Foundation Repair, Waterproofing & More in McAlester, OK

Foundation Repair Services

Your foundation has an important job to do, supporting the rest of your home. When either the soil beneath your home can no longer adequately support it or other problems lead to foundation failure, you need an expert who can get the foundation repair done right the first time.

We have years of experience serving McAlester, Oklahoma and the surrounding area, providing superior foundation repair solutions as well as crawl space repairs and encapsulation and exterior waterproofing solutions.

Signs You Need Foundation Repair

The common signs of a foundation issue include:

• floor cracks
• Sticking doors or windows
• Wall cracks
• Cracking or crumbling foundation
• Ceiling cracks
• Sloped or uneven floors

If you see any of these signs in your home, contact Pierman Foundation Repair Services right away.

Why Your Foundation Might Be Failing

There are several causes of foundation failure, many of which have to do with changes in the moisture content of the soil. The most common causes are:

• Hydrostatic pressure: When the ground around your home absorbs a large amount of water, the hydrostatic pressure in the soil will increase, putting stress on the foundation until it shifts or cracks.
• Erosion: Sever and sudden storms can also causing erosion, washing away soil beneath the home and creating voids and spaces. The home will sink into these voids, causing settlement and possible crack formation.
• Soil shrinkage: If the soil shrinks as a result of dry, drought-like conditions, this may also cause voids to form beneath the home, as the soil shrinks and falls away. This can lead to foundation settlement as the soil is no longer strong enough to support the weight of the house.
• Poor soil compaction: If the soil beneath your home was poorly compacted at the time of construction, it can settle unevenly over time, causing the foundation above to settle and crack.

How We Solve Foundation Problems

To support and lift settling foundations, we install a foundation underpinning system. We will install a piering system around the perimeter of your home that can reach down deep to a load-bearing strata of soil.

After the foundation has been leveled, the load of the building is then transferred onto the piers, which provide it with the stable base that the soil beneath it no longer could. This is a permanent solution to your foundation problems

Waterproofing and Drainage Installation for McAlester, OK

Another important service we provide is drainage system installation. Water seepage is a problem for many homeowners, especially those with water in their yard. Foundation problems such as settlement and cracking can increase water issues. If water seeps through the cracks in your foundation, or through the porous concrete, it may cause various issues in the basement or crawl space, including:

• Water pooling or flooding
• High humidity
• Condensation on ductwork
• Mold or mildew growth
• Musty odors
• Water stains and damage
• Wood rot or metal rust

Exterior drainage systems are designed to keep water from pooling in the yard and near the foundation, keeping it from leaking through foundation cracks. French drain installation can also reduce the hydrostatic pressure being applied to your foundation walls, preventing the damage that can come with it.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Services in McAlester

If your home has a crawl space foundation, the health of the crawl space might seem like a low priority.

If your crawl space has moisture problems, though, the resulting issues can affect the rest of your house as well.

Those problems include:

• Mold and Mildew: A dark, damp crawl space is a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. And once the mold begins to grow, the spores won't simply stay in the crawl space. Instead, they will circulate through your living area as well, exacerbating existing respiratory problems and potentially causing new ones.
• Musty Odors: Much like mold spores, the smells produced in your crawl space won't stay in your crawl space. Instead they will give your home a damp, musty smell.
• Structural Problems from Wood Rot: Standing water or even excessive levels of humidity can cause another problem for the wooden structural components in your crawl space: wood rot. If your home's structural beams or floor joists begin rotting, you will notice it on the floor above. The floors might feel spongy when you walk on them or begin to bow or slant. This is a structural problem and will likely require the replacement of the affected beams or joists.
• Pest Infestations: Some pests are attracted to standing water in a crawl space for drinking or as breeding grounds. Others are attracted to the smell of rotting wood. Regardless, a dry crawl space if less likely to be home to pest infestations than a damp or wet one.

Solving Moisture Problems Through Vapor Barriers & Crawl Space Waterproofing

The key to keeping a crawl space dry is crawl space encapsulation. With crawl space encapsulation, a tear-resistant plastic vapor barrier is placed along the walls and floor, along with other surfaces. This barrier inhibits the flow of moisture and, along with other measures taken to seal your crawl space, can help keep your crawl space humidity levels low.

In cases where a vapor barrier alone is not sufficient to deal with the level of a crawl space's moisture problems, other crawl space waterproofing methods can also be employed.

Pier & Beam and Crawl Space Repairs

While not all homes with crawl spaces sit on pier and beam foundations, all homes with pier and beam foundations have crawl spaces.

With a pier and beam foundation, a series of piers support beams upon which are built floor joists and then the rest of the structure. Because the beams are raised off the ground, this forms a crawl space.

Pier and beam foundations have some different problems than slab or basement foundations and require different repairs. Whether wood rot requires the replacement of one or more beams or floor joists or if a pier has either sunken or collapsed and therefore can't provide the support required of it anymore, we have the tools and the experience to make the needed repairs and keep your home's foundation strong.

Seeking a Foundation Repair or Waterproofing Contractor Near You in McAlester? Give Pierman a Call

If you are looking for quality foundation repair or waterproofing services in McAlester, Ok, look no further than Pierman Foundation Repair Services. We offer the best solutions for your home; call us today for more information.