After the Recent Earthquake: What Coastal Oregon Homeowners Should Check Right Now

Concrete driveway being repaired to correct uneven and settled slabs.
The recent earthquake off the Oregon coast was an unwelcome reminder for many coastal Oregonians. Although the effects of the earthquake may not be visible, earthquakes near the Cascadia Subduction Zone always have the greatest and most immediate effects on coastal Oregon cities such as Coos Bay, Florence, and Gold Beach. As a coastal Oregon […]

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The Truth About Winter Salt and Concrete Damage

Cracked concrete surface damaged by salt, sand, and freeze-thaw cycles.
How Ice Melt Affects Your Driveway, Sidewalks, and Patios When winter weather brings snow and ice, most homeowners rely on salt or chemical ice melt to keep driveways, sidewalks, and steps safe. While these products are effective at preventing slips and falls, they can quietly cause long-term damage to your concrete. Understanding how winter salt […]

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Why Your Concrete May Shift During Winter (And What to Do About It)

Concrete driveway being repaired to correct uneven and settled slabs.
Concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, and basement floors are designed to last for decades. Yet throughout Oregon and Washington, we regularly see concrete crack, lift, and shift after winter. Homeowners often ask us the same questions: The answers depend on why the concrete moved in the first place, and in the Pacific Northwest, winter moisture is […]

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12 Tips for Protecting Your Home’s Foundation

Blog banner showing a home foundation with emphasis on protection and maintenance.
If you own a home, it’s important to ensure its continued structural soundness. Here are 12 practical tips for protecting your home’s foundation. […]

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Why Your Crawl Space or Basement Leaks When it Rains

Wet basement interior showing standing water and moisture on walls and floor.
Living in Oregon or Washington means living with rain, sometimes a lot of it. While the Pacific Northwest’s climate supports lush forests and green landscapes, it also creates serious challenges for homeowners with basements or crawl spaces. If you’ve noticed water pooling on your basement floor, damp walls, or cracks that seem to leak during […]

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Everything You Should Know About Frost Heave

Frost heave causing foundation movement and cracked concrete at a home in Oregon
Cold winters in the Pacific Northwest don’t just affect roads and landscapes; they can also impact the stability of your home. One of the most common cold-weather ground movement issues homeowners face in Oregon and Washington is frost heave. While it often starts subtly, frost heave can lead to cracked concrete, uneven floors, and serious […]

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5 Red Flags to Look For in Your Home After Washington’s Extreme Flooding

TerraFirma specialist installing a sump pump as part of a complete foundation waterproofing system
Don’t let hidden moisture become a crisis. Learn how to spot sump pump failures, new cracks, and musty odors after the rain stops. Tacoma, WA – Living in Western Washington, we’re no strangers to rain. But the recent atmospheric river was a different beast. When that much water hits our clay-heavy soils, the ground becomes […]

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Foundation Waterproofing Isn’t Waterproofing

TerraFirma specialist installing a sump pump as part of a complete foundation waterproofing system
When homeowners hear the phrase foundation waterproofing, it’s easy to imagine a coating or seal that permanently blocks water from ever entering the home. In reality, that’s not how foundations — or water — work.At TerraFirma Foundation Systems, we help homeowners across Oregon and Washington protect their crawl spaces, basements, and foundations from water damage. […]

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What should really scare you about your home.

How Haunted Houses Measure Fear Web 1600x842 1 Scare
It’s about that time of the year for spooky stuff to be everywhere. There are many scares about, trying to get you with their icy tendrils, but homeowners know real fear. We have to deal with contractors and tradesmen. It’s also the time of the year in the Pacific Northwest when the rains come, and […]

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TerraFirma Named 2025 Top Workplace in Oregon & Southwest Washington

TWP USA 2025 Scare
Years have passed, and one has been the guiding principle for TerraFirma: establishing strong foundations inside is just as important as constructing strong foundations for a house. That has been proven through our award history. In 2017, we were named one of The Oregonian’s Top 100 Workplaces. Oregon Business included us on the 100 Best […]

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