Foundation, Concrete Repair & Concrete Leveling | Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Stockton California

Carter Pool Project

2024-10-17T17:52:38.05Z

After installing a new pool deck for a home in Rancho Murieta, CA, the general contractor doing the work noticed that this 20'x35' gunite pool seemed to have sunk a little. He contacted NorCal Foundation Support, with the goal to lift the pool back to level using our PolyLevel solution. After scanning the pool for rebar, the team attempted to inject PolyLevel foam under the pool. Unfortunately, the concrete was not dense enough to hold with the pressure of the foam and started to break so lifting the pool would not be possible.

Energy Efficient, Humidity Controlled Homes

2021-03-08T00:00:00.05Z

After a year of living and working from home due to COVID-19, homeowners are now more and more aware of all the issues and repairs needed around the house. Breathing in damp air may be one of them.

Studies show that as much as 40% of the air in a home comes through the crawl space. Homes with dirt crawl spaces are known to have damp air due to the crawl space collecting water and holding humidity. This moisture makes it more difficult to maintain a comfortable home environment, requiring more energy to heat or cool the home and making the HVAC system work harder. By removing the humidity in the crawl space, a homeowner will experience a more comfortable, energy efficient home, saving 15%-35% in energy costs and improving the quality of air they breathe.

The energy loss in a home with vented crawl spaces with ducts is so great that until the crawl space is dealt with, all other fixes will barely make a difference with the home’s energy costs. Installing a vapor barrier such as CleanSpace® will prevent the evaporation of ground moisture into the crawl space. When used in conjunction with a waterproofing system including sump pump and drainage pipes, water can be expelled before it can cause any problems.

Stop allowing the atmosphere to control your home. Take control of your house by installing a CleanSpace System and transform your crawl space into a dry, energy-efficient part of your home.

PolyLevel Lifts Concrete Like Magic... But Is It Environmentally Friendly?

2020-09-15T00:00:00.05Z

We’ve all seen PolyLevel videos on YouTube: heavy sunken concrete driveway slabs moving back up to their original position as if lifted by some supernatural force. It’s fun and fascinating to watch.

So, what’s the catch? Is it expensive? No, not particularly. Is it rare? Nope. As an exclusive dealer, we’ve got all the PolyLevel you’ll ever need.

Aha! It’s probably bad for the environment, right?

Actually, no.

How PolyLevel Interacts With the Environment

PolyLevel foam is a lightweight, durable and, above all, amazingly strong high-density polyurethane foam. The reason it works so well is, it runs like water when first injected under concrete, finding even the smallest crevices. But then it quickly expands, and the force of that expansion is enough to lift those heavy concrete slabs back to their original positions. And, when PolyLevel cures, it cures basically forever.

High-density polyurethane foams such as PolyLevel have been the subject of several studies over the years, including one conducted by the Department of Energy (DOE), and they’ve found a couple of interesting things:

PolyLevel is a non-ozone depleting two-part polyurethane foam that is chemically inert once it cures. That means, once it sets, it does not react with anything around it, so it won’t leach into the soil or otherwise impart chemicals into the environment.
PolyLevel does not biodegrade. This means it doesn’t break down over time and affect the environment around it. It is also highly resistant to microbial attack due to its chemical and physical structure.
PolyLevel provides no nutritional value, and as such, it is not likely to be broken down by animals or insects.
While polyurethanes can degrade over time when exposed to UV radiation, because PolyLevel is never exposed to sunlight, this is not an issue.

Basically, once it cures, PolyLevel is no different, from an environmental point of view, than the concrete it stabilizes.

PolyLevel Helps Reduce Waste and Pollution

One of the best things about PolyLevel, though, is that it helps keep tons of concrete out of our landfills — literally. Think about it; if your driveway is cracked and sunken, your two main options are to repair or replace it. PolyLevel offers a fantastic solution for the first option. But when you replace a driveway (or any concrete), you not only have to wait a week or more for it to cure, but all that old concrete must be jackhammered into smaller pieces, torn out and hauled off to the local landfill, where it will remain for pretty much the rest of time.

