In need of foundation repair? Our foundation repair specialists are ready to help.
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 30, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 27, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 24, 2023
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 30, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 27, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 24, 2023
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Cleveland, Ohio is a beautiful city boasting culture, proximity to nature, and a desirable mix of urban and suburban living. However, homeowners in the area experience a high rate of foundation problems, including dangerous settling. The geology and climate in the city are primarily to blame for the frequent property damage.
Regional Foundation Repair is one of the nation’s largest provider of foundation repair service. We have 1,000s of expert technicians ready right now in Cleveland. Our pros have years of experience and are familiar with the nuances of Cleveland soil conditions so you can be sure your foundation gets fixed the right way the first time. Gone are the days of worrying about shoddy craftsmanship, overpriced service, and unqualified pros.
During the job, our technicians are trained to explain their progress throughout the day and clean up properly before leaving the jobsite.
Depending on the availability of our technicians, we can generally get your job scheduled within 2 days. To start the process just submit your information in our form and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours with a pricing quote! In some cases we may need more detail to properly quote your project, so we will reach out via phone to schedule a free onsite inspection. Depending on your location we also offer virtual quotes!
For your benefit, we’re going to discuss the underlying causes of Cleveland’s foundation problems, and the symptoms property owners see as a result. We’ll also offer some tips for limiting damage to your home, as well as some average pricing for common repairs in the area.
Pier Foundations
Concrete Slab
Basement Foundations
Crawl Space Foundation
Wood Foundation
- Erica J.
- Suja K.
- Dan T.
What Causes Bowing Foundation Walls & How It Can Be Corrected?
Foundation Crack Repair: Costs & Repair Options
Foundation Cracks
Foundation Installation Costs
Foundation Leak Repair
What Are The Common Signs Of Foundation Problems And When Should You Be Concerned?
Foundation Repair Methods
What Is Foundation Spalling & When Should You Be Concerned?
How Does Foundation Waterproofing Protect Your Home?
Date of Request: 06/01/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: Basement floor is buckling. Need someone to come check to see what is going on
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: Hello! I need a support beam raised in my basement to level the first floor of my 3 story home. Thanks.
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: Home is on a slab (NO Crawl space). I need foundation waterproofing, possibly foundation lifting or leveling
Date of Request: 05/28/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: I have 3 walls of a double course sandstone foundation that need attention or replacement.
Date of Request: 05/25/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: Foundation repairing, floors in house are sagging and walls bowing, doors and windows are off or won't close.
Date of Request: 05/23/2023
Location: Cleveland, OH
Description: do you place helical piers for new light construction-? I need 12 piers for a large garden shed. max load per pier is 4800lbs with snow.
Does Foundation Movement Affect Cleveland, Ohio?
Unfortunately, foundation movement in the city is prevalent and can cause tens of thousands of dollars in property damage in a relatively short amount of time. Homes in Cleveland, Akron, Euclid, Strongsville, and many other nearby cities are at an exceptionally high risk of foundation issues.
What Causes Foundation Problems In Cleveland, Ohio?
There are a few factors at play in the Cleveland area that lend themselves to foundation damage. We’ll discuss each of these in-depth below.
Ground movement is one of the leading causes of foundation issues throughout the United States. Many parts of Cleveland are built on expansive soil, which creates problems with soil swelling. Much of the city’s soil is characterized by a high concentration of clay. Clay absorbs water more readily and in more significant quantities than typical silty soils, so changes in moisture leave Cleveland homes prone to damage for a few reasons.
When clay soil gets wet from runoff or groundwater, it expands up to 110% of its dry volume. This swelling can place immense pressure on your crawlspace or basement walls and concrete slab, pushing them inward. Since concrete can’t flex much, foundations tend to crack under the stress of swelling soils, sometimes leading to structural damage.
Clay soil also loses excessive volume when it dries. As such, the ground in Cleveland can shrink during periods of little precipitation, which are common in northeast Ohio. Dry expansive soil can pull away from your foundation as it loses moisture, leaving your foundation without the support it needs.
