Causes of foundation Settlement
June 8, 2021

When you see that your property is developing cracks, uneven flooring, and tilting walls, then there is a high possibility that your foundation is damaged. This structure is the only thing that is keeping your home from sinking underground. Although it would be ideal that it could withstand all types of pressures, placing too much stress on it will surely make it break. However, the age of the foundation is the least of your worries, because there are other external elements that could weaken its form.

Trees and Vegetation

If you like tending to your garden, then you should start thinking about where you place your plants. When trees and other big shrubberies are planted too close to your foundation, their roots can penetrate it as they grow. Once this happens, cracks and other fissures are formed, allowing foreign debris (e.g. dirt, vermin, and rocks) to enter the foundation’s core weakening its structure.

Moisture Content of the Soil

When a foundation is being built, workers make sure to keep it compact so that a sturdy base can hold it. However, if your area often experiences heavy rain and floods, the moisture can weaken the soil. With the support of the ground slipping, your foundation can also sink or shrink, bringing your property with it.

Poor Compaction

Soil compaction is an important step when creating a foundation because it helps keep the foundation’s bearings steady. If it was created poorly (meaning that there are still air pockets after the compaction job) it is not strong enough to hold the accumulated weight of your property and foundation causing your foundation to weaken and sink.

Weak Soils

Not all soils are ideal for property development. Depending on its molecular composition, the soil can be too soft to be constructed on. However, there are some people who still insist to build on such situations and thus, must face the risks that come after damaging their foundations.

Soil Consolidation

Soil consolidation occurs when weight is added and compresses the lower, weak clay soils. The pressure forces moisture out of the clay soils, which causes it to be densely spaced. This downward movement can be experienced at an uneven rate that can stress the composition of your foundation.

Inspect Your Foundation Regularly

The causes of foundation settlement vary. Some can be detected immediately, while others do not. Whatever the cause, it is best that you contact the professionals immediately, to have the situation dealt with pronto.

At KC Waterproofing and Foundation Repair, we are just the people you need to solve such a task. We are well-equipped and are knowledgeable about all things that deal with your foundation and its problems. With our services available to the Greater Kansas City Area, contact us today for a free consultation to determine the cause of your foundation problem and offer up our expert solution.

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I’ve had their waterproofing system and carbon fiber straps installed in my house. They did a great job and ensured my personal property was protected. Everyone involved was professional and very friendly. Thank you Mario and Connor for your hard work on the latest project!
They came and did a free inspection for me and the guy who did the inspection was super nice and helpful and we grew up in the same area out of state
KC Waterproofing is amazing! I misread the date of my service they were able to get me in that weekend so I could have additional work done on my basement the following Monday. I am so happy with the work they did, Mario was great and always showed up on time and does exceptional work. The communication with the office staff is also really great and I never felt in the dark about the work I was having done. Overall I will be recommending them to anyone who needs foundation work!
Mario did a great job sealing our main water intake leak and gave us some tips to further help. He went above and beyond to make sure we got the service and solution we wanted. Thank you so much.
Present: Mario was prompt, friendly, professional, and thorough!Past: The crew showed up on time and they were friendly and professional, taking care to protect my floors and clean up after they were done. There were a few glitches along the way, but Don made sure everything was done with efficacy and to my satisfaction. My crawlspace was a disaster, but now it’s clean, sealed, and dry! Thanks KCWaterproofing!~ Christen
We had a choice between Thrasher & KC Waterproofing. Thrasher never showed up for our consultation and now they call me almost every day. Hiring KC Waterproofing was a good decision. Everybody involved in our repairs were knowledgeable, patient & respectful. We even got a military discount. Thank you guys very much. Don, Jake, Julian and everyone else. We are grateful and will continue to recommend y’all.
The installers were nice and clear on explaining their work when asked. The aftermath was well done. I would recommend their service to any of my close peers. Thank you, Waterproof
Jackson and his team worked hard at peering our home. They were very thorough and cleaned up after themselves every day. The team was very professional and polite and definitely a group of hard workers. I would highly recommend KC Waterproofing to anyone!
Ryan and his team did a great job on our repair. The weather was poor, and they were rained on heavily but spent several hard days completing our project. They were friendly and knowledgeable and made sure I knew how future water drainage would be mitigated. I recommend them and KC Waterproofing to anybody around.
Mario completed our foundation repairs today and did a good job. He was thorough and took care of everything we needed. Appreciated that he put in extra effort to make sure the work was done properly.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​!
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