Stopping the Sink: Overcoming Foundation Settlement in Moline, IL
Challenge
A homeowner in Moline, IL reached out to us at MidAmerica Basement Systems after noticing alarming, stair-step cracks in their exterior brickwork and a kitchen window that refused to budge. System Design Specialist Jamie Cox inspected the property and confirmed that structural settlement was actively threatening the home, leading Foreman Jacob Schultz and his crew members, Colby and Jeremiah, to step in with a permanent structural fix.
The home's foundation was resting on poorly compacted fill soil that had softened and shifted during heavy seasonal rains. This lack of stable ground support caused the front corner of the house to sink, pulling the framing down with it, which bound the window and tore the masonry apart. Left unaddressed, the foundation would continue to drop, risking severe structural failure and a rapid decline in property value.
Solution
To permanently stabilize the home, the production team excavated down to the footing and drove high-strength Model 350 push piers deep into the earth until they reached solid, load-bearing bedrock. Using a heavy-duty hydraulic lifting system, they transferred the weight of the home off the unstable soil and onto the deep piers, successfully stabilizing the foundation and closing the exterior masonry cracks. After carefully backfilling the soil and restoring the workspace, the team left the homeowner with a perfectly operating window, a structurally sound home, and total peace of mind for the future.
