Foundation Repair & Crawl Space Encapsulation in Lincoln, NE
Groundworks, foundation solutions crafted with pride
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As the capital city in Nebraska, Lincoln serves as the area’s economic and cultural hub. Homeowners in Lincoln enjoy the historic neighborhood homes in Bethany Heights and the University Place areas, as well as the more modern, newer homes in the south and east of the city.
Unfortunately, because of the heavy clay or clay-loam soil and humid continental climate in Lincoln, both new and older homes are prone to foundation, water management, crawl space, and concrete problems. If you’re noticing sagging floors, cracked or bowing foundation walls, a wet crawl space, a leaking basement, or uneven concrete, you are not alone. Homeowners just like you in Lincoln struggle to find the right solutions to repair problems permanently.
The trained inspectors at Groundworks make the foundation repair process quick and painless. From the initial inspection to the skilled technicians installing cutting-edge products. You can rest assured you’re in good hands and the job will be completed right the first time.
- Free Inspections
- Certified Structural Technicians
- Personalized Repair Plan
- No Interest Financing (for 12 months)
- Long-Term Warranty
Recent Reviews for our Omaha Community
*CLS Foundations became part of Groundworks January 2022
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CLS did a fantastic job on my home! From start to finish, ever CLS employee was helpful, kind and courteous. The work they did for me was done in a timely manner and they did a wonderful job picking up after themselves. I highly recommend using CLS!!
Groundworks – Omaha
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I had such a great experience with CLS. Dave, the owner personally came out to the house to give me a quote. I really like that the owner prefers to meet each client to fully understand the situation. The crew came out and was respectful and clean. They did a great job and the price was better than the other quotes I received. I highly recommend CLS.
Groundworks – Omaha
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CLS was a great company to work with. Very professional and friendly. When the job was completed,they even took the time to show and explain to my elderly mom the work they had done. Thank you CLS! Shout out to Brenda as well for her help.
Groundworks – Omaha
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After having water get into our basement, we needed someone right away. CLS was there the next day and took care of the issue. The crew was timely and easy to work with. Price was great. Would definitely recommend.
Groundworks – Omaha
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After looking around for someone to repair our foundation, CLS was the most reasonably priced. Dave and his crew were extremely professional and timely. The foundation repair was quick and the job was done very well.
Groundworks – Omaha
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I have been working with this company to repair several issues with our home after flooding. So far they have been amazing with answering all questions and responding to every email and phone call. Over the work is actually complete I will update my review.
Groundworks – Omaha
Lincoln Foundation Repair
When it comes to the health of your home, it all starts at the foundation. When your home was initially built, a hole was dug in the ground to build the foundation. After the basement or crawl space was constructed, the dirt that was once removed is used to backfill the area. This loose fill soil is more porous than the well-compacted soil. This means that with each rain, water is collected, and an artificial water table is created next to your home. This is known as the clay bowl effect.
Lincoln, NE, has clay soil or clay-loam soil. This is very problematic for Lincoln homeowners. The issue with this type of soil is when it gets wet, it expands. The more clay in the soil, the more it expands, and Lincoln soil has a lot of clay. When the soil expands it puts pressure against your foundation walls. Extended exposure to this pressure causes both new and old foundation walls to fail.
As a homeowner, it’s important to keep an eye out for foundation problems signs. The earlier a foundation issue is identified, the easier and less costly to repair. We recommend at least once a year to take a walk around your home and look for signs of a foundation issue.
The outside of your home is often where it is easiest to spot foundation issues because problems are typically exposed and not covered by drywall or finishing. Take a look at your foundation walls, you can see them where the ground meets the house. Look for cracks or crumbling bricks. Cracks could be horizontal, vertical, or stair-step cracks. Stair-step cracks run through the motor joints in a stair-step pattern. Also, look at your chimney. Does it appear to be leaning or tilting away from the house? If so, this is an obvious sign of a foundation problem.
