Concrete & Foundation Repair Contractor Serving Walnut Creek, CA

Project Overview

A homeowner in Walnut Creek, CA, was experiencing significant issues with their finished basement. The concrete floors in two adjoining rooms, totaling approximately 350 square feet, had sunk and developed cracks, leading to uneven surfaces and potential structural concerns. Seeking a reliable and durable solution, the homeowner contacted Foundation Repair of CA for professional assistance.

Challenges

• Sunken Concrete Floors: The primary challenge was the sunken concrete floors, which had created uneven surfaces in the basement rooms.
• Cracked Slabs: The concrete slabs had developed multiple cracks, compromising the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the finished basement.
• Need for a Long-lasting Solution: The homeowner required a solution that would not only address the current issues but also prevent future problems.

Solution

Foundation Repair of CA implemented a comprehensive approach to restore the basement floors using advanced techniques and materials.

1. PolyLevel (Foam Injection)

   • Process: Our team used PolyLevel, a high-density polyurethane foam, to lift and level the sunken concrete floors. Small, dime-sized holes were drilled into the concrete, and the foam was injected beneath the slabs. As the foam expanded, it filled voids and lifted the concrete back to its original level.
   • Benefits: PolyLevel provided a quick and minimally invasive solution, with the foam curing rapidly to allow for immediate use of the space. This method ensured a precise lift and long-lasting stability.

2. Slab Crack Repair with SealBoss (Interior Slab)

   • Process: To address the cracks in the concrete slabs, we utilized SealBoss, a high-quality crack repair material. The cracks were thoroughly cleaned and filled with SealBoss, which bonded the concrete and prevented further propagation.
   • Benefits: This repair method reinforced the structural integrity of the slabs, ensuring they could withstand future stresses and remain crack-free.

3. Slab Stitching with Carbon Fiber (Interior Slab)

   • Process: For additional reinforcement, we performed slab stitching using carbon fiber. This involved strategically placing carbon fiber stitches across the cracks to provide added strength and prevent future movement.
   • Benefits: Carbon fiber stitching is a highly durable solution, offering superior tensile strength and resistance to shifting, ensuring the repaired slabs remain stable over time.

Results

The comprehensive repair approach provided by Foundation Repair of CA successfully addressed the homeowner's concerns:

• Level Floors: The PolyLevel foam injection restored the concrete floors to their original level, eliminating trip hazards and providing a smooth, even surface.
• Crack-Free Surface: The combination of SealBoss crack repair and carbon fiber stitching ensured that the slabs were securely bonded and reinforced, preventing future cracking and movement.
• Durable Solution: The homeowner was pleased with the quick and efficient repair process, which provided a long-lasting solution to the sunken and cracked concrete floors.

Conclusion

Foundation Repair of CA's expert team delivered a highly effective and durable solution for the homeowner in Walnut Creek, CA. By employing advanced techniques and materials such as PolyLevel foam injection, SealBoss crack repair, and carbon fiber slab stitching, we restored the structural integrity and aesthetic appeal of the finished basement. The homeowner can now enjoy a safe, level, and crack-free space, with the confidence that their investment is protected for years to come.

Recently, we had the opportunity to assist a homeowner in Walnut Creek, CA, dealing with a significant worry – their foundation was settling, causing doors not to close properly and cracks to appear in their walls. Understandably, they were concerned about the integrity of their home and needed a reliable solution to stabilize it. Upon contacting our dedicated Customer Care team, an appointment was quickly set up for a home inspection. Our experienced System Design Specialist visited the home, thoroughly inspected the issue, and recommended the perfect fix: the Push Pier system. This system is designed to address the very troubles the homeowner was facing—foundation settling. Our production team, consisting of a skilled foreman and dedicated installers, swung into action. They meticulously installed the Push Piers at critical points under the foundation. These piers are driven deep into the soil beneath the home, reaching stable bedrock or soil layers. This not only secures the foundation from further settling but in many cases can lift the foundation back to its original level, correcting issues like misaligned doors and windows and patching up those worrying cracks in the walls. After the installation, our team ensured the work site was clean and returned to its original state, leaving behind nothing but satisfaction and a home solidly fixed upon a reliable foundation. The homeowner was thrilled with the outcome—it was as if their home had been given a fresh start. This Job serves as another testament to our mission, providing homeowners with not just repair services, but peace of mind and a fortress to live in. True to our word, we've delivered a remarkable customer experience and a durable solution that will stand the test of time.

Mr. P was sick of looking at the cracks in his walls. A self-proclaimed "clean freak," he felt dirty every time he looked at the cracks. He prided himself on keeping his home clean and the fact that he couldn't fix the cracks himself drove him a little bit crazy. "A clean and healthy home reflects a clean and healthy mind," he told me. He always kept every single inch of his home clean and he dared anyone to challenge him to point out a spot he missed (they couldn't), but when it came to the crack in the wall, they could challenge him all-day-every-day. 

So Mr. P decided to find a professional to figure out what was causing the cracks and to subsequently provide a solution. 

