How does foundation damage happen?

Pier and Beam foundations have wooden subfloors and substructures, and sit off the ground supported by piers. Most older dwellings in the Greater Baton Rouge area have brick and mortar piers. Here in Louisiana, everything shifts and sinks in the soft clay ground over time. The mortar eventually degrades and the piers become defective. The area between the ground and the substructure is generally known as the “crawlspace.” Crawlspaces, unless they are very well ventilated usually stay pretty moist. The moisture retained from rain and humidity creates mold and mildew and can lead to rotting wooden substructures and can also cause the piers to sink into the ground. In addition to moisture, the other leading cause of foundation damage is poor construction. There must be enough piers and beams included in the original layout to fully support the weight of the structure. Termites attacking the wooden substructure of the house can also cause foundation issues.

Our Licensed and Insured experts will immediately recognize the signs of foundation damage, or let you know if your foundation is at risk. We will come up with a custom solution for your foundation’s unique problems, whether that is coming up with a better arrangement for your piers, or simply installing termite shields to protect your wooden substructure.

What are the signs of foundation damage?

-Doors swinging open on their own, or getting stuck in the frame

-Cracks in the sheetrock above doors and/or windows

-Visible bulges in your siding or visible cracks (especially zig-zag cracks) on the outside of your structure

-Bouncy or uneven places in the floor

-One (or more) corner of a room, or of your entire structure is higher or lower than any other corner

-Your crawlspace is always very muddy, or there is standing water