A Complete Guide to North Carolina House Foundation Repair

If parts of your home had human names, the foundation would be Sue Storm. It is an unseen yet strong and resilient superhero. But, like Sue, it has weaknesses and may require foundation repair.

Don’t worry; you’re not the only one seeing wall cracks or uneven floors. Foundation problems affect thousands of homes across the Tar Heel State each year, from the clay soils of the Piedmont region to the sandy coastal areas of Wilmington. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward protecting your most valuable investment.

This complete guide walks you through everything you need to know about foundation repair in North Carolina—from distinguishing symptoms and understanding local soil challenges to exploring proven repair solutions that restore your home’s stability and your peace of mind.

Minor Warning Signs

• Hairline cracks (smaller than ¼ inch) in drywall or plaster
• Seasonally sticking of doors or windows
• Small cracks in tile floors
• Minor water pooling around the foundation after rain
• Slight sloping of floors

Serious Warning Signs

• Foundation wall cracks wider than ¼  inch
• Doors and windows that won’t close properly
• Bowing basement walls
• Significantly uneven or bouncy floors
• Water intrusion in basement or crawl space

• Expansive Clay Soil: Absorbs water and expands, then shrinks when dry, causing movement.
• Precipitation: Heavy rain and flooding lead to soil erosion around the foundation, and drought conditions cause dry soil that shrinks and creates voids under your foundation.
• Poor Drainage: Excess moisture increases hydrostatic pressure, leading to foundation cracks.
• Tree Roots: Aggressively growing roots from trees and shrubs can absorb moisture from the soil, causing it to shift.

DIY Inspection Checklist

• Walk around your home and check for visible foundation cracks.
• Test doors and windows to see if they stick or have gaps.
• Check for water pooling near the foundation after rain.
• Monitor floors for uneven areas or sagging sections.
• Ensure gutters and downspouts direct water away from your foundation.

Prevention Tips:

• Install proper drainage solutions (gutters and downspouts) to prevent water buildup.
• Ensure positive landscape grading directs runoff away from your foundation.
• Keep trees and shrubs at a safe distance from your foundation (at least 10 feet).
• Maintain a consistent moisture level around your home to prevent soil expansion and contraction.

Foundation Piers

Piering or underpinning solutions are installed beneath your home to permanently stabilize and potentially lift settling areas back to their original positions. Bypassing problematic soil, these durable steel piers are installed deep into the ground until reaching more stable, load-bearing soil.

• Helical Piers: Screwed into the ground; ideal for lighter structures
• Push Piers: Manually advanced into the ground; rely on resistance; best for heavier buildings
• Slab Piers: Specifically used for homes with concrete slab foundations

Crawl Space Jacks

Most North Carolina homes were built with crawl space foundations, specifically in coastal regions. Wooden support systems underneath these homes are susceptible to moisture and wood rot, leading to sagging floors. Rather than sister the joists or add more wooden components, rust-resistant crawl space jacks are a better alternative.

These heavy-duty supports are cut to fit the individual height of each crawl space and can be adjusted over time. They reinforce the problematic floor and floor joists and can help raise sagging floors back to normal.

Wall Reinforcement

Many other Tar Heel State structures were built with basements that sustain different types of damage due to hydrostatic pressure. Cracking and bowing basement walls often benefit from:

• Carbon Fiber Straps: Low-profile; 10 times stronger than steel; ideal for walls with minor cracking and less than two inches of movement
• Wall Braces: Counteract hydrostatic pressure from inside the basement; can be adjusted for wall improvement; best for moderately damaged walls
• Wall Anchors: Earth plates embedded in stable soil; can help restore walls; ideal for walls with more than two inches of inward movement

Moisture Management

Waterproofing solutions don’t actively repair foundations, but they are essential to prevent excessive moisture that leads to damage like rot and structural instability. These systems include basement waterproofing measures or crawl space encapsulation solutions. Each technique involves installing drainage methods to collect and remove water, prevent moisture intrusion, and control humidity levels.

Foundation problems can be stressful for North Carolina homeowners, but with proper understanding and professional help, these issues can be successfully resolved. Remember that foundation issues rarely improve on their own, but early intervention typically results in less extensive repairs and lower costs.

At Tar Heel Basement Systems, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners across North Carolina restore their foundations and their peace of mind. Our team understands the specific challenges of foundation repair in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Raleigh, Wilmington, and throughout the state.

Still have questions about your foundation? Contact us today for a free, no-obligation inspection and expert recommendations tailored to your home’s specific needs. Our experienced team is ready to help you protect your most valuable investment with proven foundation repair solutions.