Then there’s the problem of new concrete. Did you know that, after water, concrete is the most consumed material on the planet? And, concrete production is the source of a huge amount of greenhouse gasses, which are a primary driver of climate change. Then there’s the damage to the environment caused by mining the raw materials that make it up.

When you repair your driveway, sidewalk or patio with PolyLevel, you’re not only keeping old, broken concrete out of the landfill, you’re also reducing the need for new concrete to be produced. And that’s a good thing for the entire planet.

In the end, PolyLevel allows you to lift and permanently stabilize your concrete while helping reduce waste and pollution. See? No catch!

Four Questions to Ask a Contractor BEFORE They Start Work On Your Home

2020-07-15T00:00:00.05Z

We’ve all had bad experiences with home-repair contractors at one time or another. They cancel appointments or show up late. They don’t clean up after the job is done. Regardless of the situation, once a contractor has started work, you typically feel as if you have to see it through, no matter what happens. After all, you don’t want to leave a job half done, right? And this means they have you over the proverbial barrel.

There’s an easy way to avoid a lot of the pitfalls of hiring a plumber, electrician, roofer or just about any other kind of home-repair contractor. And that is to ask them a few simple questions before you hire them.

How long have you been in business?
This is an important one. Expertise is gained chiefly through experience. That means, the longer a contractor has been in business, the better they are likely to be at their job. You need to ask them about the specific task you’re hiring them for, however. Just because they started business in 1987, it doesn’t necessarily mean they’ve been repairing foundations since 1987. The other primary benefit of a company that’s been around for a long time is, it’s likely they’ve earned a good reputation with homeowners. After all, if you’re incompetent or dishonest, it’s not likely you will be successful over the long run.
How many employees do you have?
Company size isn’t always an indicator of competence, but it’s more likely that a contractor that has at least a few job-specific employees is serious about his or her business and can handle repairs of a larger scale. When it comes to repairing a concrete driveway, for instance, you really want someone who has a lot of experience with concrete lifting instead of a Jack-of-all-trades who does a little bit of concrete, a little bit of plumbing, etc. More employees also indicates that the company is able to function as a legitimate business over time. This, too, speaks to its competence and commitment to fixing your home right, the first time.
Are you accredited?
Depending on your state, contractors need to be licensed for them to charge money for their services. Beyond that, most respectable contractors seek accreditation from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau or the local chamber of commerce. This indicates that they’re a legitimate business with satisfied customers. You can also check reviews on sites such as Google, Yelp, Angie’s List and Home Advisor. And don’t just look at overall ratings; check individual reviews. A one-star review could indicate an incompetent contractor, but it could also indicate a difficult and unreasonable customer.
Do you offer a warranty?
This is a big one. The best home-repair contractors stand behind their work with some sort of guarantee. This should not only assure your satisfaction, it should also be transferable to the new owners, should you sell your home, depending on the type of work being done. A contractor who offers a written warranty on the work they do is demonstrating they aren’t some fly-by-night operation that will disappear the moment you hand them a check. Be especially careful regarding contractors who travel from location to location after severe weather events such as hail or flooding. They might offer low prices, but it’s likely they won’t be reachable should something go wrong with their work.

Above all, use common sense when hiring a contractor. Pay attention to how they speak and act. Do they seem eager to help you? Are they polite? Do they treat you with respect? By asking these questions and paying close attention to a contractor’s attitude, you can go a long way to ensuring that you have a positive experience. And if we all do this consistently, we might just be able to raise the bar for the whole contracting industry. After all, don’t we deserve better?

Sidewalk Repairs and Responsibility

2020-07-14T00:00:00.05Z

You probably don’t spend much time thinking about the sidewalk in front of your home. It’s not so much for you as it is for the pedestrians around your neighborhood. However, the sidewalk on your property is your responsibility to maintain.

There are a few factors that could cause a sidewalk to need repairs. Rain can wash away the dirt underneath the concrete sidewalk slabs, causing them to sink or settle. In dryer months, the soil can dry out and shrink. This can cause concrete to crack and potentially become a trip hazard.

Regardless of the reason for repairs, the safety of your sidewalk is important. Many people use the pathway, whether it’s to get to work or to exercise. Children might use your sidewalk to get to and from school.

