Foundation Wall Repair in West Texas & Cimarron County, OK

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How expanding soil affects foundation walls

The soils around your foundation can put a lot of pressure on your foundation walls! The amount of pressure will vary depending on three factors:

  • The types of soil around the home
  • How much moisture is in the soil
  • How deep underground the foundation is built

Since foundation walls are designed to support loads from above rather than lateral (sideways) loads, expanding soil can cause foundation problems.

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When the pressure from outside the basement walls is greater than the wall can handle, the wall will begin to crack, bow, and push inwards. Factors such as expansive clays, hydrostatic pressure, and freezing water can create too much stress on basement walls, causing them to push forward and even collapse entirely over time.

The experts at Legacy Supportworks understand how soil affects foundations, and we can provide you with an expert foundation repair for your cracked or bowing foundation. Call us today to get a free estimate in Abilene, Lubbock, Amarillo and the nearby areas.

Backfilled soils & virgin foundation soils

When the contractors who built your home dug the hole for your foundation and basement, they dug up mounds of the hard-packed earth that was there — some of which may have laid there untouched for hundreds of years or more. As foundation walls and house framing were completed, the empty space around the foundation needed to be filled. Contractors typically backfill foundation walls using some of the excavated soil that was removed to make room for the basement.

The excavation process breaks up and loosens the soil. Because of this, backfill soils will always be more permeable, or water-absorbent than the hard-packed earth beyond. When it rains, the water will collect in the backfilled soils, exerting hydrostatic pressure against foundation walls. This is known as the “clay bowl effect”.

As water builds up in the soils around your foundation, hydrostatic pressure increases against your basement walls, potentially leading to damage.

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What Causes Soils To Expand?

Wet foundation soils have a number of possible ill effects on the soils. By adding water to soils, you can cause them to expand, add weight to the soil, and ultimately lead to enormous pressure on the foundation walls.

Wet soils can lead to foundation damage in these three ways:

  • Expansive, Wet Clay Soil

    While sandy soils remain stable as water passes through them, soils rich in clay undergo significant changes based on their moisture content. When clay type soils dry out, they shrink significantly — so much that the ground can become covered with cracks. But after a heavy rain, the cracks are gone and the soil is fully saturated with water.

    Because clay soil absorbs so much water, it expands during wet weather. Expansive clay soils can put enormous pressure on your basement or foundation walls. When the pressure becomes more than the wall can handle, the wall will begin to push inwards.

  • Hydrostatic Pressure

    Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure exerted by a fluid due to the force of gravity. To understand how hydrostatic pressure can damage foundation walls, imagine how much heavier soil becomes when it’s soaked with water. When the weight of water is added to the weight of the soil, you’ve got much greater pressure pushing against a foundation wall.

    Hydrostatic pressure effectively amplifies soil pressure against a foundation wall. When pressure exceeds the foundation wall’s ability to withstand it, the wall will begin to bow, buckle, tilt inward at the top, or move inwards at the bottom.

  • Frost Heaving

    In areas with cold winter climates, frost heaving can sometimes put enough pressure on foundation walls to make them fail. When water turns to ice, its volume increases by about 9%. If wet soil experiences a deep freeze, the wedging or heaving force that results can be extremely powerful.

    Frost heaving can put literally thousands of pounds of force against your foundation walls, causing cracks, bowing, and heaving.

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Do you need a foundation repaired?

When your foundation is showing signs of bowing, buckling walls or any other foundation issues, we at Legacy Supportworks are the contractors you’re looking for. As a locally owned and operated foundation repair company, we’ve been working with soils in your neighborhood since we first opened our doors for business.

We’d like to offer you a free, no-obligation foundation repair quote to help you identify the problems you’re facing with your foundation — and what it might take to fix them. To schedule an appointment with us, call or e-mail us today! We’re proud to serve Lubbock, Amarillo, Abilene, Odessa, San Angelo, Midland, Plainview, Hereford, Dumas, Pampa, and many nearby locations in TX & OK.

What To Expect

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Don't just take our word for it

See what our customers have to say about our work.

Legacy SupportWorks was referred to me by Bernie Sanders with Sir Speedy. When doors began to not close properly and there were noticeable gaps between the floor and molding, we knew it was time to get some foundation work done on our home. We shopped around and were pleased with the value and responsiveness of Legacy Support Works. I felt comfortable with them in my home, they delivered what they promised when they promised and left my home clean. From Tessa who made the initial contact, to the gentleman putting my carpet back in place, customer service was outstanding.

