Atlanta Foundation Repair
Foundation repair is arguably one of the most important home repairs you can invest in. It keeps every part of your home safe and secure. Learn more here!
Schedule Free InspectionInspecting and performing home foundation repair in Atlanta is an important task that requires precision-engineered solutions, a tailored approach, and specialists with comprehensive training. Ignoring foundation issues only allows them to worsen, increasing repair costs over time.
AquaGuard takes pride in serving thousands of homes every year throughout Georgia, offering honest and professional foundation repair services.
AquaGuard provides a free, no-obligation inspection by our trusted local team and a comprehensive service package that promptly addresses any foundation problems. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule your inspection, and let us bolster your foundation, making your home safe and secure. Visit our service area page to see if we serve your area.
Why is Foundation Repair Important?
At AquaGuard, we know foundation repair can be daunting and costly. Delaying repairs only makes problems worse and increases costs. Acting now will put your fears to rest and save you money in the long run.
Potential Safety Threats
Foundation damage poses a serious risk, especially in terms of structural failure. Uneven floors may cause accidents, while a leaning chimney may lead to injury or damage to your home. Even seemingly minor issues, such as sticking doors and windows, can prove dangerous in emergencies. Our goal is to ensure the long-term stability of your foundation, protecting you and your loved ones from these risks and ensuring a safe living environment.
Decline in Home Value
Homeowners want to maximize their property value, especially if they plan to sell. Even small foundation damage can quickly reduce value. It’s easy for potential buyers and inspectors to see cracks in walls and floors, so superficial fixes don’t help. AquaGuard offers top-quality service to ensure your home stays valuable.
Loss of Functionality
Foundation problems can disrupt your daily life. Uneven floors can lead to household items rolling off counters, while doors and windows can become stuck or crooked. Even kitchen cabinets can vibrate with every step you take. These small annoyances serve as a constant reminder of underlying issues and can make daily tasks a nuisance. We understand your frustration and believe that you deserve better than to live in a malfunctioning home.
Surge in Repair Costs
The reality is that as foundation damage worsens, so do repair costs. Neglected foundation problems only worsen and eventually lead to secondary issues, such as cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling. By addressing foundation problems quickly, you can save on subsequent repairs and restore the comfort and safety of your home.
Protect Your Investment and Ensure Your Safety
Common Signs of Foundation Issues in Atlanta
Foundation damage causes a variety of problems in your home. The most common problems include:
- Wall cracks
- Gaps between walls, ceilings, or floors
- Cracked chimneys
- Stuck windows and doors
- Sagging or uneven floors
- Visible cracks in exterior brickwork
- Nail pops
- Bowing walls
- Foundation settlement
Keep in mind that foundation damage can lead to other problems, such as mold. In Georgia’s humid summer months, moisture can seep into crawl spaces or basement foundations, leading to mildew growth along the walls.
If you notice any of these warning signs, it is important to contact a professional foundation repair contractor as soon as possible.
What Causes Damage to Foundations in Atlanta?
Water and soil are the main causes of foundation damage. When your soil gets wet from rain or snowmelt, it expands. When that water evaporates, the soil contracts. Rapid changes between dry and rainy days are the real culprit here because the soil’s motion is so much greater.
Clay soil, common in Georgia, doesn’t handle the change between dry and wet well at all. Especially in the summer when heavy rains are followed by blistering heat, the soil around your house is undergoing a lot of change.
In addition to soil complications, other less common causes of foundation damage in Georgia include plumbing leaks and invasive tree roots that can physically damage the foundation footing.
AquaGuard’s Foundation Repair Solutions for Atlanta Homes
AquaGuard offers custom solutions to fix any home issue. We design and manufacture our own products that can withstand time and nature’s pressures.
Our foundation repair solutions come with a warranty that lasts the life of the structure and is transferable if you sell your home. AquaGuard stands behind its work, providing world-class care to both you and any future homeowner.
SettleStop Pier Systems
Popping noises, wall cracks, or issues with doors and windows in your home are often caused by unstable soil. Our SettleStop pier systems stabilize your home by reaching bedrock or load-bearing strata.
Our pier systems prevent settling and can lift homes back to their original positions. We offer two types of pier systems – helical piers and push piers – each serving a unique application but with the same purpose.
