Expert Foundation Repair Services In Yorktown, VA

Unfortunately, foundation movement and the structural damage they often create are significant and widespread problems in Eastern Virginia. Homeowners in Yorktown, Newport News, Suffolk, Hampton Roads, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, and many other nearby cities are left to contend with these issues on an alarmingly frequent basis.

Several factors are at play in Yorktown that leave home foundations so prone to problems. We’ll discuss each of these below and provide a brief explanation of how they cause damage under your home.

Rapidly-Draining Soil

While Yorktown’s coastal location makes the area desirable, it also means that the city is underlain by sandy soil. Norfolk sandy loam, Leonardtown loam, and Portsmouth fine sandy loam are the predominant soils in the developed areas of Yorktown, all of which are characterized by a high concentration of sand that drains water very quickly.

Rapidly-draining, sandy soil presents several two primary problems for concrete foundations.

The first issue is that sandy soil is very loosely packed, and the large sand particles have wide spaces between them that allow runoff to move through the ground rapidly.

As water drains into the soil, it can easily pull sand particles with it, frequently creating underground erosion. If the ground movement occurs around or under your home’s foundation, the instability can cause differential settling of the concrete and necessitate extensive structural repair.

The second problem with sandy soil occurs when the underground erosion caused by draining runoff creates voids against your concrete. This is a particular problem if your roof drains directly onto the ground or if your gutters overflow during heavy rainfall.

The voids can fill with water, and runoff can get trapped against the concrete for extended periods.

The longer your foundation remains exposed to moisture, the more likely it is to leak. Water and water vapor can seep through foundation cracks or the pores in the concrete. As a result, water damage, interior flooding, and elevated indoor humidity are all widespread problems for Yorktown residents.

Coastal Location & Flooding

Yorktown is situated on the coast and has an average elevation of just 13 feet above sea level. Many areas throughout the city are prone to coastal flooding when tides rise in response to heavy rainfall. Flooding can occur in the area even without heavy rain, so it’s a threat that homes are exposed to at all times.

The low elevation in the city means that the groundwater is very shallow. This is the precise reason that most homes in the area don’t have crawlspaces or basements, but it presents problems even for slab foundations. Shallow groundwater means that runoff has very little space to drain before it backs up to the earth’s surface.

During periods of heavy rainfall or flooding, your concrete at the surface is at greater risk of exposure to water. As a result, water intrusion and moisture accumulation are more likely. The minimal room for water to drain also increases the chance of differential settling once the runoff eventually soaks deeper into the ground.

Above-Average Rainfall

Yorktown experiences over 48 inches of rainfall each year, which is more than one and a half times the national average.

The excessive rainfall in the region contributes to the problems with sandy soil because it increases the amount of runoff that can create underground erosion and differential settlement.

Flooding is also more likely because of the above-average rainfall, as the abundant runoff has little room to drain into the ground and can pool near the surface more readily.

The ground quickly becomes oversaturated in Yorktown, promoting water intrusion through your home’s foundation and underground erosion once the runoff does drain into the earth.

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Lastly, the coastal regions of Virginia experience excessive rainfall from hurricanes and tropical storms during hurricane season.

The concentrated rain from June through October promotes underground erosion, ground instability, and water and moisture problems in your home. Heavy winds from nearby storms can contribute to tidal flooding and further increase the likelihood of floodwater adversely affecting your foundation or the ground underneath.

There are many symptoms of foundation damage that can appear throughout your home in Yorktown, so identifying a problem under your structure can be challenging. Below, we’ll explain the most prevalent warning signs and the likely culprit.

Foundation Cracks

Cracks in your foundation are often reasonable indications that you have a problem or the potential for one. Cracks in different locations and with varying physical attributes can indicate drastically different things, so identifying the type of damage is crucial for getting proper treatment.

Vertical Cracks

Vertically-oriented cracks on the outside of your slab foundation or inside your crawlspace or basement wall are most often a result of normal concrete settling.

These develop in the first year or two after the concrete is poured, and they generally aren’t structural. The biggest threat they pose is allowing water into your home, so they should be sealed by a foundation repair contractor.

Cracks Extending Around Foundation Corners

Any gap that spans the corner of your foundation is of particular concern because it likely signifies structural damage.

The corners of your home are most prone to the effects of underground erosion, so signs of sinking, uneven concrete, or wide fissures in these areas are like from differential settling. This type of damage usually requires structural stabilization to prevent further sinking.

Hairline Floor Cracks

Thin cracks on your slab or on your crawlspace or basement floor are most often from harmless foundation settlement. As long as they remain under ⅛” thick and are level across the gap, they pose minimal risk. However, it’s best to have a foundation repair expert seal them.