Sonja Gross | Amarillo, TX

Mike P. from Amarillo, TX hired Legacy Supportworks to help lift and level a sinking kitchen floor with PolyLevel™.In this video he talks about the experience with the company. “We were really impressed that he (the owner) was willing to get in there and work just like a laborer!”

Mike P. | Amarillo, TX

When Karen H. saw some cracks on her wall, she knew something was wrong. She first called a local contractor and they told her that the cracks were being caused by the trees in her backyard. Karen wasn’t convinced by their explanation so she decided to get a second opinion and called Legacy Supportworks. In this video she talks about the experience she had with the company and why she was confident to hire them as the right company for the job. “What we got from Legacy Supportworks was not just a company that will be there for us through the whole process, but be there for us through any other problems that we have in the future”, says Karen.

Karen H. | Lubbock, TX

Legacy Supportworks repaired several cracks in our foundation and stabilized a basement wall that was starting to bow. The process was smooth and the crew worked hard to get everything done right. I would definitely recommend them.

Idali C. | Follett, TX

Legacy Supportworks helped us lift and level our sinking patio with their concrete repair system. It was fast, affordable, and looks fantastic. I wish we had done this sooner!Marissa L.

Marissa L. | Darrouzett, TX

We live in Lipscomb and started noticing cracks in our walls and doors sticking. Shawn from Legacy Supportworks came out and walked us through the foundation repair process. He was very honest and informative. The crew did a great job and our house feels solid again.

Aiden L. | Lipscomb, TX

We had them come out for concrete leveling on our driveway and walkway. The difference is incredible! No more tripping hazards and it looks so much better. The team was friendly and efficient.

Willy R. | Canadian, TX

We had major cracks in our driveway and back patio. The concrete leveling process was quick, affordable, and looks amazing. I couldn’t believe the difference. The team was knowledgeable and made sure we understood the entire process. Great experience!

Jan T. | Farnsworth, TX

Owen and crew were extremely professional and the work corrected my door,window, and brick gaps.

Gary W. | Fritch, TX

We had water coming into our basement and called Legacy Supportworks for basement waterproofing.

Trey G. | Kerrick, TX

Legacy Supportworks fixed the sunken concrete around our shop, and it made a huge difference. No more puddles or cracks getting worse. Great communication from start to finish. Hard to find companies like this these days.

Becky P. | Amarillo, TX

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Before & after photos

Check out before and after photos from some of our completed projects.

  • Stabilizing a Crawlspace in Pampa, TX

    This home had crawlspace beams that were cracking and lacked stabilization. 

    Years of shimming had only been a “band-aid” fix and this customer was looking for a permanent solution.

    Our crew installed steel beams and steel smartjacks on engineered fill.

    The result was a permanently stabilized floor!

  • Concrete Repair in Spearman, TX

    A customer reached out after seeing a video of concrete lifting using injection methods and wondered if it could work for their front porch. Their home, built in 1968, features a large concrete porch with a section that originally had a planter between it and the house. At some point, the planter was covered with concrete, which has since sunk about 4 inches. Both sections measure approximately 8×12. While the porch itself was fine, they wanted a solution to lift the concrete over the old planter rather than starting from scratch. Legacy inspected the situation and provided a tailored solution to restore their home.

  • Foundation Repair in Guymon, Oklahoma

    Just four years after adding a first porch for relaxation, a homeowner in Guymon, OK found himself facing a disheartening problem – his beloved porch had settled a shocking 2 feet into the ground, taking his dreams of peaceful rocking chair afternoons with it. As depicted in our before photo, this alarming sinkage rendered the space unusable. To lift and stabilize the sinking structure, we deployed our trusted Push Pier system, meticulously engineered to provide strength and elevation from deep below the surface. The transformation is apparent in the after photo, where the porch now stands level and secure, promising many future years of comfort and stability. At Legacy Supportworks, reviving your home’s foundation to ensure lifelong enjoyment and safety is not just our mission—it’s our commitment to you.

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Our service area

Legacy Supportworks is the local expert for Foundation Repair, Concrete Repair & Concrete Leveling and more. We proudly service Lubbock, San Angelo, and all of West Texas & Cimarron County, OK.

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Legacy Supportworks proudly serves Lubbock, San Angelo, and all of West Texas & Cimarron County, OK.

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