The Signs You Need House Repiling: How to Spot Foundation Issues Early

As a property owner, you know that your property is an investment that requires regular maintenance. One of the most critical aspects of your house is its foundation. Unfortunately, foundation damage can happen to any building, regardless of age. But how can you spot the signs of foundation problems early on?

It’s essential to pay attention to common signs that may indicate your house needs repiling. Foundation damage can lead to costly repairs if not addressed promptly, so it’s crucial to understand what to look for. In this blog by House Lifters, we’ll explore the signs of foundation damage and how to spot them before it’s too late.

Signs and Symptoms

Structural damage can be a sign of foundation problems. If you notice cracks in the walls, doors and windows that are difficult to close or sloping floors, it might be time to investigate further. Damage to your property can also be a warning sign. For instance, sinking or shifting of your foundation can cause damage to roofs, walls, floors, and other parts of your house.

If not addressed on time, these problems can lead to extensive repair costs and jeopardise your house’s safety. It’s important to seek the help of an experienced foundation specialist like House Lifters, who can evaluate the problem and provide a solution, such as repiling.

Cracks to Interior and Exterior Walls

As a house owner, noticing cracks in bricks and walls can be alarming. These cracks are more than just a cosmetic issue; they can indicate a serious underlying problem with the foundation of your house. When your house’s foundation is compromised, it can lead to structural damage that can affect the safety and stability of your house. If you notice cracks in walls, it’s important to address them immediately to prevent further damage. This is where repiling comes in – a process that involves replacing the old, unstable foundation with a new one to provide your house with a safe and solid base.

Jammed Windows

If your windows are frequently jamming, it could be a sign that your foundation needs repiling. Over time, the ground underneath your house can shift and settle, causing your foundation to become unlevel. This, in turn, can cause your window frames to become jammed. While this issue may seem minor, addressing it as soon as possible is important to prevent further damage to your house. By repiling your foundation, your windows will operate smoothly, and you can rest easy knowing that your house is safe and secure.

Leaning Chimney

The leaning chimney is a clear indication of a compromised foundation wall. The cause of the foundation damage may be natural disasters, such as earthquakes, or man-made causes, such as water or soil erosion. Whatever the cause, addressing the issue as soon as possible is important, as the damages can be costly and hazardous. The cracks in the bricks and other external signs of the leaning chimney are the initial indicators that repiling may be necessary. Ignoring these warning signs can lead to more severe damage to the property, ultimately becoming much more expensive to fix.

Uneven Floors

Uneven floors can be a frustrating problem for house owners. It can be caused by soil movement, which can cause the floor structure to become unlevel. If left untouched, this problem may lead to more significant structural issues and compromise the house’s integrity. Repiling, a type of structural foundation repair, may be necessary to correct the issue. By placing new, sturdy piles beneath the foundation’s weak areas, the house’s weight can be evenly distributed, restoring the level of the floor. This will give house owners a level floor and peace of mind, knowing their house’s structure has been restored to its original state.

Sloping Floors

Sloping floors are a common problem in houses and buildings, and various factors can cause them. One of the most common causes is poor soil, which can cause the foundation to settle over time. This setting can result in sloping floors and other structural issues. Water intrusion is another common factor that can lead to sloping floors. Water damage and moisture damage can weaken the structure of the building, leading to foundation problems and sloping floors. If you notice sloping floors in your house or building, addressing the issue promptly is important, as it can lead to further structural damage over time.

Early detection of foundation issues can save homeowners time and money in the long run. It is important to remember that foundation issues can occur in any house, regardless of age or quality. If you suspect your house has foundation issues, contact House Lifters to conduct a complete foundation inspection. Once the issue has been identified, there are options for repair available, such as repiling or structural repairs like levelling. Regardless of the chosen method, prompt action should be taken to ensure the integrity of your house’s foundation structure. Don’t wait until foundation issues become more serious and costly to repair. Contact House Lifters and take action now to protect your house’s value and your family’s safety.

Customer Feedback

On all occasions House Lifters went about their work with enthusiasm, and a high degree of success. Rod and Wei had a knack of finding very suitable properties at extremely competitive prices. They are a pleasure to deal with and I would have no hesitation recommending House Lifters to anyone that requires such services.

Sir Rt Honourable

John Key GNZM AC

House Lifters has provided Inovo Projects with service above and beyond the norm. Their health and safety is impeccable, quality of work is superb, and they’re always endeavouring to come up with ways to complete tasks in a more efficient, safer, and cost-savvy manner.

Matt Cain

Building Estimator/Project Manager, Inovo

When Rod and Wei saw the house and looked at the plans, he knew what needed to be done and was enthusiastic about the challenge. But the other contractors I got quotes from – the lift was so complex they didn’t want to do it or their methodology of how they were going to do it didn’t give me confidence.

Matt Russell

House Lifters run their jobs in a professional manner using high-performing equipment with good quality systems. From our experience, we have not seen any other contractor consistently achieve the finished floor levels that House Lifters do.

Sam Richards,

Managing Director Richards Consulting Engineers

Google Reviews

We approached House Lifters Ltd for help to lower our house onto its new piles after another Christchurch-based house removal company had dealt with us in bad faith and refused to remedy their breach of contract. Stuart, the Managing Director, was only too happy to help and, incredibly, his team had our house down within the week. They did exactly what they represented they were going to do, and they did it efficiently, professionally, and with great care for our house.Thank you Stuart for giving us control of our lives back - we are now able to finally move forward as a family and start enjoying our home. You took a stressful situation off our plates and reassured us that everything was in your very capable hands. We will be encouraging anyone who seeks house removal services to get in touch with House Lifters Ltd for a job done with care. A total credit to the house removal industry.

