Licensed & Insured — Colorado
40+ YrsReviews
Close-up of a cracked concrete foundation wall

Foundation Repair

Common Foundation Problems in Western Colorado Homes

The most common foundation problems we see on the Western Slope are bowing or cracked walls, sinking and settling foundations, cracked or sagging floors, sticking windows and doors, and tilting chimneys — nearly all of them caused by expansive soils, poor drainage, or freeze-thaw movement.

Six Sigma Yellow Belt CertifiedSix Sigma Yellow Belt Certified

Foundation wall problems

Horizontal cracks, stair-step cracks in block, and walls that lean inward are signs of lateral soil pressure. Wet, expanding soil pushes against the wall until it bows or shears.

We stabilize walls with Supportworks wall anchors, carbon fiber reinforcement, or steel I-beam systems, and in many cases we can straighten the wall back toward its original position over time.

  • Bowing and buckling walls
  • Horizontal and stair-step wall cracks
  • Collapsing retaining walls
  • Shearing at the top of the wall
Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement
Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement

Key takeaways

  • Bowing and buckling walls
  • Horizontal and stair-step wall cracks
  • Collapsing retaining walls
  • Cracked slabs, sagging crawl space floors, and bouncy joists usually trace back to failed supports, moisture, or soil movement under the slab.
  • Expansive clay soils in Mesa, Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle counties absorb water in spring and dry out in summer, and that swelling and shrinking is the single biggest driver of foundation movement in the region.
  • Free on-site inspection, written fixed price, and warrantied installation by our own crews.

Settlement and sinking

When the soil beneath a footing loses bearing capacity, the foundation drops with it. You see diagonal cracks above windows and doors, gaps at the trim, and floors that slope toward one corner.

Push piers and helical piers drive past the unstable soil to competent bearing strata, transfer the load of the home to the pier, and often lift the structure back toward level.

  • Diagonal cracks above door and window openings
  • Gaps between walls and ceilings
  • Sloping or bouncy floors
  • Chimneys pulling away from the house
Settlement cracking in brick veneer over a failing footing
Settlement cracking in brick veneer over a failing footing

Ready to put your home back on solid ground?

Free on-site inspection, written fixed price, and warrantied work by our own crews.

Floor and crawl space problems

Cracked slabs, sagging crawl space floors, and bouncy joists usually trace back to failed supports, moisture, or soil movement under the slab.

Adjustable crawl space support posts, slab piers, and polyurethane foam injection restore support without tearing out the floor.

Soil shrinkage from mature tree roots beside a foundation
Soil shrinkage from mature tree roots beside a foundation

Soil conditions behind the damage

Expansive clay soils in Mesa, Garfield, Pitkin, and Eagle counties absorb water in spring and dry out in summer, and that swelling and shrinking is the single biggest driver of foundation movement in the region.

Poor grading, downspouts that discharge next to the wall, and irrigation against the foundation all accelerate the cycle. Managing water is part of every repair plan we write.

Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement
Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement

Recent project photos

Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement
Steel push pier driven to competent soil to stop settlement
Helical pier screwed in below the footing on a hillside lot
Helical pier screwed in below the footing on a hillside lot
Settlement cracking in brick veneer over a failing footing
Settlement cracking in brick veneer over a failing footing
Foundation wall crack prepped for injection and sealing
Foundation wall crack prepped for injection and sealing
Soil shrinkage from mature tree roots beside a foundation
Soil shrinkage from mature tree roots beside a foundation
Sunken slab lifted back to level with foam injection
Sunken slab lifted back to level with foam injection

Cracks, settling, or water in the basement? Don't wait.

1-970-235-0092

Frequently Asked Questions

Which foundation cracks are structural?

Horizontal cracks, stair-step cracks in block walls, cracks wider than about a quarter inch, and any crack that is actively widening are structural warning signs and should be inspected.

Why do my doors and windows stick?

Differential foundation movement racks the framing above it. When one part of the foundation drops or heaves, openings go out of square and doors and windows bind.

Can watering my foundation help?

In dry summer months, consistent moisture around the perimeter reduces the shrink-swell swing in expansive clay soils. Consistency matters more than volume — cycles of soaking and drying are what cause damage.

Free Estimate

Get Your Free Foundation Estimate

Tell us what you're seeing and we'll schedule an on-site inspection with a written scope and fixed price. No cost, no obligation.

1-970-235-0092

732 Buckhorn Dr Unit B, Rifle, CO 81650 · Mon–Fri 8:00am – 4:00pm

Or call 1-970-235-0092 — no cost, no obligation.