Thrasher Foundation Repair Before & After Photos

Installing French drains, also known as curtain drains, is one way to handle water in a yard with grading issues.  Here is an example from our customer in Lee's Summit, MO.

Installing French drains is an option in circumstances where excessive surface water must be managed.

Water management can take on many forms.  In most cases, a home is built so that the yard can be graded to properly drain water away from the foundation.  Swales are even graded into the landscape to provide a path for water to drain away from structures and toward storm drains.  In some cases, though, grading is not correct or has to be changed.  Sometimes a neighboring property will change their landscape and change the original drainage that was planned for the neighborhood.

When grading is done well, and gutters and downspouts are installed correctly, water will shed away from the foundation helping to prevent wet basements and bowing basement walls.  When those problems persist, and interior French drain, draintile, or another form of interior drainage is the usual recommended solution.  However, if there are major grading issues, they must be addressed outside.  Not addressing the pooling water can lead to extreme flooding or excessive pressure that can push a foundation wall in causing cracks and other structural issues.

The best approach to solving grading issues is to regrade in a way that water can runoff of the yard naturally and without pooling in the yard.  Unfortunately, there are rare cases where that isn’t possible.  That is when a change in landscape design should be considered.  One tool in the landscape toolbox is the exterior French drain or curtain drain.

For this customer in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Thrasher was able to work with them on both their yard drainage issues and dealing with the water that was already getting into the basement.  An exterior interceptor drain was installed in this home’s back yard.  Since the yard was not naturally sloped to move water away from the home, it was collecting in areas close to the foundation.  While an interior waterproofing drainage system may have kept the basement dry, the pooling water still had a chance to cause structural damage.  The homeowner also did not like having a muddy mess in their backyard after ever rainfall and even after watering the lawn.

Thrasher Foundation Repair prides itself on working with homeowners to find the best solution for their circumstances.  Even in situations where we cannot perform all the work ourselves, we will make recommendations to the homeowner that they can do themselves or hire a landscaper to perform.  If you aren’t sure what you need to do to solve your problem, we are happy to provide a free inspection to help you figure it out.

“From start to finish, I received total professionalism and up-to-date progress. The crew respected my property and cleaned up after the job was completed. Thrasher Foundation Repair came highly recommended to me and I see why. My neighbors are interested in having work done. My brother and mother have also used Thrasher. Top notch company. In today’s world, it is hard to find great customer service.” – R. R., homeowner

Foundation stabilization by Thrasher was an integral part of the repair and restoration of the historic Sedalia Public Library.

Parts of the structure had settled 5″.

The extreme drought that began in the late spring of 2012 had devastating effects across the Midwest, particularly on lawns, crops and foundations. One building hit particularly hard was the Sedalia Public Library. The Sedalia Public Library is a prized building to the local community, and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  

The Sedalia Public Library is located at 311 W. Third St, Sedalia, Missouri. The Sedalia library was first founded in 1895 but was located in the basement of the Pettis County Courthouse. In the Fall of 1899, they were awarded a $50,000 Carnegie Grant to build a new library. This was the first grant to be awarded by Andrew Carnegie in the state of Missouri. 

“We were told by the structural engineer that we were in imminent danger of collapse.” – Library Director Pamela Hunter, in an interview with KMBC-TV.

That grant money allowed the residents to build the then-new library. The library is built in the Greek Revival Style of architecture and was constructed of ornate white terra cotta stone with a limestone foundation. 

The library was dedicated in 1901 and has been operational ever since, serving the citizens of Sedalia and the greater Pettis County. That is until the concerns over foundation problems arose in 2012.  

Foundation problems were first identified in 2012 when a construction worker found "extremely wide" cracks in the foundation in one area of the library. The worker's concern led to a full investigation and, ultimately, the discovery of other severe foundation issues throughout the library. 

The library hired a geotechnical engineer to investigate the site subsurface. During the investigation, it was determined that the soil's extreme dryness around the building's perimeter was a significant factor in the ongoing foundation settlement. Further investigation revealed that the underlying bedrock also had large voids beneath them. These large voids were likely the hidden contributor to the over 5" settlement throughout the years. As the corner of the library had settled, it also rotated outwardly and put the foundation and structure at extreme risk of collapse. 

Previous attempts by other contractors had been made to correct the foundation settlement issues. Some of the attempted repairs included installing an extensive supplemental concrete footing, along with an elaborate below-grade watering and de-watering system. The supplemental concrete footing and watering system were combined with stabilizing the foundation and controlling below-grade moisture. While well-intentioned, the previous attempts were unsuccessful. The supplemental footing's added weight may have even exacerbated the settling issue, as evidenced by the continued settlement.

