What This Page Covers
Sinking is active, ongoing downward movement — a corner or one section of the home that is dropping right now. You may see widening gaps, new cracks appearing fast, a floor that is noticeably out of level, or doors that no longer close. This is more urgent than slow settlement and it tends to get worse, not better.
Sinking Foundation Repair in Glen Allen & the Henrico–Hanover area
Sinking is the urgent one. Unlike slow settlement, sinking is active, ongoing downward movement — a corner or one section of the home that is dropping right now. You may see widening gaps, new cracks appearing over weeks rather than years, a floor that's noticeably out of level, or doors that suddenly no longer close. This tends to get worse, not better, and the longer it's left the more damage the home takes. We move quickly to stop the movement and, where the home allows, lift the settled area back toward level. Push or helical piers drive past the unstable soil to load-bearing strata and take the weight. The sooner sinking is addressed, the smaller and less costly the repair tends to be.
Proud to Serve Glen Allen & the Henrico–Hanover Area
We work throughout Glen Allen and the towns around it. If your home is in any of these communities, we can come take a look.
- Mechanicsville, VA Hanover County
- Laurel, VA Henrico County
- Short Pump, VA Henrico County
- Tuckahoe, VA Henrico County
- Highland Springs, VA Henrico County
- Lakeside, VA Henrico County
- Ashland, VA Hanover County
What's Included
Urgent movement assessment
We confirm whether the drop is active and how fast it's progressing before recommending a fix.
Rapid pier stabilization
Push or helical piers reach stable soil fast to stop a sinking corner or section.
Lifting toward level
Where the structure allows, we lift the settled area back toward level to recover lost height.
Cause investigation
We find what's driving the active drop — soil failure, water, a failed footing — so it stops.
Why This Happens in Glen Allen
Sinking in our area is often a sudden soil event on top of the usual clay cycle. When Henrico or Hanover's clay-heavy soil gets saturated after heavy rain or a downspout dumping water in one spot, it can lose strength and let a section of foundation drop. A drought that shrinks the clay away from the footing can do the same on the dry side. Some homes sit on fill that wasn't fully compacted, or near a slope or drainage swale that slowly undermines a corner. With 40-plus inches of rain a year and freeze–thaw through the winter, the triggers for a sudden drop are always nearby — which is why we treat sinking as a now problem, not a later one.
How to Help Prevent It
The fastest way to head off sinking is water control. Keep gutters clear and extend downspouts far from the foundation so no single spot gets saturated. Fix any grading that ponds water against the house, and watch for a downspout that's been knocked loose. If one side of your home is in a low spot or near a slope, that's the side to watch. Catch a widening gap or a new crack early — call right away rather than waiting, because active sinking only gets more expensive the longer it runs.
Sinking Foundation Repair Cost Guide
We won't invent a price before we've seen your home. Here's what affects the cost of each kind of repair.
| Repair type | Typical price | What affects cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single-corner stabilization | Free quote after inspection | Number of piers, depth to stable soil, and how urgently the work is needed. |
| Multi-section stabilization with lift | Free quote after inspection | How much of the home is sinking and whether lifting toward level is realistic. |
| Sinking plus cause repair | Free quote after inspection | Whether drainage, grading, or a footing issue also needs to be fixed to stop the drop. |
Why Choose Us for Sinking Foundation Repair
We treat sinking as urgent
Active sinking gets priority scheduling because the home keeps taking damage the longer it waits.
Stop it, then lift it
We halt the drop with piers first, then assess honestly whether a lift toward level is safe.
We find the trigger
Water, fill, or a failed footing — we trace the cause so the sinking doesn't resume.
Clear about cost
We explain what drives the price, because sooner and smaller is almost always cheaper.
Concerned About sinking foundation repair?
A free, honest visit settles the question. We'll look carefully and tell you plainly what your home needs.
Our Process
- 1
Urgent inspection
We visit quickly, confirm the drop is active, and measure how much and how fast.
- 2
Stabilization plan
We lay out the pier approach and whether a lift toward level is realistic for your home.
- 3
Pier installation
Piers are driven to stable soil to support the sinking section, and lifted where appropriate.
- 4
Cause & follow-up
We address what triggered the drop and show you how to watch for any return.
Sinking Foundation Repair FAQ
Questions we hear most about this repair. Call us with anything else.
How fast does a sinking foundation need to be addressed?
Sooner rather than later — ideally within days to a couple of weeks of noticing active movement. Sinking is ongoing, so every month it's left the home takes more damage: cracks widen, gaps open, floors drop further, and the repair grows. It won't correct itself. That said, a true emergency — a wall shifting fast or major cracking — warrants an immediate call. We prioritize sinking homes in our schedule because stopping the movement early is the single biggest factor in keeping the repair smaller and less costly.
Can you lift a sinking corner back up?
Often, yes. Piers are installed to support the sinking section and then used to lift it back toward level, recovering the height that was lost. How far we can lift depends on the home — how much it sank, the condition of the structure, and what's attached (plumbing, framing). We aim to halt the drop first and lift as far as is safe, and we tell you honestly what's realistic before we start. Some lift is usually possible; perfect level may not be, and forcing it can cause new cracks elsewhere.
Will the sinking come back after it's repaired?
Not if the cause is addressed along with the symptom. Piers transfer the weight to stable soil, so the supported section stops dropping. But if water or a failed footing triggered the sinking and isn't fixed, the home could start moving again nearby. That's why we investigate the cause on every sinking job and recommend the drainage or grading fixes that keep the repair holding. Our goal is a one-time fix, not a recurring one.
Our Other Services
Foundation problems often overlap. Here are the other repairs we handle across Glen Allen & the Henrico–Hanover area.
Get Your Free Estimate
Tell us what's going on. We'll call you back to schedule a free, no-pressure look at your foundation.
No obligation. We answer questions honestly and never pressure homeowners into repairs they don't need.