Uneven or Wide Floor Cracks

If the fissures in your slab or basement floor widen beyond ⅛” or one side of the gap rises above the other, the problem is likely dangerous differential settling.

The best solution for most homeowners is underpinning, which adds structural support to your foundation from underneath. These gaps should also be sealed to keep water from seeping through them.

Water Damage or Moisture Build-Up

Water and water vapor pose a significant risk to Yorktown foundations because of the above-average rainfall, shallow groundwater, and the risk of multiple types of floods. The symptoms of each will differ depending on the type of foundation you have under your home.

For most homeowners in Yorktown, intruding water or humidity will get trapped between a slab foundation and the first floor.

You may notice abnormally hot temperatures due to the moist air or allergy symptoms or musty odors if mold growth occurs as a result of the moisture. Water damage to building materials may be visible, including buckling or sloping floors or waterlogged sheetrock.

If you have a crawlspace or basement, most symptoms will be evident under your home.

You can look for mold growth on the walls, musty smells, damp air, efflorescence on the concrete, standing water, puddles on the floor, or water damage to floor joists, framing, sheetrock, or insulation in your crawlspace or basement.

Regardless of your foundation style, unexpectedly high utility bills can result from moisture problems as you and your family try to combat the moist indoor air with air conditioning. You may have a water or water vapor problem if your utility bills are higher than average.

Foundation problems typically begin as minor damages and worsen over time under the stress of your structure and the surrounding soil. Identifying and addressing issues early can help limit property damage and your home repair costs.

Below, we’ll detail a property inspection you can complete every three or four months to help find damages before they become severe.

Check Your Foundation

You can begin your inspection by examining the concrete under your home. If you have a slab foundation, you will only be able to check the exposed portion of the concrete outside. Look for cracks and signs of sinking concrete, both of which will be more likely near the corners of your structure.

If you have a crawlspace or basement, you can also look under your home for cracks, efflorescence, mold growth, musty smells, puddling or standing water, wet spots on the concrete, and signs of pest infestation. It’s best to report any damages or abnormalities to a concrete repair company as soon as possible.

Inspect Your Living Space

Next, head inside your home and look for symptoms of foundation movement. Differential settling can cause cracks to form in your walls around doors and windows, nail heads to push through the drywall, walls to lean or bow inward, doors and windows to become challenging to open or close, and floors to buckle or slope.

Take some time to check for symptoms of moisture accumulation or water intrusion that may not be obvious in your daily routine. These include high utility bills, uncomfortable air temperatures, unseasonal allergy symptoms, moldy smells in your living area, and water damage around the outside walls of your home, particularly near the flooring.

Finish Your Inspection Outside

Finally, head back outside and check for additional signs of structure damage in response to foundation movement. The settling issues in Yorktown can cause chimneys to tilt away from your house or crack, siding to split, and roofing to sag.

It’s a good idea to inspect your landscaping as well, as an uneven yard, crumbling or collapsing retaining walls, and puddles forming in your yard after heavy rainfall or flooding can all suggest you have a drainage problem or underground erosion on your property.

Foundation repair solutions average around $5,500 in Yorktown, but your total can be as little as just a few hundred dollars or in excess of $20,000.

We’ll provide some pricing for specific foundation repairs below to give you a better indication of what your home improvement will cost.

Cost to Seal Foundation Cracks

Vertical fissures on your slab edge or thin cracks on the surface that aren’t structural can typically be sealed for around $500. Your particular repair job can fall anywhere between $250 and $1,000, depending on how large the gap is and how easy it is to access.

Cost to Repair Foundation Sinking

Differential settling and the associated damages are best repaired with underpinning, a stabilization process that uses push piers to add support underneath your home. Helical piers are most common in Yorktown because they displace your structure’s weight to a safe, shallow depth and help resist future settlement.

Helical piers cost approximately $3,000 each, and the total is typically between $10,000 and $20,000, based on how many pilings you need and the warranty included.

Cost to Fix Water or Moisture Issues

The best solution for ongoing or frequent water or moisture problems is a basement waterproofing system, regardless of your foundation style. These basement systems usually include exterior drainage systems, crack repair, and vapor barriers if you have a slab foundation.

Basements and crawlspaces can also be treated with sump pumps, crawlspace encapsulation, and interior drainage systems.

Most homeowners in Yorktown pay an average of $5,000 for their waterproofing setup. Simple systems can cost as little as $2,000, while more extensive ones can run up to about $10,000.