Expert Foundation Repair Services In Hollywood, FL

In many Hollywood neighborhoods, well-maintained vintage homes line the streets. The city saw a surge in home construction in the 1920s and then again in the 1950s. We love seeing the pre-Depression and post-WWII architecture and design on display. This is certainly not a city of “cookie-cutter” houses! Many of the high-rise condos were built a little later, in the 1960s and 1970s. Due to the building density and lack of open land, brand new construction projections are few and far between.

Even the most well-built home can be susceptible to foundation damage after several decades. Here in Hollywood, hurricanes and the gradual erosion of soil often cause foundation movement. In a few cases, water pipe leaks and improper drainage may also contribute to foundation movement.

Full basements are virtually unheard of anywhere in Florida. Between a high water table and a location right on the coast, full basements are all but impossible to build. Homes in Hollywood and much of the rest of the state are instead built on cement slab foundations. Occasionally, we do see small crawl spaces underneath homes. These crawl spaces often come with their own set of problems, including uncontrolled humidity and dampness. Foundation damage in Hollywood is often caused by hurricanes, tree roots, and floods.

While the rest of the country struggles to stay warm in January, residents of Hollywood and the rest of Broward County get to enjoy temperatures in the mid-70s. Even in the evenings, the temperature stays well above freezing throughout the year. While it seems like the weather is near-perfect, no city is without its potential for natural disasters. And for Hollywood, that means hurricanes.

The city of Hollywood encourages its residents to have a hurricane preparedness plan in place. Hurricanes can strike without warning, and they are a fact of life in southern Florida. The city can experience hurricanes between June and November each year. Historically, hurricane season peaks in the area in early September. Most of the hurricanes that affect the Hollywood area originate in the Caribbean.

Many hurricanes are mild, but strong ones will damage the natural landscape. Like most communities, Hollywood values its trees. Tree canopy is not only beautiful to look at, but the presence of trees often increases property values and reduces crime rates. Trees also provide natural shade and help lower the energy costs associated with air conditioning. Trees that are native to southern Florida are also naturally more hurricane resistant. Trees common and thrive in this area include sand live oak, American holly, wax myrtle, and sweetgum.

Any time new trees are planted, care must be taken to select the right tree for space. That means taking into account how tall a tree can grow and how long its roots can grow. Trees add beauty and value to the landscape, but they can also wreak havoc on a home’s foundation. That’s because tree roots can grow up against or even underneath a foundation, exerting enough force to cause movement and cracking. Take our word when we say that our native trees’ roots that are strong enough to stay in the ground during a hurricane are also strong enough to move a home’s foundation! If tree roots are already problematic, there may be options besides tree removal. Installing vertical tree root barriers can mitigate the damage from existing tree roots. These underground barriers act as shields that separate tree roots from a home’s foundation.

In some parts of the country, earthquakes cause substantial damage to building foundations. But unlike that “other” Hollywood on the West Coast, our Hollywood, FL is not on a fault line. While earthquakes in the northern part of Florida have occurred recently, they have not been strong enough to cause any structural damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assigns a “seismic design category” to every part of the U.S. These categories are used by the building design and construction industries and take into account how much shaking would occur during an earthquake in that specific area. Florida has the lowest SDC rating of “A,” which signifies a “very small probability of experiencing damaging earth­quake effects.”

Floods, on the other hand, are an issue in parts of Hollywood, FL. The city is a mosaic of areas that are both in a floodplain and areas that are not. When consulting Hollywood FL’s flood map, one must know the exact street address for the building they want to look up. Flood threats can vary block by block and even street by street. The city as a whole has been given a “Classification of 8” by the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.

Flooding exposes your porous concrete to water intrusion, and it can also soak into the soil, making it heavier. When this happens, the resulting hydrostatic pressure can crack your concrete and cause instability.

Climate change also has the potential to increase flooding along Hollywood’s coast. The city is aware of how climate change will impact the tide levels. By 2060, it is predicted that “sunny day flooding events” could occur 226 days each year in Hollywood. The Broward County Commission is considering requiring higher heights for sea walls.

In homes with cement slab foundations, the most obvious sign that a foundation is in disrepair is a floor that slants. But keep in mind that most foundation repair issues aren’t so obvious. Most of the basement foundation damage that we see in Hollywood is a little more subtle.

Without a full basement to inspect, we have to look at a home’s walls, windows, and doors for clues. One telltale sign is diagonal cracks that extend from the corners of doorways up towards the ceilings. Any molding and trim around windows and doors may also appear crooked or cracked. While these may just be surface cracks, homeowners should never take that for granted. The sooner foundation damage is caught and repaired, the easier (and often cheaper) it is.

Doors and windows that “stick” can also be the result of foundation damage. Of course, this happens a lot in our humid weather, so many people think nothing of it. But if doors and windows remain hard to open and close, it could be a sign of foundation problems. Sometimes, we also see door and window locks that are difficult to operate. That is because the home’s foundation has shifted enough that the locking mechanisms no longer line up.

Possibly. If you plan to do any home repairs, including fixing foundation damage, you may want the help of our structural engineers to certify your foundation is safe after repairs. Foundation repairs performed on these historic buildings may require a structural engineer’s expertise to meet construction and aesthetic standards.

Before starting any foundation repairs, it is important to contact the utility companies. We need to be aware of any water pipes, electrical lines, and gas lines. In Hollywood, Hollywood’s utility office and Florida Power and Light (FPL) service most homes.

The average foundation repair in the greater Hollywood-Fort Lauderdale area costs $4,320, but your price can range from $250 to over $20,000. That total reflects labor and parts. Taxes, building permits, and structural engineer fees will raise that total and are not included.

Compared to other home improvement projects, foundation repair can be expensive. However, a building’s structural integrity relies on the soundness of its foundation. It’s about more than just curb appeal. It’s about your family’s safety and your homes’ value. There is financial assistance available for homeowners who need help paying for foundation repair. Hollywood offers its residents Housing Rehabilitation Loans. Owner-occupied housing may also be eligible for Hollywood’s “Neighborhood Pride” grant money.

In 1979 and 1980, an intensive soil survey of eastern Broward County was performed. The results of this survey are scientific and “data-heavy.” While the average homeowner might need help interpreting the survey, this information should prove valuable to construction professionals.

Soil quality must be taken into account anytime a new home is built, no matter its location. The soil beneath a home’s foundation must drain well and be strong enough to support the home. Generally speaking, when compared to northern states, the soil in Florida is sandy. Sometimes, soil in Hollywood must be enhanced through soil stabilization and soil modification before one can safely build a home.

In soil stabilization, additives are mixed in with the existing soil are mixed with additives. These additives make the soil stronger and prevent swelling and shrinkage. Soil modification is a similar technique, but the wetter soil is mixed with additives to dry it out. When soil can safely and effectively hold a home, the risk for foundation damage is minimized. Both methods of soil enhancement have their place in southern Florida.