In many places, it’s the home owner’s responsibility to repair the concrete sidewalk on their property. Often times, the sooner you get it fixed, the less expensive the cost will be.

Our company has helped countless homeowners by lifting their sunken sidewalk slab, repaired their cracked driveway and, ultimately, restored their curb appeal and safety around their home. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection.

What Goes Into Determining the Cost of Fixing a Crack?

2020-07-08T00:00:00.05Z

Nearly every home “settles” into place in one way or another after it’s built. This can show up in tiny, hairline cracks along some interior walls. You might even hear your home creaking in the night. These are normal occurrences and not cause for concern.

Unless the cracks in the walls continue to grow. That indicates a larger problem, likely with the foundation the home is built on. There is no DIY fix for a foundation problem – it can be a major safety concern and requires a professional.

A professional foundation repair contractor will examine the crack and take into consideration any other symptoms of foundation issues, like sticking doors and windows or sloping floors. It might sound like a complicated fix – it is – but how much is fixing that crack going to cost?

It’s hard to pin down exactly how much it will cost to fix a crack in your wall. A crack is just one symptom of what could be several different issues with the foundation.

Also, the type of foundation you have could also play a role. Basements, crawl spaces, slab on grade, the list goes on. Some types of foundation are more common than others in different parts of the country.

But there is one constant that holds true when it comes to foundation fixes: The sooner you address the problem, the less expensive the solution.

It takes less manpower and products to fix a foundation that has dropped by an inch on one corner of the house than waiting until it’s sunk 3 inches or more before fixing it.

This holds true for virtually all foundation problems. In almost 100 percent of homes, the issues you see only get worse or more noticeable over time.

Our company permanently fixes home foundations every day. Our team is professionally trained to diagnose complex problems and implement the right solutions.

Don’t get sticker shock before you have a professional come out and give you a quote. The peace of mind, quality of life and safety you are looking for in your home is priceless, but if diagnosed soon enough might not cost as much as you think. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection.

Concrete & Curb Appeal

2020-07-01T00:00:00.05Z

In the summer months, a lot can happen to the concrete in and around our homes. And with more people out and about, concrete issues might feel more noticeable – and more annoying. From a sunken sidewalk slab to a cracked concrete driveway, the climate of the region has a direct impact on the soil and, ultimately, the concrete on top of it.

It’s not uncommon for many regions to experience a lot of moisture in the early summer months. The rain saturates the soil and can soften it, making concrete slabs sink. Rain and water can also wash away the dirt under and around concrete. This erodes the support underneath the concrete, causing it to crack and drop.

Dry weather and the hot summer sun can also dry out the soil around your home. As the moisture in the soil evaporates, the dirt shrinks – or takes up less space – impacting the stability underneath the concrete. Much like when dirt is washed away, the lack of support can cause the concrete to crack and fall. While it may only drop a few inches or centimeters, it can dramatically impact the safety and quality of life for those who walk on it.

While weather patterns might feel like a never-ending cycle of concrete problems, there are simple and permanent fixes. Our company has helped countless homeowners by lifting their sunken sidewalk slab, repaired their cracked driveway and, ultimately, restored their curb appeal and safety around their home. Contact us today a free, no-obligation inspection.

Repair Your Home Before You Improve It

2020-04-17T00:00:00.05Z

Before You Improve Your Home, Repair It

Like most of us, you’re probably spending way more time at home than you did before. That means, even if you haven’t been given a mile-long “honey-do” list, you’re probably still noticing things that could be improved. And, now that we’re all enjoying an extended stay-cation, now seems like the perfect time to tackle those projects—and, it is.

But before you start spending time and effort and, most importantly, money redoing the kitchen or adding a bathroom or even just painting the bedroom a different color, there’s once question you must ask.

Is My Home Ready to Be Improved?

Before your home was built, the developer likely leveled the site, removing soil from high points and moving it to low points in the landscape. After all, it doesn’t make sense to build a house on uneven ground. If you did, the result would likely be an out-of-plumb, jumbled mess.