Depending if your basement is finished or unfinished, oftentimes interior foundation problem signs are easiest to identify since you’re living with them daily. In your home’s basement or crawl space look for cracks in the foundation walls. Again, these cracks can be vertical, horizontal, or in a stair-step pattern. If cracks are visible, is the wall bowing inward at all? Upstairs, look for signs of uneven floors, drywall or plaster cracks, and nail pops. These are all signs your foundation is suffering.
If you are experiencing these types of issues, you are not alone. The clay soil and humid weather conditions in Lincoln make foundation problems all too common. The good news, the experts at Groundworks understand the area’s unique conditions and have proven repair solutions to permanently solve them for good.
From wall repair using our SettleStop IntelliBrace™ Wall Repair System, which stabilizes failing foundation walls and can even straighten bowed walls over time, to our SettleStop Pier System, which transfers the weight of your home to steel piers driven deep into solid ground, offering support and possible lift, our cutting-edge repair solutions are customizable to fit the needs of your unique home.
Finding the best repair method for your foundation problem is exactly what the experts at Groundworks do every day. The trained specialists will decide the root cause of the problem to permanently solve it and restore your peace of mind.
Lincoln Basement Waterproofing
If you want to ensure the health and safety of your home, look no further than your basement. Water leaks are quite common in the Lincoln area because of the previously discussed clay soil that holds water easily, and the area’s large amount of precipitation annually. The Lincoln area gets more than 30 inches of rain per year, and 25 inches of snow during the winter. During the spring months, when snow melts and spring rains hit hard, having a leaking basement can be very dangerous.
All this water surrounds your home’s foundation and finds the path of least resistance to get in. In the Lincoln area, this often means a crack caused by hydrostatic pressure from the clay soils, but it may also enter at the cove, or where the floor and the wall meet. Both can be very disruptive to your life, especially if your basement is finished. Once items get wet, especially organic materials like drywall and carpeting, they must be completely dried or mold is sure to grow. In an already humid area like the basement, any added water is sure to increase the risk of mold growth exponentially.
Both new and older homes alike are prone to basement leaking, but older homes that have experienced water leakage for a long time typically experience other problem signs as well. Keep an eye out for mold growth, bowing walls, and crumbling concrete on the walls and floors.
We at Groundworks specialize in protecting homes in the Lincoln area from water intrusion. We have built an expert team and a line of products that stand the test of time and are customizable to the specific home types in Lincoln, NE.
Our interior drainage system collects groundwater from under the home and from the foundation walls. It is installed inside the home and sits on top of your home’s footing. This ensures it is outside of the ‘mud zone’ and won’t clog and fail. It also allows for easy maintenance when required. Installation requires no costly exterior excavation, making it ideal when landscaping, decks, and driveways are nearby.
The interior drainage system is then connected to a sump pump where it is removed out and away from your Lincoln home. Often a high-quality vapor barrier is installed to seal out wall moisture and provide a bright, clean look to the basement. If finishing is desired, a wall vapor barrier is the best choice as studs and drywall can be installed directly over it.
An energy-efficient dehumidifier that removes moisture from the air and makes both your basement and upstairs environment more comfortable is a great choice for Lincoln homeowners.
Crawl Space Encapsulation in Lincoln
If you live above a crawl space in Lincoln, musty smells, uneven floors, and high energy bills are all problem signs you are all too aware of. Although the area’s soil is not doing you any favors, it’s Lincoln’s drastic temperature changes and high humidity levels that cause serious problems for crawl spaces. Located in the Great Plains region, but far away from mountains or water, the Lincoln summers are hot and humid and the winters are freezing cold.
These large temperature swings and humid air cause moisture to be trapped in Lincoln crawl spaces that have open vents and are not sealed. Open vents were once considered good building practice, with the idea being humid air would flow in and out freely. But today, we know instead of air flowing out, air actually gets trapped below your home. When new air mixes with existing air in the crawl space, the humidity level increases substantially. Once the level of water in the air reaches 100 percent, it becomes condensation. Think of water droplets on a cold glass outside in the summer.
