Sinking Porch

A sinking porch isn’t just unsightly; it lowers your property value and becomes a significant trip hazard, especially for older adults in your home. If left untreated, a sinking porch will cause foundation damage, costing tens of thousands of dollars to fix.

What can Seattle homeowners do about a sinking porch? Replacing concrete slabs is invasive and expensive, and traditional methods like mudjacking don’t permanently fix the problem. You need something to address the root cause of soil erosion or settlement.

The SettleStop™ PolyRenewal™ from Matvey Foundation Repair is the key. This cutting-edge technology lifts concrete and restores it to its original condition. It takes as little as 15 minutes to settle and won’t release harmful chemicals into your soil.

What Is a Sinking Porch?

Porch slabs can lower or settle over time, causing them to move from their original position. The most common causes in Western Washington are underlying soil problems or foundational damage. Sinking porches also become a trip hazard to family or guests, making them a liability issue.

Other problems associated with a sinking porch include:

• Cracked concrete
• Sinking steps
• Sinking concrete steps
• Cracked sidewalks
• Cracked driveways
• Cracked pool decks
• Concrete pitting, flaking, and staining

If you notice any of these problems, immediately contact a concrete lifting professional like Matvey Foundation Repair in Seattle. Doing so will maintain your home’s structural integrity and prevent further damage.

What Causes a Sinking Porch?

Various factors lead to sinking porches, including:

• Soil Settlement: The soil beneath one area of your porch naturally compacts over time while the ground beneath another area stays firm. This uneven settling often contributes to a sinking porch.
• Soil Erosion: Water flowing under your porch erodes the surrounding soil, causing one section to sink. Downspouts directing rainwater too close to your porch make this problem worse.
• Adverse Weather: Heavy rain or flooding wash away the soil under a section of your porch.
• Freeze-Thaw Cycles: Repeated ground freezing and thawing can cause a sinking porch. This is especially true if the soil is expansive, which is common in Seattle.
• Tree Roots: When trees soak up moisture from the soil, your porch settles slightly on one side. Tree roots commonly shift soil, exerting pressure on your porch.
• Poor Construction: Inadequate concrete pouring and curing make your porch vulnerable to damage. Over time, concrete slabs crack, shift, or sink due to inadequate support.

Can You Fix a Sinking Porch?

A sinking porch is fixable if you address the root cause. Mudjacking and other outdated concrete repair methods only provide quick fixes. You must find out why your porch is sinking to avoid further damage.

PolyRenewal™ offers long-lasting protection for your home in Seattle. This commercial-grade polyurethane foam addresses the symptoms of your sinking porch and tackles the underlying problem.

If sinking concrete has damaged your foundation, we recommend installing foundation piers and other tried-and-tested products when installing PolyRenewal™.

How PolyRenewal™ Fixes Your Sinking Porch

Our PolyRenewal™ installation process is as follows:

• Inspecting your porch to find out what’s causing the damage
• Drilling penny-sized holes into the sunken sections of your porch
• Inserting custom valves into the holes to inject our PolyRenewal™ foam
• Preparing the PolyRenewal™ foam
• Pumping the foam through the valves and waiting for it to expand
• Waiting for the foam to solidify and lift your porch
• Removing the valves and patching holes
• Sealing cracks to prevent additional water problems
• Maintaining your porch regularly

Why Address Your Sinking Porch Now?

Repair your sinking porch as soon as possible to avoid these issues:

• A sinking porch causes trips and falls, especially among older adults or those with mobility issues.
• Neglecting an uneven porch leads to even more cracks and deterioration over time. 
• If your porch slopestoward your house, water will damage your siding and leak into your home.
• A sinking porch lowers your home’s worth.
• Soil erosion and other causes of a sinking porch damage your foundation.
• It isn’t easy to enjoy your porch if it’s sinking.

Contact Matvey Foundation Repair for Concrete Lifting in Seattle

FAQs

Why is my basement so humid?

Excessive basement humidity results from various factors, including poor insulation, faulty plumbing, and floor and wall cracks. Matvey Foundation Repair pinpoints the specific cause of the problem during our free inspection.

What is the ideal humidity level for a basement?

Ideal humidity levels in a basement are between 30 – 50%. Maintaining humidity levels within this range prevents mold growth and structural problems. Our basement waterproofing solutions achieve the desired amount of humidity in your basement.

What other problems are associated with humid basements?

Condensation, wet walls, and musty smells often accompany basement humidity. Taking quick action prevents these problems from getting worse.