The thing is, this soil that was moved, which is typically called fill soil, often settles over time, causing a home’s foundation to sink with it. Other situations, such as excess moisture from heavy rains or a lack of moisture from drought, can also cause soils to compress, wash out or shrink. When this happens, your home’s foundation sinks with the settling soil, causing problems throughout the structure that can make home-improvement projects a nightmare.

For instance, let’s say you’re hanging drywall to finish a basement and turn it into a home theater. If your foundation isn’t stable, that beautiful, smooth drywall can crack and gap over time as your home continues to settle turning your beautiful man-cave into, well, just a cave.

What About Other Projects?

But it’s not just basements you have to worry about. Foundation settlement can cause issues throughout the home, as the entire house, regardless of how many floors it has, sits on this unstable foundation. So, if you’re adding a washroom on the third floor, for instance, it makes sense to stabilize your foundation first, or you risk similarly serious problems down the road.

Even the aforementioned painting project will likely only be a temporary success if you’re covering walls that will crack in the future. And, of course, if you’re painting to cover cracks that are already there… well, you just know they’ll reappear soon if you don’t address the reason they cracked in the first place.

So, What’s the Answer?

Before you engage on any home improvement project, you should have your property inspected by a foundation-repair expert. These inspections are almost always free and carry no obligation, so there’s zero downside to having one done. Plus, they can be conducted entirely without direct contact.

If he or she is truly experienced, the inspector will take up to several hours to complete the assessment of your home and will present you with the findings in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner—including solutions to fix any issues permanently. This presentation can even be done remotely via Zoom or another video-conferencing platform.

Only then can you have the confidence that your home-improvement project—and any others you undertake in the future—will be a success.

Home Repair in the time of COVID-19

2020-03-31T00:00:00.05Z

Home Repair in the time of COVID-19

It feels as if the world has turned upside-down these days, and many people are engaging in voluntary or mandatory home isolation. The thing is, home repair issues don’t simply go away because the world has been put on pause. The good news is, you can still work on improving your home!

No-Contact Inspections

This is one of the main changes we at NorCal Foundation Support are making in light of this “new normal.” It allows us to complete a thorough inspection of your property’s issues, show you the findings and present solutions to you without you ever having to leave the safety of your home. We respect social distancing!

Here’s how it works:

The technician will first speak with you over the phone, text, or email to assess your comfort level with an inspection. Once you’ve established that you prefer a no-contact inspection, the tech will then arrange the appointment and call when he or she is outside. If the inspection requires access to your home, you can simply leave a door open and remain in another part of the home. During the inspection, you can remain in contact with the technician via voice, FaceTime or other communication apps.

Once the inspection is completed, the technician will then return to his or her (home) office and prepare a presentation tailored to the specific needs of your home. When this is complete, he or she will then walk you through the presentation via a “virtual” meeting using one of the popular web conferencing apps. By the time the presentation is over, you’ll know exactly what is causing the problem, exactly how it can be fixed—permanently—and exactly how much it will cost.

Once the presentation is finished and all your questions are answered, you can get things started by making a deposit via debit or credit card and scheduling the installation.

Communication Is the Key

As with the inspection, the installation process can also be done without any person-to-person contact. The crew leader will call or text ahead of time and make the arrangements and walk you through the entire process, so you’ll know exactly what to expect. The crew will make the necessary repairs while you remain in another part of the house or go off-site. Then, when the repairs are complete, you can pay the balance of the job the same way you paid the deposit.

The reason you want to repair your home is to give yourself peace of mind. That extends to the process of getting it repaired, too. And as you can see, with a little technology and good communication, it is easy to take care of your home’s foundation and concrete problems while still adhering to the social distancing guidelines we all must observe during this global health crisis.

Life can feel pretty out-of-control these days. So, it feels good to know that fixing your home is one thing that’s still within your power.

COVID-19 UPDATE

2020-03-24T00:00:00.05Z

Dear Valued Customer,

In times like these the safety, health and and security of our families, employees and community members are a top priority. With the state of California announcing shelter in place orders, we want to assure you that we are committed to the maintaining the strictest of standards to safeguard the well-being of our employees and customers.