Condensation can lead to all types of crawl space problems, including mold, mildew, and wood rot. Wood rot threatens the structural integrity of your home. Mold needs about 60 percent humidity to grow. Given Lincoln’s humid climate, mold problems are all too prevalent in homeowners’ crawl spaces. Mold left untreated can weaken the wood in the crawl space, and since most of the wood is pertinent to the home’s structural condition, it should be addressed very quickly.
Often a crawl space is not visited by homeowners because they are dark, dirty, and all-around uncomfortable. Still, we recommend someone expect the crawl space at least once a year to look for signs of flooding or water leaks, bowing or cracked foundation walls, mold and mildew, or insect infestations.
Outside the crawl space there are still several problem signs to be aware of. Take a look at the foundation walls, where the home meets the ground. Look for cracking, vertical, horizontal, or stair-stepping. Inside the home, look for gaps between the floor and floorboards, sagging, spongey or bouncy floors, musty odors, and unexplained high energy bills. These are all signs of a crawl space problem that needs to be addressed by an expert.
Groundworks has proven crawl space encapsulation solutions for Lincoln homeowners. Our crawl space experts will do a full inspection and determine the cause of the problem. Popular solutions include crawl space waterproofing by installing an interior drainage system and a sump pump as well as sealing the crawl space with encapsulation. Our encapsulation system involves shutting vents as well as sealing the wall and floors using our high-quality vapor barrier. This repair solution also offers the best way to keep insects and pests from entering since you are eliminating their damp, dark desired area.
Groundworks is your local crawl space experts. Our team is trained to ensure they are addressing the root cause of the problem, this way you can ensure your crawl space will stay dry and clean for years to come.
Common Crawl Space Issues
Condensation
Condensation is a big problem in many people’s crawl spaces. What can you do to make it easier for you to manage crawl space condensation?
High Indoor Humidity
High indoor humidity can be frustrating in and of itself. However, it’s also an element of foundation problems. How can you fix it?
Sagging Floors
Sagging floors are one of the most daunting and frustrating problems to experience. What can you do to make this problem less frustrating?
High Electric Bills
Many problems can indicate crawl space issues. Did you know that high electric bills could be one?
Concrete Lifting in Lincoln
Similar to how the clay soil impacts Lincoln foundations, your property’s concrete surfaces could also be impacted. When clay soil is highly saturated from rain or snowmelt, it expands. This puts tremendous pressure on concrete slabs, causing them to move, sink or fragment. This movement causes gaps and uneven slabs that may not seem like a big problem, but really can be.
Even a small amount of concrete sinking causes a major tripping hazard, especially for those more vulnerable, like the elderly and children. Cracked or uneven sidewalk, patio, pool deck, or driveway slabs steal value from your Lincoln home and can impact your car over time.
While nothing can be done about the soil below the slabs, the professionals at Groundworks are able to lift concrete surfaces and restore their original appearance. Using the SettleStop PolyRenewal™ system, a two-part polyurethane foam is injected under the slab. It gently expands, lifting the slab slowly. This lightweight foam will not add additional pressure like older mudjacking concrete lifting methods. PolyRenewal™ is environmentally friendly, fast-curing, and long-lasting.
Contact Groundworks for your Foundation Repair Needs
Our team at Groundworks offers award-winning services in foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete lifting. We have years of experience in the field working with the unique Lincoln homes and understand how the clay soil, humid climate, and high annual precipitation levels impact your home.
Our basement waterproofing, foundation repair, and crawl space repairs come with a transferable warranty, transparent pricing, and a complete service department after the work is completed.
If you’re having foundation problems, contact our experts to schedule a free inspection.
Take the First Step Towards a Permanent Solution
Our team at Groundworks offers award-winning services in foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space encapsulation, and concrete lifting. We have years of experience in the field working with the unique Lincoln homes and understand how the clay soil, humid climate and high annual precipitation levels impact your home.
Our basement waterproofing, foundation repair and crawl space repairs come with a transferable warranty, transparent pricing and a complete service department after the work is completed.
If you’re having foundation problems, contact our experts to schedule a free inspection.