How to repair sinking house foundation?

Depending on what your soil conditions are this could be expensive to fix. Unless bedrock is within a few feet of the surface it could cost at least $20,000.00.

You don't say what your location or square footage is so I will answer in general terms.

It isn't unusual to see perimeter and loadbearing footings settle more than the floor. The buildings weight is concentrated at these places. If the foundation is weak then the footings will plunge leaving the floor higher, usually a crack appears around the perimeter at the walls.

If new piers are improperly placed on the same inadequate foundation (for example not deep enough) the new piers only add weight to the structure. You could spend a lot of money and only make things worse.

Your mom has good instincts. You should contact a "structural engineer". The cost to repair the resulting damage to the structure if allowed to progress could be major.

There should be a geo-technical or soils report done to determine the soil conditions and depth of suitable foundation.

Based on the soils report the structural engineer can draw up plans to do the job properly.

good luck

Foundation Sinking

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RE:

How to repair sinking house foundation?

My mom's house is built on a concrete slab (no basement or crawl space). We've noticed for quite a few years now, that around the perimeter of the inside of the house, there is about a 1 to 1 1/2 inch 'ledge'. I diagnosed it as a sinking foundation.

We had a contractor out (he was extremely...

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

How to repair sinking house foundation?

My mom's house is built on a concrete slab (no basement or crawl space). We've noticed for quite a few years now, that around the perimeter of the inside of the house, there is about a 1 to 1 1/2 inch 'ledge'. I diagnosed it as a sinking foundation.

We had a contractor out...

I would like to see the place so I could tell more.

Is it the floor that is sinking or is it the walls.

It can only sink so far. Cement is extremely cheap.

If you could put say 1 1/2 inches of cement over all the existing floor, would that solve the problem?

Mix cement in any size container and spread it level.

You can get a lazer level at Home Depot and end up with level floors for a few hundred dollars. Reset the doors if you have to. This is something you can do yourself a little at a time. Don't let the inspector see it.

It is really hard to tell without seeing it, but you may want to check to see if the boards around the bottom attached to the slab has rotten. concrete will draw water and over years. the boards could rot. If this has happened. The boards will have to be replaced some how. The only why I know is jack it up a little at the time support it and replace the boards. Good luck

my house is sinking in the middle and tilting one side. foundation repair company put the pears on tilting side 5 years back but now is going down more from the side

Get the engineer. I would look at moving the house onto a new foundation as it sounds like you have a soil problem.

That contractor probably has to tell people the same thing he told you all the time. It can't be easy telling people who are in denial the truth. That's why he was cocky. He had to come off as very confident to speak to you. He was probably correct. It's reasonable to get a second opinion, but do it right away.