Our Structural Consultant turned Production Manager, Ben Brown inspected the crawlspace beneath the walls that were cracking. He discovered that the underfloor areas immediately beneath those walls could be supported better, as well as lifted back to the original position. 

To repair and protect Mr. P's home, we installed a total of 3 Concentric Push Piers to lift the interior foundation wall, 11 floor joists, and 2 SmartJack Adjustable Steel Posts to bring this portion of the floor back to level, stopping the wall cracks in their tracks. Now with a few cosmetic fixes, Mr. P can walk around his home with a cleaner, healthier mind--the original position. 

Mrs. R's father had bought his home in Walnut Creek years ago with the intention of keeping it in the family by passing it down to his children when it was time to. At the age of 92, her father was in need of a little help with living. So the plan for Mrs. R was to move back to the home where she grew up to help her father live out his golden years. 

She knew that the floors had been an issue for years but her father was unable to get around to it for obvious health and ability reasons. She found our company through a Google search. She called and scheduled an appointment for a crawlspace inspection with our Structural Consultant, Mike Anderson. Mike discovered that the areas of concern were lower than the rest of the home by up to 5 inches, which was remarkable. 

To help Mrs. R and her father, our crew installed 10 push piers to the West side of the home to lift and level the foundation, followed by 9 SmartJack Adjustable Steel Posts with new concrete footings to buddy-up with the existing wooden posts within the crawlspace in order to lift and level the floor. Now Mrs. R and her father can focus on the most important things in life. 

Every parent knows that when your baby begins to walk, it is both amazing and at least a little bit scary--it's amazing that they've become so mobile, but it's a little bit scary that they've BECOME SO MOBILE. Who knows where their little feet will take them. Parents show caution and preparedness when they baby-proof their drawers, doors, toilets, etc.; why not babyproof the exterior of the home? 

Mr. W called us because he wanted to make sure that his home's uneven concrete walkways weren't going to be a problem for his one-and-a-half-year-old child. The walkways were sinking in some areas, turning the concrete into a trip hazard. Mr. W knew that replacing the concrete was an option, but replacement wouldn't solve the underlying soil issues which would have caused the new concrete to meet the same fate as the old.

Our solution was to inject PolyLEVEL Polyurethane Foam beneath the uneven sections of the walkway. The reason that the concrete had sunk in the first place was because the soil beneath it had been washed out over years of rain exposure, leaving a void beneath it; without soil to hold up the concrete, it had nowhere else to go besides down. PolyLEVEL was the right solution because it acted as a replacement for the missing soil, which saved both Mr. W's concrete from demolition and his wallet. Now Mr. W can rest assured that his family can walk safely around his home. 

The Smith family always loved going to the water. Whether it was the beach or a lake or even a community pool, almost every family outing involved swimming and sunbathing. That's why when the Smith couple was finally able to afford to move into a bigger house they made sure that it came with a pool. The problem was that the pool had a tripping hazard due to the slab having sunk into the ground. Concerned about their children and guests they contacted Foundation Repair of CA to look at the problem.

When Jim Palamides saw this, he knew exactly how to fix the problem. Having seen this issue many times before, Jim used his experience to suggest the Poly Leveling installation. This process works by drilling holes into the concrete, injecting a polyurethane fluid in through the hole, and the polyurethane will begin to foam underneath the slab and thus raise the slab to its original position. Jim, having the experience and foresight, also suggested that the crew inject all around the pool as well to fill any voids that have been created, and thus add extra support to stabilize and prevent future damages.

Two weeks later, Foreman David "DJ" Syrup arrived at the Underwood residence, he was both cautious and confident. Seeing that the slab was not cracking and had simply fallen straight down, he knew that this slab can come up beautifully, however, due to the amount that it has fallen, he knew that he needed to be conscientious about how fast he injects. And just like the turtle versus the hare, DJ was able to slowly and surely lift this slab perfectly to match the surrounding areas. Once the sunken section had lifted up, DJ then drilled holes into the surrounding area. After drilling the first hole, however, DJ discovered that there was a significant void under the concrete and that it was good that they were injecting to stabilize and protect from future sinking.

The Smiths appreciated the work done by Foundation Repair of CA. Jim was timely and thorough and DJ was an expertly careful craftsman, and thanks to the two of them, the Smith children can play in the pool with no worries of scraped knees.

Mr. N of Walnut Creek, CA had a property that suffered from uneven flooring. He wanted the problem resolved prior to putting it on the market. After a thorough analysis done by one of our exceptional Strucural Consultants, the recommendation given to solve Mr. N's uneven flooring was to replace all of the wood posts that supported the floor inside the crawl space with Foundation Repair of CA's SmartJack technology. A SmartJack is an adjustable steel column that is placed above engineered fill that addresses the problem of weak foundation soil by transferring the weight of the home to competent strata. The SmartJack then lifts and stabilizes existing beams and floor joists to make your stroll across your home less like a hike and more like a walk in the park. With the flooring of his home back at level, and the market value of his home higher because of our SmartJack's permanent solution, Mr. N found peace of mind and was then ready to put his home up for sale in preparation for a brighter future.