If the soil shrinkage occurs at different rates, your home can suffer from differential settling. Portions of concrete that lose support from the ground can crack off your home and sink into the earth faster than the surrounding sections, leading to a loss of structural integrity.
Lastly, Cleveland’s clay soil takes longer to dry after rainfall or melting snow, so it holds moisture against your concrete for more extended periods than dirt with good drainage. Longer exposure times often lead to water intrusion, as the runoff or groundwater can seep in through foundation cracks or wick through the pores in the building material.
Expansive soil is detrimental to foundations in all climates, but Cleveland’s above-average precipitation makes these issues more severe. The 40 inches of average annual rainfall is only slightly above average in the United States, but Cleveland experiences nearly 70 inches of snowfall each year, which is well above average.
As rain falls and snow melts, the city’s expansive soil gets saturated, causing it to swell and put added stress on your foundation. The high chance of runoff also leaves your home open to water intrusion and moisture build-up.
Cuyahoga County is located on the coast of Lake Erie, contributing to a very high water table. During certain seasons when the high precipitation contributes to groundwater build-up, the water table is located less than a foot below the surface. High water tables leave your home’s foundation exposed to water on a more regular basis than areas where groundwater is located deeper in the earth.
The high water table contributes to a dangerous phenomenon called frost heave in the colder months. Frost heave occurs when water in the soil close to the earth’s surface freezes and expands, placing added pressure on your concrete walls and slab. Frost heave causes upward movement of the ground, which can create fissures in your foundation and raise portions of your home.
Lastly, the bedrock in much of Cleveland is comprised largely of limestone and dolomite. These are both rigid, durable materials in dry conditions, but they both are prone to erosion and can dissolve in the presence of water.
Foundations rely on the surrounding soil for support, but that soil can settle rapidly over areas where the bedrock below is eroded. The limestone and dolomite beneath Cleveland can contribute to issues with differential settling and the resulting structural damage.
What Are The Signs of Basement Foundation Damage In Cleveland, Ohio?
The various causes of foundation problems in Cleveland can manifest in many different signs of damage. We’ll discuss each of these below and the likely underlying problem.
Foundation cracks are often the most prevalent and apparent signs of foundation issues. The cause and severity depend mainly on the gap’s position and width, so we’ll break down the different types by location below.
Many homeowners find hairline cracks in their slab or basement floor. These fissures very often form as a result of natural settling, which occurs in all homes. As long as the gap is level from one side to the other and doesn’t continue to grow, it typically doesn’t indicate significant damage. Most Cleveland homeowners simply have them sealed to keep water out.
If floor cracks reach more than ⅛” in width, develop in a circular pattern, or have one side that is higher than the other, your home is likely suffering from frost heave or differential settling. They indicate that the soil under your house is sinking or bulging, and they often signify structural damage.
Wall cracks positioned vertically on your concrete block walls are often a sign of typical foundation settling. Provided they’re less than ⅛” wide, most foundation repair companies will seal them to eliminate water intrusion. Broader cracks may need stabilization to prevent further growth.
Cracks positioned horizontally on your foundation wall generally signify an issue with hydrostatic pressure. This type of damage is common in Cleveland due to the expansive soil, above-average precipitation, and the high water table. If the pressure outside your foundation becomes too much, the ground forces your wall to crack and shift inward.
Foundation cracks shaped like steps on your concrete block wall form in response to differential settling, which frequently occurs in Cleveland. If portions of your foundation are left without the support they need, they can separate from the rest of your home and sink into the ground, leaving a step-shaped fissure in your foundation.
Stair-step cracks typically indicate severe structural damage and should be inspected by a foundation repair contractor immediately to prevent foundation failure.
When hydrostatic pressure builds around your home and puts inward force on your foundation walls, they will typically bow inward before a horizontal crack forms. The concrete is minimally flexible, so even slight bulging should be addressed quickly. Bowing walls can indicate a loss of structural integrity.
The symptoms of differential settling and frost heave can easily be confused with one another, especially in areas like Cleveland, where they’re both prevalent. Homeowners suffering from these types of foundation movement generally experience sloped or unlevel floors in the crawlspace or basement, floor cracks that form circles where instability is occurring below, and wide floor cracks where one side pushes above the other.
