Falcon Foundation Repair for Newer Homes

Foundation Problems in Falcon's Growing Subdivisions

Falcon is an unincorporated area about 15 miles northeast of Colorado Springs, out on the open plains. It has grown fast, and many of its homes are in newer subdivisions built on what was recently prairie. Lots tend to be flat or gently sloped, with wide yards, young landscaping and few mature trees to break the wind. Many homeowners are the first people to live in their houses, so early signs of movement are often new to them.

New construction does not mean a foundation is free of problems. Soils on the plains east of the city include expansive clays that react strongly to moisture changes. Freshly placed backfill settles as it ages, and on flat lots even a small sag can turn the yard back toward the house. New lawns and landscaping often come with heavy irrigation, and that water ends up in the soil right next to basement walls. Builders grade lots to drain, but that grading can change as soil settles, fences go in and new landscaping is added.

Wind and weather on the open prairie add to it. Summer storms can drop a lot of rain fast, and with few trees to slow runoff, water collects wherever grading lets it. We commonly see cracks in new poured basement walls, settling at front steps and patios, and garage slabs that have dropped at the edges. Spotting the cause early in a home's life keeps the repair smaller. Typical fixes include crack injection, slab leveling, regrading, French drains and, where a footing has settled, piers to support it.