Foundation Support and Stabilization

Understanding Foundation Settlement

Foundation settlement occurs when the soil beneath your home's foundation erodes, compacts, or shifts, creating voids that allow the foundation to sink. In Wilmington's coastal environment, foundation issues are common due to sandy soil, high water tables, and frequent heavy rainfall.

Left untreated, foundation settlement leads to serious structural problems including cracked walls, stuck doors and windows, sloped floors, and even complete structural failure. Early intervention is critical to prevent minor settlement from becoming a major structural crisis.

Signs Your Foundation Needs Support

Watch for these warning signs of foundation settlement:

• Cracks in interior or exterior walls, especially near doors and windows
• Doors and windows that stick or won't close properly
• Gaps between walls and ceiling or walls and floor
• Sloped or uneven interior floors
• Cracks in foundation walls or visible sinking
• Separation between chimney and house
• Water intrusion in basement or crawl space

Our Foundation Support Solution

We use polyurethane foam injection to fill voids beneath foundations and stabilize settling structures. This process, sometimes called slab jacking or void filling, addresses the root cause of foundation problems by restoring support where soil has eroded or compacted.

High-density polyurethane foam is injected through small ports drilled into the foundation or slab. The foam expands to fill voids, compact loose soil, and provide stable long-term support. Unlike traditional underpinning methods that require extensive excavation, foam injection is minimally invasive and completed in days, not weeks.

Benefits of Polyurethane Foundation Support

• Minimally Invasive — No excavation around your home's perimeter
• Fast Installation — Most projects completed in 1-3 days
• Lightweight Material — Won't add load to already compromised soil
• Waterproof — Foam won't wash out or deteriorate in wet conditions
• Cost Effective — Significantly less expensive than traditional underpinning
• Environmentally Stable — Inert material that won't break down over time

When to Call a Professional

Foundation problems don't fix themselves — they only get worse over time. If you notice any signs of settlement, call for a professional inspection immediately. Early intervention prevents minor issues from becoming catastrophic structural failures that require tens of thousands of dollars to repair.

At Level Lift Wilmington, we offer free foundation inspections. We'll assess the extent of settlement, identify the underlying cause, and provide a detailed estimate for stabilization. Many foundation issues can be addressed with foam injection at a fraction of the cost of traditional repair methods.

What to Expect

1. We conduct a thorough free inspection of your foundation
2. You receive a detailed report and written estimate
3. We schedule the work at your convenience
4. Small access ports are drilled through the foundation
5. Polyurethane foam is injected to fill voids and stabilize the foundation
6. Ports are sealed and the work area is cleaned
7. We verify that settlement has stopped and the foundation is stable

Prevention and Maintenance

After foundation stabilization, proper drainage is essential to prevent future problems. We can recommend drainage improvements, gutter adjustments, and grading changes to direct water away from your foundation. Addressing the root cause — usually water intrusion — is just as important as fixing the immediate settlement.