Expert Foundation Repair Services In Port Saint Lucie, FL

Sitting right along the Atlantic Ocean, Port Saint Lucie experiences hurricanes, tropical storms, and flooding, all of which can cause your foundation to move. This is probably not shocking information – it is Florida after all. However, The Three Little Pigs taught us all about the power of wind and poorly constructed houses, so even though hurricanes are common in Port Saint Lucie, high winds are not the most common cause for foundation movement. This is due largely to specific building codes that ensure your house can sustain these storms. Rain and flooding, however, are common causes of foundation movement in Port Saint Lucie, along with sandy soils and sinkholes.

The subtropical, humid climate in Port Saint Lucie may be loved by some, but it can cause considerable damage to foundations. Additionally, the sandy beaches are also lovely. However, the sandy soil can also cause damage to foundations.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Port Saint Lucie sees plenty of rainfall throughout the year, averaging around 58 inches annually, compared to a national average of around 36 inches annually. In the summer, when it rains, there is less time for it to soak into the ground, causing the soil to become oversaturated. This can place hydrostatic pressure, which is pressure exerted by water in a closed space, on your foundation. If the pressure becomes too high, it can cause cracks in your foundation. These cracks, in addition to reducing stability of your foundation, can also let water and insects into your home causing further damage.

Sandy Soil

The majority of the soil in and around Port Saint Lucie is composed mostly of sand. The biggest concern this type of soil presents is erosion. Due to large amounts of rain, wind, and flooding, the sandy soil can erode and lower the support of your foundation. Erosion in coastal areas, such as Port Saint Lucie, can occur rapidly due to severe hurricanes or flooding. Because of this, the City of Port Saint Lucie requires soil tests that measure compaction density of the soil.

Sinkholes

Another unfortunate problem we see around Port Saint Lucie is the presence of sinkholes. This is common across the state of Florida due to heavy rainfall that eats away at the limestone bedrock in the area. The soil around the area is underlain by limestone and sedimentary rock mostly composed of calcium carbonate, which dissolves easily in water. Due to the heavy rains in the area, sinkholes can easily form as the rainfall erodes the bedrock. If you see any signs of a sinkhole forming, you should call our foundation repair experts immediately, as sinkholes can be very hazardous.

Some areas of Port Saint Lucie may have soil that is known as expansive soil. This soil usually has a higher clay content and absorbs water rapidly, causing the soil to expand, which can lead to cracks in your foundation. The soil also dries out very quickly, which can cause a loss of support for your foundation, similar to a sinkhole. Proper drainage systems that direct water away from the foundation are important features to have to prevent problems caused by these types of soil.

You may not immediately see signs of foundation damage. Therefore, when you do see any signs of damage, it is important to contact our foundation repair experts immediately. There are several signs that indicate damage to your foundation and some of these signs are evident before major damage is done to your foundation. Common signs to watch for include:

• Cracks in the interior drywall or in tile
• Cracks at the corners of windows, or window frames that are separating from the wall
• Door frames that are separating from the wall, or doors that do not close, stick, or are not aligned in the door frame
• Stairstep-like cracks in the exterior brick or cement block
• Uneven or sloping floors
• A leaky roof
• Horizontal and vertical cracks in the foundation walls
• Nails popping out of the drywall
• Bowing or bulging walls
• Chimneys or porches that are separating from the house

Because sinkholes are a specific concern in Florida and Port Saint Lucie, you should also be aware of signs associated with sinkholes. Interior wall separation, cracks in your driveway, or a leaning fence are signs of a sinkhole forming. You may also notice depressions and soft spots in the ground around your home. Because sinkholes can cause shifting in your foundation, this can also reduce the energy efficiency of your home. So if you notice sudden increases in your water or electricity bills, this may indicate formation of a sinkhole. If your floors start to crack in a circular fashion, this is particularly worrisome and can be indicative of an imminent sinkhole forming. Additionally, anytime you see mold or other evidence of moisture where it shouldn’t be, such as your walls, ceiling, or floors, this can indicate problems with your foundation that are allowing water to enter your home. If you have concerns that your house seems to be settling or, worse, sinking, it is always a good idea to call us to investigate.

If you are pouring a new foundation, you are required to have a structural or foundation engineer like ours supervising the project. You are not required by the city of Port Saint Lucie to hire our structural engineers to repair foundation damage. However, depending on what kind of foundation repair needs to be done, it is usually recommended. Nonstructural foundation problems, which can include cracks in plaster, vertical or diagonal cracks, cracks that are very narrow, or cracks near a door frame or a window frame, it is not usually necessary to consult our structural engineers. Generally, these cracks are more cosmetic in nature and can often be fixed using a method of crack injection. This may be possible to do on your own, but it is better to consult our experts to ensure the problem is not structural in nature.

Problems that are structural in nature, such as cracks on foundation slabs or beams, stairstep cracks, wide cracks, or vertical cracks that are wider at the top or bottom, should be evaluated by our structural engineers. Any evidence of a sinkhole should also be evaluated by our engineers. And even though it might be tempting to prove your do-it-yourself skills, structural foundation repair is not a DIY project.

Our structural engineers are specialists in foundations and load-bearing systems. There are certain qualifications they are required to meet in order to be licensed, and part of those qualifications include specific education in load-bearing systems. In the State of Florida, prior to obtaining licensing, they must have a degree in engineering from an approved college, school, or university, and four years of engineering experience that shows competence in the practice of engineering. They must also pass accreditation exams administered by the state, which include the Fundamentals of Engineering exam and the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam.

Several factors can affect the cost to repair foundation damage. Problems that are nonstructural in nature are generally not as expensive as problems that are structural in nature and can cost as low as $300. As with most home repairs, the extent of repair needed is most often the main factor in how expensive it will be. The age and size of your home are also important factors. On average, the cost of foundation repair in Port Saint Lucie is between $2,868 and $4,996, but some homeowners in the area can pay over $20,000 for more severe problems. These figures often do not account for costs associated with fixing problems that were caused by a damage foundation, such as plumbing and electrical issues. Fees to obtain necessary permits or the cost of hiring our structural engineers are also not generally included.

It is also important to remember that depending on the extent of the damage, prices can have a wide variance. Repairing damage to your foundation is unquestionably one of the most expensive home repairs you have to do, and it can also take a large amount of time to properly complete. However, your foundation is the support for your home, and is therefore the most important home repair you have to do.

The majority of soil in the Port Saint Lucie area is composed of both excessively-drained and poorly-drained, sandy soil. In some areas, there is loamy subsoil and there is often weakly cemented sand. As we discussed earlier, this type of soil can lead to erosion and sinkholes, both of which can cause severe damage to your foundation. Additionally, sandy soil requires specific types of foundations. Helical piers, helical wall anchors, helical seawall anchors, helical tieback anchors, and steel push piers are the best suited and safest foundation structures to be used with sandy soil. It is also important that the piers used in the foundation are placed deep in the sand, all the way to solid earth, preferably bedrock, underneath the sand.

You may also encounter expansive soils composed of clay in the area. These are not quite as common in coastal areas such as Port Saint Lucie. However, they can be present and can lead to significant foundation damage if you are not aware of it. For this reason in particular, it is important to obtain a soil report prior to building new homes or repairing foundation.