Here’s how these pier systems work:
Helical Piers
AquaGuard’s SettleStop Helical Pier System uses steel piers with helical plates to anchor homes in stable soil, creating a solid foundation.
Our crew removes soil to expose the footing, then installs the piers using hydraulic equipment. The helical plates slice through soil like screws until they reach the necessary depth and capacity. Heavy-duty steel brackets secure the piers to the footing, transferring the weight of the home to stable soil below.
We install benchmarks and small rivets to confirm everything is secure, returning to align the laser level with the rivets. Helical piers are versatile and work best for lighter structures.
Push Piers
SettleStop Push Piers function similarly to helical piers, but have a different design and installation process. They are made up of long steel rods that are pushed into the ground after the soil is removed to expose the footing. A bracket is secured to the footing, and then the piers are driven through the bracket and deep into the earth until they reach bedrock. This bypasses problematic soil and provides long-lasting stability for your home.
Our crew will also install benchmarks on your exterior foundation walls above the piers, just like with helical pier installation.
SettleStop Wall Repair Tools
Moisture does not belong in a home’s basement. Unfortunately, foundation damage creates an ideal entry point for water to seep in, leading to cracks and bowing basement walls.
To prevent further basement damage, wall repair solutions are the best option. Once installed, these solutions can better defend your basement against issues like mold or efflorescence.
Our wall repairs minimize disruption to your home and yard, with most of the process taking place inside your basement, resulting in a clean and fast installation.
We use the following wall repair options:
Wall Anchors
SettleStop Wall Anchors support leaning basement walls with anchor plates the go from inside the basement to outside the foundation. They push back against the soil that is pressing against your home.
Steel rods connect the plates, and specialized wrenches are used to tension the steel rods. This pulls the plates toward each other, and the tension prevents further inward movement and restores the structural integrity of the basement walls.
I-Beams
In some cases, it may not be possible to use wall anchors due to tight property lines or yard space. SettleStop IntelliBrace™ I-beams are the preferred solution for such situations.
Our steel I-beams are installed vertically against the interior surface of basement walls and anchored to the basement floor and joists using brackets. They are then tightened to apply pressure against the walls and secure them in place.
These I-beams provide structural support by redistributing the load from the walls to the floor and floor joists. This prevents further inward movement and stabilizes basement walls in the long-term.
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
SettleStop Carbon Fiber Straps are a practical solution for limited spaces. Our carbon fiber reinforcement is designed to fit in tight spaces while still strengthening and stabilizing basement walls.
To install carbon fiber reinforcement, high-strength carbon fiber straps are applied to the interior surface of basement walls using epoxy adhesive. The straps provide additional support to the walls and resist hydrostatic pressure. This installation process is minimally invasive and takes place entirely inside your basement.
SettleStop IntelliJack™ Crawl Space Support Posts
Sagging floors can cause a plethora of potential issues, such as creaky noises, tripping, or furniture that rattles when you cross the floor. Not to mention, they are unpleasant to look at. Fortunately, our SettleStop IntelliJack™ crawl space support posts can solve the problem.
SettleStop IntelliJacks™ are steel posts that support floor joists in crawl spaces, preventing sagging or weakness. They are installed under the joists and secured to the support beams above. Our system can stabilize the floor by adjusting the posts to provide upward support. Each jack has a load capacity of over 24,000lbs and is certified to industry standards.
We know how much your home means to you because we’re homeowners too. That’s why we provide trusted local experts, top-notch products, and a guarantee of permanent foundation stabilization.
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Understanding the Cost of Foundation Repair in Atlanta
The cost of foundation repair on a home can vary depending on several factors, including:
- Type of Foundation: Different foundation types require different repair techniques, which affects the cost. Slab foundations may need a different repair than crawl space foundations.
- Extent of Damage: The extent of foundation damage can greatly affect repair costs. Small cracks may be less expensive to fix than major foundation shifts or structural damage.
- Soil Conditions: Soil type and condition around a foundation can impact repair costs. Expansive soil that swells and shrinks with moisture changes can cause significant foundation issues and cost more to repair.
- Location: Location of the home can affect foundation repair costs. Areas with higher cost of living or stringent building codes may have higher repair costs.
The cost of foundation repair will vary depending on the specific circumstances of each home and the severity of the foundation issues that need to be addressed.
