Crumbling Basement Walls and other Common Foundation issues

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

Not all signs 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 indicating 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 was timely and thorough in his assessment, estimate, and reporting on my inquiry about a foundation crack. Although I decided not to have any work done at this time I was pleased with their service.
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.
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!
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.
I used Terrafirma for foundation support repair. I found the staff and work crew very honest and extremely thorough! Was a little outside my budget, but I was so happy that I chose them! Satisfaction in every area is so worth it!!
Will choose them over and over and refer!
AE
The crew did a great job fixing our sinking foundation! Two days and they came in and dug everything up then set the anchors and then backfilled! Great Job!
I was referred to John from Terra Firma when I was looking to have our foundation inspected. John was very friendly and knowledgable and came out to our house to measure and inspect everything. In the end he was able to put our mind at ease and did a great job of explaining different scenarios and what he was looking for.

John even inspected the crawlspace while he was out and provided great feedback there as well. Overall we got a lot of good information and never felt as though we were being pushed into unnecessary services.

I will certainly be reaching out to Terra Firma for any future needs!
Bailey Mercer came out on time, which is the number one indicator of professionalism in my experience. He kept the conversation short and to the point. He did not try to upsell me on things didn’t need, and to that point, neither did the sales staff over the phone. Bailey did the measurements, with precision and finished at a reasonable time. I have confidence that when we decide to secure our foundation we will be using Bailey Mercer as our go-to expert when we call TerraFirma.
TerraFirma made a major error when fixing the foundation for the overhang of our Enumclaw Plateau Historical Society museum. The posts were not properly spaced, giving the front of the building an uneven appearance. When the error was pointed out to them, they admitted it, and apologized. They paid the repair costs without argument. According to a businessman on our board, this is an unusual occurrence. I want to give them kudos for their management acting with integrity.
Terra Firma is an excellent company to work with. Everything from the assessment with Matt, the permitting process, and the actual job and clean up with Sam and his team went seamlessly. The foundation is now solid and feels much better. Exceptional service and quality workmanship. Highly recommended.

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.