Expert Foundation Repair Services In Asheville, NC

Asheville is the home of just under 100,000 residents in the western portion of North Carolina. The city has a rich Appalachian history that it shares with several neighboring cities in North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The land in the area bears witness to the fact that this city truly is a part of the Appalachian landscape, it is a very mountainous city with many steep peaks and sloping valleys spread all throughout. Asheville, NC sits at over 2,100 feet in elevation and has very limited natural water resources.

Building anything at such an elevation is certainly a challenge to say the least. The steep climb to reach Asheville and the fact that there are so many hills and mountains make uneven foundations a common sight in this area. Unfortunately, building on uneven ground like this makes foundation movement a near certainty for residents of Asheville and nearby areas.

Shifting ground and above-average rainfall (43.7 inches per year on average) makes Asheville a difficult place to deal with foundation issues. It is something that the residents are well aware of, and something that they do everything within their power to try to avoid. That is why, it is more important than ever, that the quality foundation repair experts are available in this region.

Foundation issues can come from a variety of different sources and no two cases are exactly alike. There are a number of factors that uniquely hit homes in Asheville even harder than most other areas of the country.

Asheville is known for its architectural beauty in part because the average age of homes in the city is older than the average for the United States. Current records show that the average home in Asheville was built 44 years ago compared to an average of 40 years for the typical home in the United States. That difference may not seem like that big of a deal, but it means that there are many homes that are much older than 44 years old that are bringing that average up. As homes age, the foundations that they were built with begin to show signs of wear and tear from the conditions that they have been exposed to over the years. Those conditions are particularly harsh in mountainous areas like Asheville, and plenty of these older homes are starting to experience issues with their foundation.

As we have already touched on a few times, the mountainous terrain present in Asheville presents its own set of complications. Many builders did not give adequate consideration to how they built foundations in the mountainous areas of the country, like Asheville, many years ago. Instead, they simply built them in much the same way that they build in a more flat environment. This has meant that many properties are beginning to feel the strain of poor decisions made in the past.

Do not forget that the rainfall averages in Asheville are above normal compared to the country as a whole. This can cause excess rain to leak into basements through cracks in the foundation and cause ongoing problems going forward. On top of that, the high elevation of Asheville means that much of that precipitation turns to a mix of ice and snow at times which also makes things dicey for the foundation.

Early detection of problems with the foundation of any building is key to preventing the problem from getting out of hand. The earlier you spot a problem, the faster you are to adapt to the challenge and seek the professional assistance you require. It takes a little knowledge to know what to look for in order to take care of these potential signs before they become a larger problem overall.

Moisture in your basement can come from a lot of sources as it turns out. In fact, a finished basement may be more prone to excessive moisture than most. The University of Minnesota produced a report that said the following about moisture in finished basements:

Moisture is generated inside of basements from people and their activities. Common sources are humidifiers, unvented clothes dryers, showering, and cooking. When basements are finished, these activities increase.

Another source that can be thought of as internal is the moisture contained in new concrete after construction. In a typical house, this can amount to 0.2 gallons per square foot of wall, and 0.1 gallons per square foot of floor. It may take many months or even years for a new house to come into equilibrium with its environment.

This means that a certain amount of moisture in a basement may be naturally occurring and not something that is terribly concerning, but there are levels of moisture in a basement that are more than a little worrying and should be addressed as quickly as possible.

The tiles of your home may crack slightly to some extent, but they should not have deep and extensive cracks in them. Excessive cracks like this are likely a sign of deeper foundation issues. They allow the precipitation to creep into the foundation and other parts of the home. You do not want to allow cracks to get further along than they already are!

Windows that bulge out are giving property owners a sign that the foundation of the home is suffering. Windows should maintain their integrity and stay in place where they were first installed. The older properties in Asheville often show signs of bulging windows, and this is sometimes ignored as part of the “charm” of an older structure. Understand that this is more likely a sign of a serious foundation issue.

Hiring a structural engineer is always a good decision when you fear that foundation issues could be presenting themselves in buildings anywhere. This is particularly true for properties in the Asheville area. Not only is the geography a challenge given the mountains, but there is also the fact that the buildings are older than most. Some of these buildings may even be classified as historic landmarks by the city of Asheville. A building that falls under the historic landmark categorization can face increased scrutiny when it comes to repairs made on the foundation.

Regional Foundation Repair is aware of this fact and strives to work with the city and the client to ensure that all repairs done are within proper legal parameters and that they are done within a budget that the client can afford. Both of those objectives are highly important to clients and the city alike. Everyone has a vested interest here, and Regional Foundation Repair wants to make sure that all interests are met.

Even those who do not live in something that qualifies as a historic landmark should seriously consider getting a structural engineer to help with the foundation problems. There is simply no getting around the fact that Asheville presents many challenges when it comes to repairing foundations, and the only people with the knowledge and experience to take care of this are structural engineers.

Asheville is perhaps one of the most difficult cities in America to give a precise quote as far as the estimated range for a foundation repair for all the reasons mentioned above. Many estimates state that the average repair in Asheville will fall below the national average, but there is also a very wide range of potential outcomes.

There are repairs that may cost as little as around $2,000 to fix up, but there are others that can go north of $20,000 depending on the type of repair and the status of the building being repaired, and how the original foundation was laid. Extensive work may require a higher price tag if more labor and materials are required.

Regional Foundation Repair is direct about the estimated costs of repairs that go into any foundation work that they do. Regional Foundation Repair provides an honest and helpful estimate in order for the clients to understand what they are getting themselves into before they sign any paperwork agreeing to the repair job. This is great because it means that clients should never be shocked by the true cost of the repair when the bill comes due.

Soil has an impact on foundations in the Asheville area as you might expect from the details presented throughout this article. The soil is what one comes to expect from the Appalachian area. This is to say that the Earth found here tends to be older and more firm than it is in some other places. This range of mountains has been around for a very long time, and there is not as much churn in the soil in this area as there is in some others.

Older soil coupled with older buildings and intense levels of rainfall, makes Asheville the ideal place for foundation problems to arise. It is only due to the enormous beauty of this region that makes it all worth it for the people who live there. Those who choose to live or own property in Asheville should understand that they may need to set aside a significant amount of money to handle foundation repairs and other potential issues with their properties.

Regional Foundation Repair services cities all throughout the United States, and they know that Asheville is one of the more challenging places for foundation repairs. Fortunately, they have a lot of experience working on foundations throughout this great country. That additional level of experience helps them put their best foot forward on any project. Those who put their trust in this company tend to be pleasantly surprised that this company is happy to go the extra mile to secure all the necessary paperwork and more to begin a project and do it properly.