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What to Expect from AquaGuard Foundation Solutions
Homeowners often encounter contractors who fail to deliver on their promises, communicate poorly, and cut corners.
At AquaGuard, we prioritize communication, safety, and transparency in our work. Our team is dedicated to providing the best possible service and showing utmost respect for your home. We cover our shoes with clean booties before entering for the initial inspection and ensure a thorough cleanup of the work site before leaving at the end of the project. We treat your home as if it were our own.
- Scheduling an Inspection: You can schedule by calling us or booking an appointment online. No matter how you book the inspection, you will receive a confirmation email with more information about AquaGuard and the proprietary solutions we provide.
- 48-Hour Confirmation Call: You will receive a call and a text two days before the inspection to confirm the time we will arrive at your address.
- On the Way Call: On the day of inspection, your Certified Field Inspector will provide an “on the way” call notifying you of their arrival time. You can also track your team’s location in real time using GPS, guaranteeing transparency.
- Arrival & Introduction: We understand that allowing a complete stranger to inspect your house can cause anxiety. Therefore, upon arrival, your Certified Field Inspector will politely introduce himself and give you as much time as you need to explain what’s going on with your house. Based on your explanation, he will clearly state what he plans to do during the inspection and where he plans to do it.
- The Inspection: Your inspector will perform an evaluation by examining the interior and exterior of your home. They will measure everything to create a detailed diagram and, with your permission, take reference photos to assist our installation team. Our inspection process ensures that any concerns you raised upon our arrival will be addressed when the repairs are finished.
- Review of Outcomes: After completing the inspection, we will review the key findings with you and present a comprehensive repair plan. You have the freedom to choose which work you want us to do, and the plan provides you with all the information you need to make the best decision for your home. We provide same-day estimates, so you will know the foundation repair costs and financing options on day one.
- Schedule Work: Once you approve the solution, we will schedule the work and decide on an installation date that works for you. Our team will obtain permits and oversee foundation work with a licensed structural engineer to ensure safety and professionalism.
FAQs
When it comes to foundation wall cracks, there are seemingly endless repair methods. From helical piers to wall anchor systems, each foundation wall repair method serves to restore damage that has been caused by different forces. Identifying the cause of your foundation wall cracks will help you find the foundation wall repair method that will provide strength and stability to your home for years to come.
Here at AquaGuard, we go above and beyond fixing the issue cosmetically. Our staff works diligently to find the root cause of the problems and offer solutions that give you peace of mind knowing foundation wall cracks won’t become a recurring issue.
We use push piers and helical piers as a long-term solution for foundation repairs. Foundations tend to settle because the soil beneath them can no longer support them. When the soil starts to shift, it becomes unreliable and affects the home. This is fixed by using foundation piers that stabilize the home and provide the structural support it needs to stay upright. Many falsely believe that once they are installed, the piers alone will support the home and that’s not the case. The piers transfer the weight of the structure to sturdy soil.
The main difference between helical and push piers is in how they are used to stabilize the home. Helical piers are steel rods that have a helix blade attached to one end. The blade is used to drive the rod into the soil and reach the depth it needs. These rods can’t get past the sedimentary rock since they can’t drill into them. Helical piers support a lot of weight but sometimes can stabilize homes that are too heavy and that’s where you need push piers.
Push piers are used for larger structures because they use the counterweight of the building itself to stay in the ground. There are no helix blades to drill and the piers are drilled into the ground on their own by being hydraulically pushed – hence the name “push piers”. They put an incredible amount of pressure on the foundation and stabilize and lift it in the process. The structure returns the pressure right back and that’s how everything stays even. These piers do better on tougher soils and they are the only ones you can use if you have sedimentary rock below your home.
Though there are several DIY foundation crack repair solutions that can fix cosmetic wall damage, there’s no way to address structural damage without hiring a foundation repair professional. If you’re unsure whether your foundation cracks require structural repair, call AquaGuard today. We offer free foundation inspections and no-obligation cost estimates.Â
When your gutters are clogged with leaves, branches or other debris, water can’t effectively flow through the drainpipe and down the downspout. This leads to water flowing over your gutters and pooling around your foundation. When water sits on top of the soil it becomes saturated and causes hydrostatic pressure to build up and crack your foundation. Fortunately, Athens has well-draining sandy loam soil, but problems can still arise if too much rainfall hits the area. Â
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