Foundation Leveling & Settling Repair

What Causes Foundation Settling?

Foundation settling occurs when the soil beneath your home compresses, washes away, or shifts. In Colorado Springs, the most common cause is expansive clay soil that shrinks during dry conditions, creating voids under the foundation that allow it to sink unevenly. Poor drainage, plumbing leaks, and improper backfill after original construction also contribute to settling.

Signs Your Foundation Is Settling

• Doors and windows that stick or won't latch
• Visible gaps between walls, floors, and ceilings
• Sloping or uneven floors (measurable with a level)
• Diagonal cracks at corners of doors and windows
• Cracks in exterior brick or stucco following a diagonal or stair-step pattern
• Visible drop in one corner of the home relative to others

Steel Push Piers

Steel push piers are driven deep into the ground, past the unstable surface soil, until they reach load-bearing strata or bedrock. The piers are then used as a permanent anchor to stabilize and lift the foundation back toward its original elevation. This method works on virtually any soil type and is not affected by Colorado's expansive clay because the support point is far below the active soil zone.

Helical Anchors

Helical anchors are screwed into the ground using hydraulic equipment, much like a giant screw. They are ideal for lighter structures, additions, porches, and areas where vibration from driven piers is undesirable. They provide immediate load transfer and can also be used to address lateral wall movement.

The Repair Process

Our process begins with a free evaluation to determine the extent and cause of settling. We then:

1. Expose the foundation footing in targeted locations (minimal excavation)
2. Install pier brackets against the footing
3. Drive or screw piers to load-bearing depth
4. Transfer the foundation load to the piers
5. Lift the foundation incrementally toward original grade
6. Backfill and restore the disturbed area