Project Overview: Structural Support for a Sinking Concrete Porch
At the back of this home, a raised concrete porch had been constructed with inadequate support—a design that can easily lead to sinking or settling over time if not properly reinforced. To the right of the structure, a basement door was showing signs of stress. Cracks had formed both inside and outside, the rear wall had separated, and the door frame was visibly racked. Concerned about movement, the property owner hired a structural engineer to assess the issue and develop a repair plan.
The engineer determined that the porch had settled due to lack of adequate support. To address it, the design called for installing concrete piers and reinforcing the foundation. Our team was brought in to implement the solution.
Concrete piers were a good fit for the soil conditions and structural layout. We advise homeowners to work with a licensed engineer, rather than rely solely on foundation companies that may push specific systems regardless of site conditions. In this case, the engineering plan ensured the right solution was used.
Excavation and Adjustments
We began by saw-cutting and excavating the concrete porch area. During digging, we encountered groundwater, which complicated soil conditions and required us to coordinate with the engineer to adjust the concrete installation plan. After finalizing the changes, we installed the piers without lifting the structure, as lifting can sometimes create more issues than it resolves.
Reinforcement and Restoration
With the piers in place, we reinforced 18 linear feet of cracks using structural epoxy and staple dowels. After structural work was complete, we replaced all removed concrete, including the stairs from the driveway to the porch landing. We carefully matched the original layout and restored the disturbed areas by seeding and strawing the grass.
Final Result
Despite unexpected site conditions, the job was completed efficiently and according to plan. The foundation is now stable and secure, backed by a tailored repair designed to last. Do you have a sinking porch that’s giving you concern? Reach out to us for expert guidance.
