Basement Walls Crumbling

Your home often sends clear signs when its foundation is failing. Cracked or buckling walls are the most common signs of a crumbling foundation and stress in your home’s support system. Basements in the Pacific Northwest often have cracked and crumbling basement walls and floors.

These issues are often caused by the region’s heavy rainfall, which leads to water pooling around the foundation and increasing hydrostatic pressure. Over time, this pressure can cause walls to bow or shift, compromising the structural integrity of your home, which leads to basement walls crumbling. Additionally, poor drainage systems and expansive clay soils can exacerbate these problems, leading to uneven settling and further damage. Ignoring these warning signs can result in costly repairs and even reduce your property’s overall value.

Not all signs of basement walls crumbling are symptoms of serious damage, but these signs are strong signals that it is time for a professional evaluation:

  • Leaking from your basement walls
  • Spelling and rust-colored cracks indicate corroding rebar
  • Efflorescence on concrete or cinder block walls

TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Our team has over 20 years of experience fixing foundations across Oregon & Washington.
Check out their helpful Homeowner Tips and some great Case Studies of our Foundation Repair work.

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REVIEWS

Don’t take our word for it – see what our clients have to say.
From Roseburg to Eugene, Portland to Seattle, our Foundation Repair work speaks for itself

Bailey demonstrated exceptional attention to detail and expertise when inspecting the house foundation, ensuring everything was up to code and structurally sound. He addressed the issues I was concerned about and was very honest on his findings.
Hey Folks, So just over a year ago we were having some issues at the house, I wrote to all of you on how wonderful TerraFirma was to us and I am here to tell you... THEY DID IT AGAIN! I starting noticing some movement in the driveway and inside the garage again. Called up Bree in the office and asked to have someone come take a peek. Edwin came out, what an awesome dude! Edwin spent a short time at the house remeasuring a couple things to compare back at the office with measurements from a few months ago, We heard from Bree that the measurements were still within reason. I let Bree know, something is not sitting well with me and I really would like to chat with the Mgr. So I received a call from Tulane, Again SUPER DUDE! Tulane assured me with my husband present that I am not being in any sorts a pain, I have concerns and he and Sam, who came out in 2024 will come to the house.

Well they came, they saw, Oh Boy! I was not wrong, they were here 2.5 hrs and again, the house has had some movement and we need some more work to stabilize. We have some additional C.Y.A's to add to this round, as our neighborhood and home has lots of sand in the soil so we are going to be looking into getting a GEO Engineer out to see what is causing the movement.

I give all the back info, because I want you all to know, if you feel something is not right CALL and have your home looked at. TerraFirma is NOT redoing what they already did, this is all new issues, not their fault at all... Tulane and Sam are amazing, they took the time to explain and give us all options. The info they share through experience and knowledge is beyond me and it is so appreciated.

If you have any foundation, sinking driveways, walkways, stairs, cracking in your walls, around windows, doors.... Call these guys!
I hands down don't always do reviews but I do for these guys because they deserve to have their names out there so you know they are TAKING CARE of their customers the whole way through! 10/10 and then some.... THANK YOU!
James and his crew were efficient, kind, and exceeded my expectations. My foundation was needed piers both outside and in the basement, yet they were quick and cleaned up. I even noticed a change in my home’s interior when it was fixed! Cracks closed up. They took care of the whole process, including permits and inspections. And, James communicated, including walking me through, clearly listening to my responses.

I recommend TerraFirma, especially James who was the foreman on my job, especially to those who want to be respected, want to understand what is happening, and want good communication throughout the job.
Bailey Mercer-system design specialist made a visit to my home to provide an estimate for foundation work. He was professional, well-mannered and easy to talk to. Assessment was thorough with all my questions being clearly answered. Great experience overall!
Seth came over and had a look at my foundation to give me a quote on some work. I was incredibly impressed by how thorough he was with his inspection of my property and the knowledge he had to help me assess the condition of my foundation. Would highly recommend
Gave me a really reasonable solution to our foundation issue. Great communicators. Easy to work with.
We had concerns about the foundation and flooring of the home due to water and moisture in the crawl space. Walt, out of the Roseburg office was very responsive and timely with accurate information for our situation. Ultimately, we decided on crawl space encapsulation. The bid was easy to read and laid out a comprehensive work plan for our home. They were also able to meet our scheduling needs for the timeline of our project.
The process of stabilizing my foundation was done quickly and professionally. Permits and reports were provided upon completion. They were a pleasure to work with. The site visits were scheduled in advance and they were always there when scheduled. The final work was completed when scheduled and the site was cleaned up with minimal disturbance. If I had a question, they were always quick to explain the process. A pleasure to work with.
Fast work, was able to get us scheduled fairly quickly before any more damage could happen to the foundation (was sort of sinking or settling). The clean up of the dust could have been better, and I spoke with them about it. I am very happy that my kitchen cupboards are now back up to the ceiling, the 1/4" gap is gone. It took months for things to settle in, but am very glad I went with Terrafirma.
Great work. I had huge foundation issues on a large waterfront project. Terra firma waterproofed my basement and lifted the house on hydolic piers to level it out. They saved my project. Seth was a fantastic project manager and Oscar and Jorge completed the job extremely well. 10/10 would recommend for any foundation issues.
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Foundation Repair Homeowner Questions

Are cracks in a basement floor normal?

Cracks in concrete are common. However, cracks are symptoms of potentially larger issues. The size, placement, and direction of cracks in your basement floor or walls can give insghts into the nature of the issue. Schedule your free in-home inspection with TerraFirma to learn more.

When should I worry about cracks in my basement floor?

You should be concerned about foundation cracks if the cracks in your basement floor are wider than 1/8 inch, spread to and up the foundation walls, appear in a circular pattern, are wet or show signs of water intrusion, have mold around them, have a white flaky substance around them

Are foundation repairs covered by homeowner’s insurance?

Insuance policies vary from home to home and company to company. The best action is always to speak with your insurance company to understand what is covered under your specific policy. Generally, home owners insurance will cover repairs if the damage can be tied back to an event e.g. leaky water heater, tree fell on house etc.

Does foundation repair affect/increase home value?

Yes. A damaged foundation can cause significant loss in property value, as well as potentially scaring off interested buyers. Repairing a damaged foundation helps restore the lost value in a home, and can even increase value when the repairs carry a transferable and long term warranty.

How long does foundation repair take?

Scope, size, and type of repair can vary, as will the amount of time a repair can take. However, most repairs can be made within a few days.