Are you noticing uneven floors or doors that won’t close properly? These could be signs of foundation issues. 

A pier and beam foundation is a system of interacting components, and its failure is typically caused by a breakdown in one of three critical areas. As specialists, we diagnose these root causes to ensure our repair is permanent.

1. Unstable Soil and Water Issues
The primary culprit behind most failures is the soil itself. The expansive clay soil common in East Texas swells dramatically when wet and shrinks when dry. This constant cycle of movement causes the concrete piers to shift, tilt, or sink over time. Poor drainage, which allows water to pool in the crawl space or around the piers, saturates and weakens the soil, accelerating this process.

2. Compromised Piers and Shims
The piers are the direct points of contact with the unstable ground. Over time, they can settle unevenly, creating gaps between the pier and the beams it’s meant to support. The wooden or metal shims used to fill these gaps can deteriorate, compress, or shift, leading to a loss of support. In older homes, the original piers may also have been built too shallow or spaced too far apart to adequately support the home’s weight from the start.

3. Moisture and Wood Deterioration
The crawl space environment is fundamental to the health of the wooden structure. High humidity, plumbing leaks, or poor ventilation can lead to moisture buildup. This moisture causes the wooden beams and joists to absorb water, leading to wood rot and fungal growth. As the wood decays, its structural integrity is compromised, causing it to sag, bend, and lose its ability to support the weight of the floors above. This is a frequent cause of bouncy or sloping floors.

A successful repair depends on accurately identifying which of these factors—or combination of factors—is at play. Our expertise lies in conducting a thorough assessment to address the true source of the problem, not just its symptoms.