Pier and Beam Foundation Repair in Flower Mound, TX
Raised foundations breathe differently from slabs. Here's what goes wrong under the house and what repair usually involves.
The Problem
How Pier and Beam Foundations Fail
A pier and beam home sits on wood beams and joists carried by piers, with a crawlspace underneath. Problems start there.
Piers can settle or shift as the soil moves. Wood beams and joists can sag, crack, or rot where moisture collects. Poor ventilation, a damp crawlspace, or water draining toward the house all make rot and movement more likely.
Signs inside the home are similar to slab problems, plus floors that dip, feel soft, or squeak, and a musty smell from below.
Repair Methods
Common Pier and Beam Repairs
What's needed depends on whether the problem is movement, moisture, wood damage, or a combination.
Re-leveling
Adjusting or shimming piers, or adding piers, so beams and floors are level and supported again.
Beam and Joist Repair
Reinforcing or replacing sagging or rotted framing.
Crawlspace Moisture
Ventilation, vapor barriers, and keeping water out of the crawlspace.
Drainage Fixes
Grading, gutters and downspouts, and French drains that keep water away from the house.
Drainage solutions →Before You Hire
Ask About the Moisture Plan
On a pier and beam house, fixing the structure without dealing with the moisture that damaged it usually means doing the work again. Ask what the contractor found in the crawlspace, what caused it, and what the written plan does about it.
Soft or sloping floors?
Request a free inspection and have a local contractor look under the house.
FAQ
Common Questions
Why does my pier and beam floor feel bouncy or squeaky?
Why does my pier and beam floor feel bouncy or squeaky?
Possible causes include sagging beams, loose shims, settled piers, or moisture damage in the framing. It takes an inspection under the house to tell which.
Is pier and beam better or worse than a slab?
Is pier and beam better or worse than a slab?
Neither is better across the board. They fail in different ways: slabs mostly through soil movement, pier and beam through movement plus moisture and wood damage in the crawlspace.
Does a pier and beam house need a crawlspace moisture fix?
Does a pier and beam house need a crawlspace moisture fix?
Often moisture control is part of a good repair plan, but it depends on the house. Ask the contractor what they found in the crawlspace and what they recommend.
Free Inspection Request
Tell Us What's Going On
Leave your details and a local, independent contractor will follow up. No obligation.