The engineers were determined to solve this settlement issue permanently and to protect the historical landmark.  

The recommended solution from the engineers was to install a customized micropile system. The plan was to bypass the shallow, unstable soils and fully transfer the foundation load's weight to the competent and stable bedrock. To achieve this result, any piering system would have to be drilled and advanced through the shallow rocks.  

Thrasher was selected to perform this stabilization work due to their experience and expertise in micropile installations. Thrasher stabilized the building by first drilling through shallow rock formations and the underlying voids. Thrasher had to drill to depths of upwards of 40 feet to get into competent rock. Forty-nine high-strength steel resistance piers, with an ultimate capacity of 140,000 pounds each, were installed through the pre-drilled holes. The piers were then grouted with high-strength grout to add further lateral and vertical stability to the system. Once the exterior foundations were stabilized in place with the pre-drilled piers, the interior columns, which had not settled, had to be lowered to put the building on a uniform plane. Finally, the unstable soil excavated during the piers' installation was removed and replaced with suitable fill soil.

The result was a permanently stabilized exterior foundation, and interior columns all leveled out to a uniform plane. Sedalia citizens could now rest easy that their historic library was finally placed on solid rock and would not move in the future.   

When choosing a contractor to repair your building's foundation, it is not only important to choose a contractor who has the right repair product for the situation, but it is also essential to select the contractor with the right expertise and experience. When choosing to work with Thrasher, you are selecting a contractor who not only knows how to do the work correctly but has over 45 years' experience doing this type of work. So don't leave the work to a beginner. Hire the trusted name in the industry, and call Thrasher.  

Lenexa, Kansas homeowner, had a considerable concern with his driveway. It was a 6-inch large drop in front of his garage. Shocked about his discovery, he researched local concrete mud jacking companies. Among the mix of local Kansas City Metro experts was Thrasher Foundation Repair. 

Thrasher, a skilled expert with lifting and leveling concrete, came to the rescue. Once the free inspection date was set, the homeowner received an information packet which included About Us, The Thrasher Difference, Same Day Savings and a concrete repair science book. Although mud jacking or slab jacking was researched, it was not the method used for this homeowner. Let me explain why.

Thrasher used a total of 6.5 cubic yards of material to lift 3 sections of the driveway to match the garage, and 3 sections of the sidewalk to match the driveway.

Traditional mudjacking uses local soil or sand blend, mixed with water and cement, which is heavy and messy when installed through a hole the size of a soda can. Since this mixture is heavy, it can settle the soil after it’s been installed, and you are right back at the beginning. This mixture can also wash out over time, causing the slab to settle back down unlevel. Which means more time spent with a contractor and more money.

During the free inspection with System Design Specialist, homeowners can expect a thorough examination and a detailed explanation of the concrete leveling solution. A common reason for sinking concrete in the soil. Poorly compacted, dry soil is the cause of this large drop in the front of the driveway. During the 60-minute free inspection, System Design Specialist educates the homeowner about the PolyLevel method and warranties and transparent pricing to meet the homeowner’s specific needs. 

Technology and methods for lifting and leveling have come a long way in the last five years. At Thrasher Foundation Repair, we use PolyLevel® for concrete leveling because it’s a fast and effective way to lift and stabilize sinking concrete. Polylevel is a lightweight, strong high-density polyurethane foam developed by our sister company Supportworks and only available to an exclusive network of foundation and concrete repair contractors. It lifts and supports concrete slabs without adding weight to the soil beneath, and it’s waterproof so that it won’t wash out or dry out like traditional mudjacking material. It’s environmentally friendly, too, with no environmentally harmful chemical leaching. Concrete leveling with PolyLevel expanding foam not only raises concrete slabs but also compacts the soil around them, creating a stable environment that will ensure that your driveway, patio or pool deck remains level into the foreseeable future. If it would sink back down, Thrasher makes it right. 

Thrasher offers several levels of protection, filling all cracked concrete and control joints with NexusPro joint sealant. Then, the whole surface is protected from the elements with a coat of SealantPro. ™, which permanently bonds to your concrete. 

Our Lenexa, KS homeowner hired Thrasher to strategically injected PolyLevel under the slab and raised it to level with the garage floor. First, the Team leader does a walk-through of the work scope, setting an expectation for the lift with the homeowner and answering all questions or concerns. 

Once work is started, the crew will drill penny size holes strategically in the sunken slab to prep for a level lift. Polylevel injects new, structurally engineered material into any hidden voids to stop and reverse settlement. This is a skilled craft. Each team member goes through classroom training, learning about the mixture and process, then hands-on training with a seasoned Team Lead or Manager. 

