Common Problems
Foundation issues are rarely isolated; they are almost always symptoms of a much larger struggle happening beneath and around your home. Whether you are dealing with bowing basement walls, a leaking foundation, or uneven floors, these problems are usually driven by the shifting, expanding, or washing away of the soil supporting your structure. At Marcum Foundation Repair & Waterproofing, we look past the surface damage to identify the root cause, from hydrostatic pressure to poor drainage.
The "Active Zone" of soil around your home is constantly in flux, expanding with moisture and shrinking during droughts. When this load-bearing soil loses its stability, the entire house suffers, leading to cracks, leaks, and structural misalignment. By addressing the soil and water issues first, we provide a permanent fix that stops the damage in its tracks and restores your home’s structural integrity.
Foundation Settlement
Settlement occurs when the soil beneath your home can no longer support its weight, causing the structure to sink unevenly. This movement leads to tell-tale signs like "stair-step" masonry cracks, tilted chimneys, and interior drywall damage.
Foundation Heave
Heave is the upward movement of a foundation caused by expansive clay soils swelling as they absorb moisture. This intense pressure can physically lift sections of your home, resulting in cracked slabs and misaligned structural elements.
Foundation Cracks
While some cracks are minor, others are red flags for serious structural shifting that allows water, pests, and radon gas into your home. We evaluate the severity of each fracture to determine if it requires professional stabilization.
Bowing/Bucking Walls
Saturated soil creates "hydrostatic pressure" that pushes relentlessly against your basement or crawl space walls. Without intervention, this force causes walls to tilt, bow, or buckle inward, eventually compromising the safety of the entire home.
Uneven or Sagging Floors
Sloping floors are often the result of shifting support piers or a settling foundation slab. Beyond being a trip hazard, uneven floors indicate that your home's internal framework is under significant stress and requires leveling.
Sticking Windows & Doors
As your foundation shifts, window and door frames are pulled out of alignment and forced into a "parallelogram" shape. This distortion makes them difficult to operate and is a clear sign that the soil beneath your home is on the move.
Leaking Foundation Walls
Cracks in your foundation act as an open invitation for water, which leads to mold, wood rot, and poor indoor air quality. We identify the source of moisture intrusion and provide waterproofing solutions to keep your basement or crawl space dry long-term.
Leaning Chimney
A chimney pulling away from the home is a classic sign that the specialized footing beneath it is settling into weak soil. This is a dangerous structural issue that requires deep-reaching piers to re-stabilize the chimney and close the gap.
Why trust Marcum with your foundation repair?
Because we're experts. With years of hands-on experience in the unique soil conditions of our region, we’ve seen and solved every type of structural failure. Our team consists of highly trained specialists who use industry-leading, engineered products to ensure your home stands on a foundation that is built to last. been there and done it.
Because we're easy to work with. We know that foundation repair can be stressful, so we prioritize clear communication and respect for your property. From the initial free inspection to the final walkthrough, we handle the heavy lifting with a streamlined process that minimizes disruption to your daily life.
Because we're transparent. We believe in honest assessments and "no-surprise" pricing. You’ll receive a detailed breakdown of our findings and a customized repair plan, ensuring you understand exactly what’s happening beneath your home and why our proposed solution is the right one for your budget.
Our Solutions
At Marcum Foundation Repair & Waterproofing, we believe in fixing the problem once and fixing it right. We don't rely on "quick fixes" that only mask surface damage; instead, we utilize patented, engineered systems designed to address the specific soil and structural forces acting against your home. As specialists in foundation restoration, we combine decades of industry expertise with state-of-the-art technology to provide permanent stability for your greatest investment.
Our team is trained to install a variety of proven solutions, ranging from deep-reaching pier systems that bypass unstable soil to high-strength wall anchors and crawl space supports. Every home is unique, which is why we provide a custom-designed repair plan for every project. With our industry-leading warranties and professional installation, you can rest assured that your home is being restored to a safe, level, and structurally sound condition.
Foundation Push Piers
Push piers are the industry standard for stopping foundation settlement and, in many cases, lifting your home back to its original level. These heavy-duty steel piers are driven deep into the earth to reach load-bearing strata or bedrock, transferring the weight of your home off of unstable soil and onto a permanent support system.
Helical Pier Systems
Helical piers feature screw-like plates that allow them to be "threaded" into the ground, making them ideal for stabilizing lighter structures like chimneys, porches, or decks. They provide incredible anchoring strength and can be installed year-round to prevent further sinking and close unsightly gaps in your masonry.
Wall Anchor Systems
To fix bowing or buckling walls, we utilize a wall anchor system that connects your foundation to stable soil outside your home using galvanized steel rods and plates. This system not only stops further inward movement but can often be tightened over time to pull your walls back toward their original vertical position.
Carbon Fiber Wall Reinforcement
For walls with minor bowing or cracking, carbon fiber straps offer a low-profile, high-strength solution. These straps are nearly ten times stronger than steel and are bonded directly to your interior foundation walls to provide immediate stabilization without the need for exterior excavation.
Crawl Space Supports
If your floors are sagging or bouncy, our adjustable crawl space support jacks provide the necessary lift and stability. These steel columns are installed on a pre-cast concrete base to distribute the load evenly, effectively re-leveling your floor joists and eliminating the "parallelogram" effect on your doors and windows.
Wall Restoration
When foundation walls are severely damaged or failing, the EverBrace™ system provides a permanent alternative to total wall replacement. By using zinc-coated steel panels and specialized I-beams, we create a new structural skin for your foundation that integrates seamlessly with your waterproofing system to keep your basement dry and secure.
Testimonials
Read what our customers have to say.
I was terrified when I saw a massive crack in my living room wall, but the team at Marcum was incredible. They explained exactly why the Alabama clay was shifting under my house and walked me through the piering process step-by-step. They were professional, on time, and most importantly, my doors finally shut properly again! I can’t recommend them enough for anyone dealing with foundation issues.
Foundation Repair FAQs
Find answers to common questions about foundation repair.
While small hairline cracks can be caused by normal settling, you should be concerned if a crack is wider than 1/8 inch, runs horizontally, or looks like a "stair-step" in brickwork. These patterns typically indicate that hydrostatic pressure or significant soil movement is compromising your home’s structural integrity and requires a professional inspection.
At Marcum, we focus on permanent stabilization by addressing the root cause—the soil. By using engineered solutions like deep-driven push piers or heavy-duty wall anchors, we bypass unstable "active" soil to provide a lasting foundation that we back with industry-leading warranties.
Yes. When we install piering systems to lift and stabilize your home, the goal is to return the structure as close to its original position as possible. This process often closes drywall cracks and brings window and door frames back into alignment, restoring their proper function.
Most of our foundation repair projects, such as installing push piers or wall anchors, are completed within 1 to 3 days. Because our systems do not require massive excavation or the pouring of new concrete that needs time to cure, we can stabilize your home quickly with minimal disruption to your yard.
Standard homeowners insurance policies typically do not cover foundation repair caused by earth movement, soil compaction, or hydrostatic pressure. However, we offer flexible financing options to ensure you can protect your home's value and safety without an overwhelming upfront cost.