Foundation Repair Chevy Chase

Located just outside the D.C. border in Maryland, Chevy Chase was founded as a streetcar suburb to D.C., conveniently located at the intersection of major thoroughfares Connecticut Avenue and Western Avenue.

It is now one of the wealthiest areas in the D.C. region, attracting influential residents from across the area. Most homes in the area easily eclipse seven figures. With homes worth so much, it is especially important to pay attention to their foundations and make necessary repairs before any structural damage occurs to the homes.

If you notice any foundation problems, it is important to contact a company specializing in foundation repair in Chevy Chase to mitigate more serious damage.

How Do I Know If I Have Foundation Problems

The primary cause of most foundation is problems is water around your foundation. In a place like Chevy Chase, large variations in moisture is basically unavoidable due to the mid-Atlantic’s unpredictable precipitation patterns.

Although a properly built foundation can accommodate this influx of water, sometimes water will pool around a foundation, causing the soil around and underneath to shift. If the situation gets too bad, the foundation may begin to sink and shift along with the soil, causing damage to the home above.

If you notice any of the following signs, they could be an indication that you have a problem with your foundation:

• Uneven, sloping, or warping floors
• Cracking bricks, cinder blocks, or mortar
• Cracking or bowing walls
• Cracking foundations
• Doors or windows that won’t close or open properly
• Moldings separating from ceilings or floors

If you notice any of these signs, you contact a company specializing in foundation repair in Chevy Chase to diagnose the problem and suggest cost-effective solutions before there is any further damage to your property.

Water Problems In Chevy Chase

The majority of Chevy Chase’s homes are older and their foundations have likely long since stabilized. The larger problem with these older homes is likely to be water damage caused by leaking foundations.

Over time, foundations will develop cracks from stresses caused by shifting soils or the load of the home. If you own a historic home with a stone or rubble foundation, the same types of stresses will cause the mortar holding the stones together to chip and flake away.

Water around the foundation can find its way inside through these cracks. However, even if the foundation does not have any cracks, water can work its way through porous concrete and mortar through capillary action and hydrostatic pressure. Over time, excess water around the foundation will always found its way inside.

Water leaking into the foundation can result in water damage to any furnishings, carpets, or drywall that may be in a finished basement, resulting in thousands of dollars of damage.

A leaking foundation, more pressingly, is a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. Mold and mildew will not only impart a foul smell to the rest of the house, they can also release toxins and spores that are harmful to human health.

Waterproofing In Chevy Chase

A company specializing in foundation repair in Chevy Chase will be able to use several techniques to keep water away from your foundation. The first step in any waterproofing plan is patching the cracks that have formed in your foundation.

After that, a good company specializing in foundation repair in Chevy Chase can use the most cost-effective water management solution to ensure that your foundation remains water-free.

In the least urgent cases, installing gutter extensions and regrading the soil around the home may be sufficient keep water away from the foundation. In other cases, it may be necessary to install interior or exterior drainage systems to reroute water away from the foundation.

Although commonly overlooked, foundation repair services can also provide mold remediation services to ensure that all traces of mold are removed from your home. Even dead mold particles can continue to cause health problems, so it is important that a professional service removes not just visible mold, but all organic matter from the home.

If you have a leaking foundation or visible mold, it is in your best interest to contact a foundation repair service in Chevy Chase to waterproof your basement and remove any mold from your home.