Once the work is complete, the driveway and garage can be driven on within 24 hours. The team leader does a final walk through with the homeowner before collecting the final payment. 

Lenexa homeowner was beyond please with the work Thrasher did. The precise execution of the lift and level was perfect! The cleanup of the crew was as if no work had been done in the first place. This Lenexa homeowner is please they went with PolyLevel vs. traditional mudjacking or slab jacking. 

If you have concrete slabs that are significantly cracked, have voids beneath the slabs, or are sloping towards your home or building, it’s time to consult a PolyLevel Expert. PolyLevel is a much more cost-effective alternative to concrete replacement. 

Contact Thrasher Foundation Repair HERE. Each of our inspections comes at no obligation, and it includes a written concrete repair estimate. To schedule your free inspection, call or email us today! We proudly serve Kansas City, Lenexa, Olathe, Blue Springs, Topeka, St. Joseph, Wichita, Hays, Clay Center, and communities in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.  

This Overland Park foundation repair job included the installation of foundation piers, as well as epoxy crack repair.

A qualified foundation repair contractor or structural engineer should be consulted to determine if a crack in your foundation is merely cosmetic or of a more serious nature.

The goals for this residence were to achieve a minimal lift, to stabilize the structure on the east and south foundation walls, and to close the large crack on a corner. Thrasher and the consulting geotechnical engineer determined that resistance piers would be ideal to provide supplemental support in this situation.

The photos below show the large diagonal crack that had appeared on the corner of the foundation wall. The crack gaped open a half-inch or more.

Thirteen resistance piers were installed along the interior of the east and south foundation walls. Twelve linear feet of urethane injection was used to fill and seal the large crack after the piers were installed. The piers were hydraulically pushed into the soil beneath the home until a predetermined load-bearing stratus was reached.

Owners of public buildings must be very cautious about having tripping hazards on sidewalks.

All concrete slabs settle – it’s a matter of when, not if, it will happen.

The Raytown School District has used Thrasher Foundation Repair on many occasions to maintain the safety of the sidewalks and flatwork around their schools and office buildings.

Owners of most public buildings are required to repair any public sidewalk or entryway that has more than 3/4″ differential movement from one piece of flatwork to another.

Thrasher was hired to eliminate any potential tripping hazards along the sidewalks and entryways at one of the district's office buildings. We were able to return all the concrete flatwork to the original condition without interrupting their working schedule or the facility's function.

Although we do not use or provide mudjacking services today, we provide a polyurethane injection system, PolyLevel, to offer an economical, quick and effective solution for lifting situations like these and residential sidewalks, patios and driveways.  

Sunken or heaved concrete slabs can present tripping hazards that you may be liable for as a homeowner. Concrete repair is essential to protect your driveway, sidewalk or patio for the future. 

At Thrasher Foundation Repair, we use PolyLevel® for concrete leveling because it's a fast and effective way to lift and stabilize sinking concrete. PolyLevel is a lightweight, strong high-density polyurethane foam developed by our sister company Supportworks and only available to an exclusive network of foundation and concrete repair contractors. It lifts and supports concrete slabs without adding weight to the soil beneath, and it's waterproof so that it won't wash out or dry out like traditional mudjacking material. It's environmentally friendly, too, with no environmentally harmful chemical leaching. Concrete leveling with PolyLevel expanding foam not only raises concrete slabs but also compacts the soil around them, creating a stable environment that will ensure that your driveway, patio or pool deck remains level into the foreseeable future.

Our comprehensive concrete protection system provides additional durability:

1. Your concrete is lifted and leveled using PolyLevel® foam.
2. Your cracked concrete and control joints are filled and sealed using NexusPro joint sealant.
3. The whole surface is protected from the elements with a coat of SealantPro™, which permanently bonds to your concrete.

When you lift, level and protect your home's concrete, you can rest assured it will keep looking and working great well into the future — plus, you'll sleep better knowing you've got a five-year warranty.

When we visit your home for the first time, you can expect a thorough inspection and a detailed explanation of the concrete leveling solution we propose and why. We offer several levels of protection and transparent pricing to meet your specific needs. 

We use PolyLevel to lift and level concrete. PolyLevel polyurethane foam is pumped beneath cement slabs through tiny ports about the size of a penny. Initially, PolyLevel flows like water, filling even the smallest cracks and crevices in the soil. It quickly expands and hardens, lifting the concrete slabs above it and compressing the ground around it at the same time. PolyLevel is waterproof, so it will never wash out, and it won't degrade over time due to temperature extremes. It's environmentally friendly, too, with no ecologically harmful chemical leaching. Best of all, PolyLevel cures quickly, allowing your concrete to be used usually the same day.