If you’ve ever had trouble with a house foundation settling and shifting, you may already be familiar with the terms “house jacking” or “house leveling.” If you’re not familiar, this refers to one of the processes involved in foundation repair. Here’s a brief guide to help you understand what this process entails.

A Brief Guide to House Jacking

House jacking involves raising a house, often with tools such as hydraulic screw jacks, so the foundation can be accessed and repaired. This process is best suited to specialized contractors with experience lifting similar structures to your home because it takes careful planning on where to place the jacks to best support the structure as it is raised.

Reasons for House Jacking

If your foundation fails, your house will become uninhabitable. Any structure without a firm foundation can collapse. House jacking allows contractors to level your home and create space needed for foundation repair. The reasons for foundation problems can vary, but here are some common culprits:

Soil Shifting

Foundations require stable soil to remain in place. For example, clay soil has the tendency to shift out from under your foundation.

Soil Shrinkage

When clay soil dries out, it shrinks. This creates voids under your foundation, which causes it to sink unevenly. 

Soil Heaving

When clay soil gets wet, it swells. This causes “soil heaving,” or when the soil rises back up against the foundation. Exerting upward pressure against the already cracked and broken foundation increases the damage.

Water Absorption

Aside from water affecting just clay soil, it can be affected by different sources of water. Between natural groundwater, plumbing leaks, gutter clogs, and HVAC condensation, the soil under your foundation is exposed to a great deal of water. This water exposure can eventually make the soil unstable and cause it to move out from under the foundation.

Tree Roots

Roots can grow into your foundation just as easily as other natural stones. Trees too close to your house are prime culprits for foundation failure, due to roots burrowing through and busting the foundation. 

If you’re ever in need of house jacking in Anchorage, AK, don’t hesitate to call on Hillside Landscaping & Excavation for all of your home foundation repair and service needs. These foundation experts have been in the business for over 25 years, offering a wide array of services. They’re open 24 hours a day and guarantee timely work done as efficiently as possible. Call them at (907) 522-4457 or visit their website to learn more about their services.