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 We recently purchased a single level home built on concrete slab. It is a Charles Goodman house that was built in 1957, on marine clay in northern Virginia. The floor in the middle of the house is sagging about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. There are some minor cracks in a couple of the walls and at one point, it appears that the chimney had pulled away and was repaired. The airducts and some of the piping is under the slab. We are going to seal the airducts and install new ones in the ceiling as the ones in the ground have cracked. I know installing piers is expensive and disruptive, after we seal the airducts could the sagging be fixed with slab jacking? Does slab jacking work on marine clay?
Any help would be appreciated
Answer Jane,
Slabjacking has worked well in 90% of all the job I've been involved with. Around 10% need to be jacked again in a year as the floor settles again in a few areas. After the third time you will need piers as the soil failure is deeper than the first foot or so of soil beneath your floor.
I've no experience with marine clay in the Cleveland region..sorry.
Best wishes, jim
