local foundation repair company PierMagic to ensure your basement remains dry, so you can enjoy the fall season without worries that the weather will impact your home.

Depending on the size of the cracks, as well as our free inspection to determine what would best keep your foundation secure and free from rainwater, we will recommend either epoxy or polyurethane resin as a crack sealant. 

These two materials can be injected into cracks to make sure they never leak again. Homeowners can then use their basement as planned - and can even experience a greater return on investment if they choose to remodel the basement, now that it’s dry. This may also be the perfect time to invest in an egress window to maximize natural light, increase safety escape routes, and maximize your return on investment.

Even a dry unfinished basement is desirable to homebuyers for storage, laundry, and more. The key to that space is “dry.” The best basement is a dry basement. PierMagic can ensure that this part of the home remains as valuable as the rest with our affordable concrete foundation repair solutions. PierMagic knows foundations and has worked on all types across the Kansas City area, including post and pier foundations. We also provide polyjacking and piering when these are needed for foundation repairs.

Our Next Home Foundation Repair Option for the Wet Weather: French Drains and Sump Pumps

Because clay soil that is oversaturated with water after it rains puts pressure on your walls and can eventually create cracks, there are other solutions to prevent cracking in the first place. 

If you’re thinking about a return on investment through a basement remodel, or you are concerned about keeping your basement waterproofed against the elements, PierMagic can install the perfectly designed French drain to keep water out of your basement permanently.

Additionally, PierMagic offers superior backup sump pump solutions to prevent overflow in the case of a power outage. Water seeping up and flooding the basement when a sump pump is inactive can cause severe damage to your foundation and basement. With a five (5) year warranty, the industry-leading basepump model can be installed to waterproof your basement as a backup when your original pump won’t do the job.

Solve your basement and foundation water issues with a call to PierMagic, your Kansas City concrete foundation repair leaders.

Finally, Foundation Piering or Polyjacking Can Protect Your Foundation from Water

Polyjacking – traditionally known as mudjacking – can help protect your foundation by filling voids and leveling the foundation floor with a polyurethane foam. We drill tiny holes (5/8”) in the flooring and fill them, so that your foundation is safe, level, protected from harmful cracks, and - most importantly - prevents water from coming in through the basement floor. 

Piering can help level concrete flooring and straighten walls that have bowed or pulled away due to expanding soil. Piers, or state-of-the-art solid steel poles - the strongest in the industry - are placed beneath the footing of the home to bear the weight of the foundation. Piering, too, is a waterproofing strategy that can prevent additional foundation damage, including cracks on the walls and floors.

PierMagic will come to your home and offer a free inspection and consultation. We will identify the type of foundation you have. Then, we can help determine the best ways to keep water out of your home.

What Homeowners Can Do to Prevent Water in Your Basement

Every homeowner can work on their home’s drainage solution in small ways that will help add to a waterproofing solution for your home.

Make sure to:

• Clean leaves and debris out of gutters, so water doesn’t spill over 
• Make sure to grade the soil to shift water away from your home
• Out of solutions? Give a professional a call!

Remember to call the experts at PierMagic for a free foundation consultation when you have questions, and reach out quickly if you’re beginning to see cracks, water, or any sign of a change to your foundation that you hadn’t noticed before. We can solve any problem from your post and pier foundation needs to any other kind of foundation your house stands on.

We’re here to help and to give you a dependable solution. We’ll also knock out the job quickly, so you can get back to enjoying your home and the people around you. What’s more, we offer financing options for our foundation repair solutions to ensure you’re getting the help you need on a budget that works for you. 

PierMagic is a Locally-Owned Company that Invests in the Kansas City Community

PierMagic is locally-owned, and we’re proud of it. We’re also proud of our commitment to hiring Kansas City-area military veterans as our highly-trained technicians and professionals.

Where too many concrete foundation repair companies in our area are nationally-owned, we not only give back to the community through our business practices, but through our expertise in recognizing the specific issues that Kansas City homeowners face, like clay soil expansion.

We know the local soil and climate, and we bring a depth of knowledge about how basements and foundations have been constructed throughout the history of Kansas City homebuilding.

Stay local and stick with the professionals at PierMagic. Find a waterproofing solution for your home as well as our wide range of services by getting in touch with PierMagic at (816) 765-4800. 

You can also send us a message online, and tell us what you’re experiencing - we’ll get back to you fast with the help you need.

With fifteen years of experience in Kansas City foundation repair, we’re here to listen and develop the right strategy to keep your home and family safe.