As many companies are mandated to temporarily close their doors for an uncertain period of time, we know that many small businesses may not survive the economic repercussions involved. However, since maintaining the structural integrity of our homes is considered essential, construction has been exempt from this order. With customers now finding themselves at home with necessary repairs, we know many of you are looking to have work done now, while following the strictest of safety guidelines.

We want to personally assure you that we have taken steps with our employees to ensure that all safety precautions are being taken.

- Our inspection and production teams will tailor your customer experience to your own comfort level. This includes calling before the appointment to find out if you’re ok with meeting with us face to face.

- While onsite, employees will practice guidelines as defined by the Social Distancing Requirement, including maintaining a six-foot distance from individuals, thoroughly washing hands with soap and water when available, or using hand sanitizer, covering all coughs or sneezes (into sleeve or elbow) and regularly cleaning all high-touch surfaces.

- All equipment is cleaned and sanitized thoroughly as recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

- Employees with any signs or symptoms of illness will be prohibited from working. We also ask you notify us if you or anyone in your household has had any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 so we keep our own teams safe. We will reschedule for the next available time after you are healthy.

We truly appreciate you and the trust you put in us to safely repair your home. This is a stressful time for us all but know that we continue to monitor the situation and make any operational changes needed to ensure that everyone's safety comes first.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at [[phone]].

Sincerely,

Mathew Phelps

Owner

Signs Your Home May Be Settling

2019-05-31T00:00:00.05Z

Are you noticing issues around your home that makes you wonder if your house could be shifting or settling? A home and it's foundation is built on soil which has a tendency to shift depending on the makeup of the soil and weather. Excessive rain or droughts can cause the soils to expand or contract causing your home's foundation to settle. Not all settling can cause foundation issues but, given a home's value and the need for it's structural stability, it is important to be aware of the signs to look for.

While you don’t want to worry when there is no reason to, sometimes it takes a professional to truly evaluate what is going on and let you know if there is reason for concern. If you are noticing any of the following signs, it may be worth a call to have your home evaluated before issues, if any, grow worse.

Signs of a Settling Home:

1. Sticking Doors and Window

Are you having difficulty opening or closing your doors or windows? As a home settles, doors and windows may begin to angle so they don’t sit squarely inside their frames causing issues with opening and closing them.

2. Slanting Floors

Do your floors seem slanted? If you put a level on your floor, does it show it is not level? Shifting soils may be causing different areas of you home to move. This may worsen over a period of time as your home continues to settle.

Slanting or sagging floors can also be caused by weakening or rotting floor joists or support beams, which can be confirmed with an inspection of your crawl space.

3. Interior Cracks

You may begin to notice interior cracks along walls or coming from corners of windows. You may be think painting is all you need to cover this but it may actually be a sign that some settlement is occurring.

4. Openings Around Doors or Windows

On a more serious level, you may notice pulling away from your window or door frames causing visible gaps. At this point, patching will not fix the the root cause of the issues.

5. Exterior Cracks

Small or fine cracks along the exterior walls of your home are quite common and may be nothing to worry about. However, when they continue to increase in number, become large or have a zig-zag pattern that be cause for concern. This zig-zag pattern is especially evident in brick homes.

6. Cracks in Foundation

Again, a few fine cracks in your foundation may not indicate an issue but can grow over time. Several cracks or large cracking may indicate shifting. Vertical cracks are a typical result of soil settlement which creates pressure on the foundation wall. These vertical cracks can allow water in and will need to be repaired.

Horizontal cracking is a sign of serious issues resulting from soil pressures due to water-saturated water pushing against the foundation wall. These require immediate attention.

Companies like NorCal Foundation Support specialize in evaluating foundations and can explain to you when there is a need for concern or repair. The repair can be simple, or if left untreated for a long period of time may lead to more complicated repairs. We advise you go be aware of these signs, educate yourself and seek professional help to determine the proper repair, if needed.

NorCal Foundation Support specializes in foundation, concrete and crawl space repair, including underpinning and moisture control for residential and commercial structures. A dealer of products by Foundation Supportworks and Basement Systems we service areas of northern California including Danville, Napa, Ukiah, Sacramento and Tracy.