The Common Causes of Foundation Damage in the Greater Kansas City Area

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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Satisfied Customer Reviews

Received an alarm that our pump was not working. KC Waterproofing sent out a technician, Mario V, the next day. Mario is so professional and efficient. He diagnosed the problem with our backup pump, replaced it, and got the system back online. And, everything was under warranty!
KC waterproofing did a fantastic job stabilizing the foundation at my house. Your home is your largest investment so it can be nerve racking when you have work done on your foundation. The staff at KC waterproofing were professional, knowledgable and great to work with, which helped ease my anxiety. Fran the estimator diagnosed the issue and explained the process; Michelle at the office helped with billing; Don the owner called personally to schedule my project and ask if I had any questions; and Keith, Jesse and Jacob did an awesome job installing the piers (which is hard work) and made sure I understood what was going on at all times.
5-Star review for KC Waterproofing! Thank you Gerry, Jesse & Kenny for a job well done. They were prompt, courteous, and professional. We would recommend KC Waterproofing!
The guys that came to our house to do the repairs worked really hard and were very kind and professional especially Gerry. Thank you for the excellent job!!
Keith and the guys did an outstanding job. They were on time, hard working and explained everything as work progressed. We couldn’t be more happier with the foundation repair they did.
Scott explained everything in easy to understand terms. I am confident that he was honest and thorough. He was not the first estimate we have gotten but he was the most impressive.Keith and Jesse arrived at the appointed time and explained what we could expect, then got started. The project took a little longer than expected because they had to go deeper than anticipated. The last day of the project brought a third guy. I regrettably did not learn his name but he performed admirably. The job was completed as Keith told us and the only mess left behind was the mess we made moving things out of the way.Keith explained the confusing emails that my wife received was due to an outage of Verizon. We were happy with everyone involved throughout the process, from estimator to office personnel to the eventual workers who performed like rock stars. I will heartily recommend KC Waterproofing to anyone who is faced with foundation issues. We have complete confidence that our problems will not revisit us. The crew checked our sticking door throughout the lifting process to make sure it was working properly. We are relieved to have this behind us.
Matt was very knowledgeable and kind. Answered all my 97 year old mom’s many questions. He knew what he was doing and explained it very thoroughly. Top notch.
These guys HUSTLED! They were fast, efficient, neat, and so friendly. They did an excellent job, and I highly recommend using this company. From initial quote to final job, everyone has been informative, and low pressure. Wonderful company!
Scott came out and was helpful to finding a solution to our foundation issue. We look forward to being able to work again with KC Waterproofing, they are an excellent company that are easy to work with and have helped us in the past.
Everyone I spoke with at the company was very personable and kind. They took care of all our needs and on top of that, offered competitive pricing compared to other companies we interviewed.
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