Shanelle Lovegrove

10:17 10 Aug 23

Houselifters showed absolute commitment to the whare and the correct and required repair to the new insurance repair standard of when new. Houselifters were also clean and tidy in their work.

Dean Lester

02:18 24 May 23

Parthenon Construction has had extensive experience in engaging with Stuart and the team at House Lifters.We have successfully completed over 250 projects with House Lifters since the Canterbury Earthquake and can not recommend them highly enough. They are specialist is there profession, provide accurate quotes, deliver to program and stand by there work.Relationships in the construction industry are extremally important and we are proud to say we have one with House Lifters that is formed on integrity and trust.

Daniel Fridd

09:02 20 Apr 23

Stu and the team at House Lifters are great to deal with. I've had several projects with them in my role as a structural engineer and Stu has always helped to bridge the gap between design and construction in order to provide practical & cost effective repairs.On site, the team get on with the job and in my experience do what they say they will, when they say they will which is a great help to myself and clients.

Matt Pfahlert

23:22 28 Mar 23

A very seccessful relevel carried out by Stuart and his team!Prompt to schedule us in and great communication throughout the job.After getting the run around for 2 months from smartlift and then being told they couldnt do the job House lifters stepped up and made it all happen!Relevel of an 8 units, 3 storey, tilt panel apartments across 2 foundations..Going above the scope without complaint and the price was very fair.If your thinking about relevelling this is that company you want to use!!

Jericho Forest

10:26 26 Mar 23

We at FeutzandGoldsmith Builders have worked intimately with Stuart Moore and the House Lifters team since the inception of the Canterbury Earthquake recovery. House Lifters are considered an expert in the field of re-levelling, referred to us by Southern Response, House Lifters have undertaken a range of small- and large-scale re-levels and foundation/slab replacements, from modern homes to homes built in the early 19th Century, all with optimum success. The success of this organisation begins at the top, Stuart Moore is a master of the trade, evident from dealings with all sectors of this organization, House Lifters excel in design, communication, and delivery. When thinking re-levelling, there’s only one name, House Lifters.

Blair Langton

04:40 22 Mar 23

They respond promptly and in detail. The team is easy to deal with.

edsel

01:55 17 Mar 23

As a structural engineer, I have worked with house lifters on a number of successful relevelling jobs and I recommend them to anyone wanted relevelling of there house carried out.

mark patterson

01:12 17 Mar 23

The team at Houselifters have completed a number of project for our building company as a sub contractor. Their team have been on time and professional in all dealings i have had with them. They have worked on numerous difficult projects also and have been very helpful in troubleshooting with us if changes have been required. They have strong construction knowledge and experience and I have no problem recommending the Houselifters team for any work you may require.

Thomas Johnston

22:51 15 Mar 23

Fil Engineers have been working with House Lifter for about 10 years now. Great company, practical solutions and top-notch workmanship. Highly recommended.

Andre Boiser

00:46 13 Mar 23

Great fella,, help full on time and fair pricesAnd chch original

Jason Hodgson

08:39 08 Dec 21

These guys are very professional.

Paul Carter

01:08 09 Oct 21

Recently house lifter relocated my house. The team worked very efficiently and always provided good communication for progress. The project finished within agreed timeframe and budget. Highly recommend!

Angela Jia

22:10 28 Oct 20

Great work by the team. Very helpful, made sure everything was done right. Re-aligned doors, replaced piles, etc, when the front of the house was lifted,. Easy to contact, very responsive. Friendly, hard-working team. Really happy with their work. Will definitely use them again.

Allen Rodrigo

20:10 24 Sep 20

Rod and his team were absolutely fantastic on our tricky house-lift which required trying to level the house while minimising remedial work on renovated areas. The scoping stage was very very thorough and the team were the only lifters who actually came and did a full house level measure as part of the quoting process. During the work Rod and the team were very open to feedback and really took the time to listen to our feedback and leave no stone unturned to address all items. The team were pretty patient with our needs and especially towards the end when there was some easing of doors etc. needed to complete the job and meet our high expectation bar :) I would HIGHLY recommend the team based on my experience - you will not be disappointed!

Kunal Bhargava

09:48 01 Sep 20

Rod, Mayo and their team not only held our old bungalow up while we excavated underneath, but they also solved some tricky problems to allow our builders work to more effectively as the job progressed. As a result we managed to complete the whole of the basement floor slab in a single pour….. something that we did not expect to be possible. They willingly made changes at short notice and nothing seemed to be too much of a problem. They were really pleasant to deal with, always responded quickly to our requests, and had a great “can do” attitude. We have no reservations in recommending the Houselifters team for this kind of work.

John Hunt

06:54 14 May 20

House Lifters relocated my 2 Tonne pizza oven without much problem. solved a big issue!highly recommended!

Pavan Vyas

03:48 14 Oct 19

Great staff. Brent was really helpful and knowledgeable

Amy Burton

04:36 01 Sep 19

Professional, cost effective and fast from quoting to actual work

mohammad ayat

01:56 13 Sep 17

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