Sinking and heaving foundations usually indicate structural damage and require stabilization immediately.
The above-average precipitation, clay soil, and high water table in Cleveland all lend themselves to water intrusion problems beneath the home. Homeowners often see pooling water in their under-home areas, water stains or wet spots on the concrete, mold formation on the walls, and efflorescence, which is a deposit of minerals from evaporating water that has entered your home.
Other symptoms include damp or heavy air in the basement or crawlspace, musty odors, and uncomfortably warm or cold air in your living space due to the moisture moving up from underneath.
How to Find Signs of Foundation Damage In Cleveland, Ohio?
Identifying warning signs of foundation damage is crucial for limiting property damage and associated repairs. Foundation problems tend to start small and worsen with time, so discovering a problem before it leads to structural damage can save you tens of thousands in repair costs. Below are some tips for locating issues early.
The best way to discover signs of budding foundation damage is to inspect the concrete every three months or so. Begin by checking the visible concrete outside your home. Look for cracks, crumbling, and signs of sinking, especially around the corners of your house.
Continue your inspection under your home if you have an unfinished basement or crawlspace. Look for interior cracks on the walls and floor, and use a long straight edge to ensure the walls are plumb and the floor is level.
You should also look for signs of water problems, including efflorescence, mold spores or mildew growth, wet concrete, pooling water, high humidity, and musty smells.
Once you’ve thoroughly checked your foundation, you can look for signs of damage throughout your living space. Your home’s framing relies on the foundation for stability, so check for walls that aren’t plumb, drywall cracks, nails bulging out of the sheetrock, and windows or doors getting stuck from shifting frames.
The floor joists in your house are held level by your foundation, so check for signs of bowing or buckling flooring as well. You can use a long straight edge to check for sagging or wavy areas, which can indicate differential settling or problems with hydrostatic pressure.
Complete your inspection by looking at your home’s exterior and your landscaping. Begin by looking for signs of sagging roofing, a leaning chimney, or cracks in your siding. These can all indicate structural damage below your house.
To find signs of damage in your landscaping, look specifically for gaps between the ground and your foundation, leaning retaining walls, and unlevel areas of your yard. These signs can help identify issues with expansive soil and frost heave. After periods of heavy precipitation or snowmelt, look for soggy portions of your lawn, which can signify inadequate drainage on your property.
Cost of Basement Foundation Repair In Cleveland, Ohio?
Most Cleveland homeowners pay an average of $5,000 for foundation repair. However, the cost to fix the damage or prevent issues can range from several hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands. We’ll break down the average pricing for different foundation repair services common in Cleveland below.
Sealing foundation cracks to keep water and moisture out of your home is often the cheapest fix, as it doesn’t require any stabilization. You can expect to pay between $250 and $750 to seal thin floor cracks or vertical wall cracks that aren’t structural in nature.
Most concrete repair specialists use earth anchors to stabilize foundation walls suffering from inward movement. Wall anchors cost approximately $1,000 each, for a total cost of $3,000 to $5,000, depending on the size of the wall.
If the issue is less severe, some contractors will opt for carbon fiber support strips to help resist the soil’s inward movement. These strips cost around $500 each and total $2,000 on average.
Sinking foundations and resulting stair-step cracks typically require underpinning for stabilization. Concrete repair experts insert push piers below your home to add support. Since the bedrock in Cleveland is prone to erosion, shallow helical piers are most commonly used. These cost around $3,000 for an average total price between $15,000 and $20,000.
If the problem isn’t severe, a foundation contractor may opt to use slabjacking or mudjacking. This is a far less invasive process that costs an average of $2,000. However, it’s not a permanent solution and rarely includes a warranty.
The expansive soil, above-average precipitation, and high water table in Cleveland all make water intrusion a severe and prevalent problem in the city and the surrounding area. The best foundation solution to limit water problems is a basement waterproofing system.
The system can use various methods for limiting water intrusion, including exterior drainage systems, sump pumps, crawlspace encapsulation, dehumidifiers, soil grading, and gutter systems to keep water out of your home. The average cost is around $5,000, but it can fluctuate depending on how extensive the solution needs to be.
