The Best Crawl Space Foundation Repair Method

Roughly 27 million homes in the U.S. are built on crawl space foundations.

The crawl space is an important part of your home’s structure. However, when this area experiences structural problems, it may sag or sink in the middle. There are several reasons why this problem can occur.

The good news is that the right crawl space foundation repair solution will help stabilize your crawl space and potentially lift it back into place. For the best results, you should always leave the job to the experts.

Here, we’ll discuss the options available for fixing a crawl space foundation and how Alpha Foundations can help repair and protect your home.

How to Fix a Sagging or Sinking Crawl Space

Understanding the different solutions used to fix and repair a sagging or sinking crawl space will enable you to make the right choice. Some solutions are temporary fixes that may not provide the structural support that your crawl space needs.

The IntelliJack™ Crawl Space Support System

IntelliJacks™ are galvanized, high-capacity steel columns with adjustable features. The posts make for a powerful, state-of-the-art system that provides enhanced structural support for sagging and sinking crawl spaces. In fact, the IntelliJack™ system is a permanent solution to these foundation problems.

During installation, each of the heavy-duty posts is placed on top of a specially designed base to ensure the weight borne by the posts is distributed, lowering the chance of the support sinking.

Thanks to its design, the system can be adjusted when necessary to ensure additional straightening and leveling action. This also reduces the risk of further damage to your property.

In addition to stabilizing your crawl space and potentially lifting sunken floor areas, the IntelliJack™ system is compatible with a crawl space vapor barrier system. Aside from repairing the foundation problem, the IntelliJack™ system will also help you deal with humidity issues and crawl space mold. 

Why the IntelliJack™ System is Effective

When you notice any crawl space foundation problems, you will want the most effective and long-lasting solution to the issue. With the various options available, choosing the best method to fix the problem can be difficult. However, IntelliJacks™ have several advantages over the alternatives. The IntelliJack™ system will:

Stabilize and Potentially Lift Sagging Floor Joists

The IntelliJack™ system, which comprises steel posts, can lift sagging floor joists instantly. The adjustable features come in handy in case more support is needed in the future. Rated to support up to 24,860 pounds each per jack, this system is perfect for stabilizing and holding the weight of your house.

Preserve Structural Integrity

When it comes to preserving your home’s structural integrity and safety, you will not want to take chances. While there are several crawl space foundation repair options, IntelliJack™ is a powerful and proven solution. The heavy-duty system does not sink into the soil and is known for its long-lasting strength. 

Serve as a Permanent Solution

Unlike other ways of fixing a crawl space foundation, IntelliJack™ is a long-term repair solution. The system comes with a performance warranty and a 25-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Once the posts have been installed, there will be solid support that will help restore stability and prevent further movement.

Allow Fast Installation

The IntelliJack™ system can be installed in limited-access areas, often in a day or less, by trained professionals. Apart from the fast installation, there will be minimal or no disruption to your home and landscaping during the process.

Address Problems With Soils

The IntelliJack™ system is the only crawl space foundation repair solution that addresses soil problems. Before the steel posts are installed, a pre-cast concrete base is placed on top of an engineered fill to provide a stable base so that the posts will not be limited by the bearing strength of the soil on which they rest.

Resist Corrosion and Rot

The support posts are made of galvanized steel to make them corrosion-resistant. To ensure the system will not be susceptible to moisture, mold, or wood rot, you should consider using a zinc-plated structural steel girder.

Alternative Solutions

Now that you are familiar with the IntelliJack™ system, it is important to learn more about other crawl space foundation repair options, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. Here are the alternative solutions.

Additional Shimming

This short-term fix is used to repair a sagging floor and girder caused by settling concrete columns. The solution uses wooden shims inserted at the top to fill the extra space between the existing column and the girder. This process involves lifting the floor above its initial position, installing the shimming, and finally placing the structure back on the support. However, the lifting can cause further structural damage.

With additional shimming, the concrete columns may still settle after some time. The shims may need to be added or replaced. As such, this is a temporary solution that will require continuous re-shimming and maintenance.

Concrete Support Columns

This repair solution entails stacking concrete blocks on top of each other to create concrete columns. The blocks are then held together using mortar. Shims can be placed to fill any extra space between the topmost block and the floor girder. Similarly, since the concrete columns are not adjustable, additional shimming will be required if they settle. 

Generally, it takes a lot of time for the mortar and concrete footing to cure. As such, the process of installing concrete support columns is usually slow and time-consuming. If you don’t have enough crawl space columns, others may be added to ensure adequate support.

Light-Duty Jack Posts

These support posts are usually placed on top of a concrete block that sits on the ground. The steel posts cover the distance between the structural wood, which comprises joists, girders, and the floor. The good news is that they can be adjusted, which eliminates the need for overlifting.

Light-duty jack posts are a temporary solution, meaning your floor may sag again in the future. In addition, the posts tend to be narrow at the bottom, making it easy for them to sink into the soil. The posts also have a low load-bearing capacity and are susceptible to corrosion due to their steel design.

Repair Your Crawl Space With Alpha Foundations

Is your crawl space sagging or sinking? This may be a sign of larger foundation issues. The longer these issues continue, the more severe the damage and eventual repairs become. Don’t risk your home and family’s safety. Repair your crawl space foundation today with help from local experts.

Alpha Foundations is a professional foundation repair company that offers comprehensive crawl space repair solutions. We have provided foundation repair services throughout Florida and Georgia since 2002. Homeowners know they can trust our customizable repairs, attention to detail, and unmatched customer service.

Contact us today to learn more about us and our crawl space foundation repair services.

Ted Dryce

SEO Content Specialist

Ted is an SEO Content Writer who has been with Groundworks since 2021. He’s covered home repair topics ranging from crawl space encapsulation to regional soil conditions. When he’s not working, Ted is performing improv comedy and working on his own creative projects.