AboutJim Hise Expertise I am the owner of EXPERT BASEMENT REPAIR in Cleveland, Ohio. I can identify the reasons for movement or cracking in home foundations, basements and walls. I am familiar with most waterproofing and water control methods. I am familiar with and have installed Ramjack, Dixie MacLean, and A.B.Chance™ helical and push pier systems, including tiebacks, steel beams, and rod and grout repair and also several carbon fiber stabilization products. I am currently certified to train Fortress carbon fiber installation and perform carbon repair in the greater Cleveland and Northeast Ohio region. I have been involved with all aspects slope stabilization for over 10 years. Please remember to tell me what city you live in to help me answer your question up front!
Experience 17 years of structural foundation fault identification and most repair and stabilization methods. I introduced Fortress carbon fiber to this region of Ohio. I have always been on site and involved in order to monitor each project I am responsible for.
Publications Waterproofing magazine issue #2
Education/Credentials Associates degree...and the school of hard knocks! Formerly certified by A.B.Chance company from 1993-2005. I have a construction and home improvement background for almost 35 years. I bought, restored and resold distressed property. I worked with 4 different foundation repair companies and am familiar with most methods. I also worked for a waterproofing company for several years. I teach ongoing education classes for home inspectors, adult education and Realtors in foundation fault identification and repair.
Past/Present Clients Hundreds of residential, commercial and some industrial.
Question I'm in the process of buying a home that has been vacant for at least one year. upon my inspection I discovered that the basement floor appears to be heaving up. If you look at the floors on the first floor, you can see the floors sloping down towards the perimeter walls, whic h indicates that the I-beam, along with the post in the basement are heaving up also. In the basement, you can see a crack that continues around the perimeter of the basement floor about 3-4 feet from the perimeter walls. The home is about 4o years old I guess, and was vacant through out the winter months. I'm getting mixed answers on this problem, some say the foundation is settleing, and some say the floor is heaving up from hydrostatic pressure or just plain water underneath such as a broken drain tile. I would like to hear your opinion on this mattter please. I think myself that the floor is heaving upward, and pushing the post up along with it.
Answer Langston,
Get someone in there with a lazer level to take elevation readings inside and out. This should make whatever movement obvious.
Most likely you have hydrostatic pressure pushing the floor upwards caused by poor water drainage under and around your basement. I'd guess the draintile is not functioning also. If this is the case you'll need waterproofing after you rip out the basement floor, re-level the jackposts and repour the floor. There's no way to make it go back down.
I'd suggest interior drainage and exterior waterproofing while you're at at it. This is how we do it in Cleveland! I hope you're getting a good deal on the price!
