American Fork, Utah

Despite being considered a desert state, Utah is affected by many different weather patterns throughout the course of the year. If you live in any of the regions that make up the northern half of the state, take for example the city of American Fork, which rests not far from the waters of Utah Lake, then you are likely far from unaccustomed to semi-frequent rainy days and the occasional blizzard. These patterns may seem, to many people, to be an occurrence that is just natural (which it is), and not very problematic. After all, it’s just water in the end, right? Well, of course, but some may not recognize the hazards these changes in the weather can pose, so we’ll help lay it out.

American Fork, much like Salt Lake City and other regions within the radius of the Wasatch Range, is no stranger whatsoever to inclimate weather. Even slight rain, while it may not be a guarantee, can cause damage to homes, or rather, their foundations more specifically, which will in turn cause damage to the home itself over time. Understanding how the rain, snow, hail, etc. can damage your home and property is important, so important that it could likely be considered the key to avoiding foundation damage altogether, and avoiding having to pay for the repairs. You see, these weather types can cause damage to your foundation primarily by flooding said foundation of a structure, by prompting soil beneath your home to shift around, and even just create cracks in the material composition of a foundation via weathering. Obviously, the weather cannot simply be, “turned off,” like the lights in your home, so we have to create ways to prevent damage by safeguarding the foundations in certain ways to avoid these problems.

Business in the more arid, desert-like areas in the southern region of the state usually increases alongside the fade to Autumn. The lack of business in these areas during the months in the middle of the year is mainly due to what is almost a universal absence of rain (let alone the presence of snow) in these areas. Of course, Salt Lake City, Provo, Heber, etc. are all no stranger to at least a small amount of rain during the Summer given their presence in the Northern half of Utah, but with St. George almost on the southern border in an extremely dry expanse of the state, it’s no surprise that there is minimal precipitation, even into the later and earliest parts of the year. Even still, there is of course an increase in precipitation during the Fall, Winter, and Spring in St. George, and the prominence of foundation repair increases until that rain/snowfall dissipates near the end of the Spring season.

The team at Rhino Foundation Systems works all throughout Utah, from Ogden, to Salt Lake City, and– you guessed it– St. George. With over 50 years of experience and the go-to resource for foundation waterproofing and stabilization. We know full well of the variety of problems that may need resolving via foundation repair, and there will never be a single universal solution to the problems, but our job is to pinpoint the best strategy to combat the issue, and get a team together to execute the technique, and ultimately rid a client of any foundation problems they may be dealing with.

What services do we offer in American Fork, Utah?

As a foundation repair business, we specialize in repairs to foundations as the name suggests, but in the process, we often provide services that can help to prevent issues and damage in the future, to combat potentially hazardous weather down the line. At Rhino Foundation Systems, as we do with most of Utah, we also provide for those that need repairs or services in American Fork, hence why we have been focusing so heavily on it here. Here is a brief list of the services we offer in American Fork, Utah:

Foundation Repair

  • Basement Waterproofing
  • Crawl Space Encapsulation
  • Carbon Fiber
  • Foundation Leveling
  • Helical Piers
  • Micropiles

Concrete Lifting

  • Concrete Leveling
  • Polyurethane Foam
  • Concrete Replacement

For a more detailed look at each of these services, visit our service page here.

Preventative Measures

Without a doubt, the two most common weather hazards in American Fork when it comes to structural damage are rain and snow. This is due to their intrinsic characteristic of being composed of water. As previously stated, water can cause a foundation to falter in one of a couple ways:

  • Water can cause soil to move around beneath your home
  • Water can lead to mold buildup if it comes into contact with the foundation
  • Water can sneak into the foundation, and flood your basement

The damage caused in these instances can be more significant than most would consider, after all it is water, something the vast majority of people living their day to day lives would not consider to be hazardous, at least among other things (which we will get to). So now that you are informed of the potential threat that precipitation poses, whether it be in the form of melting snow or a continuous downpour of rain, what are some of the things a foundation repair company, such as Rhino Foundation Systems, will do to fix the damage, or prevent it from happening again down the line?

Well, when it comes to water damage, the first thing to do depends on the type of water damage. If it’s flooded, the water has to be removed as soon as possible to prevent further damage, but if this is the case, we at least know that the basement was not properly sealed, and we can then waterproof the basement to prevent this in the future. With that said, however, flooding has probably caused damage in other areas, and that will need to be mended as well. If

the water has caused damage in the form of shifting soil, and/or moving the foundation, your home has likely started to sink, and you could be looking at seeing a longer repair window due to the potential step up in damage from what flooding poses. In this instance, more repair equipment may be necessary, and the cost of said repairs will increase along as such.

If you have a keen eye, and are prone to acting quickly, you will save yourself a lot in terms of repairs. If you are worried your home might be experiencing water damage, here are some things to look out for:

  • Water stains in the basement
  • Warped cupboards, windows, and door frames
  • Doors no longer fitting properly
  • Mold buildup in dark areas
  • Cracked surfaces along the base of the structure

If you notice one of these occurrences, or any other potential unnatural occurrence affecting your home, do not hesitate to contact Rhino Foundation Systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost for foundation repairs in St. George, Utah?

The cost of repairs is directly proportional to the extent of the damage to the foundation in question. Worst case scenario, your home is already in the process of sinking, which means some extensive work will need to be done to fix its suitability for living, and bring it back to a level position. This process can lead to prices that sometimes stretch even further than $15,000, which is of course not ideal if you are trying to save the most money on repairs. The best way to save money when it comes to foundation repair is to catch the issues early, often displayed in the form of cracks or small breaks in the house material. Acting fast can cut the prices down to less than $5,000. Of course, that is still costly, but it is without a doubt better than the $15k required to fix what could be a sinking home. Remember, the quicker you reach out, the better.

What are the leading causes of foundation damage in St. George, Utah?

Of course, any number of things that cause damage to a foundation can happen in St. George. The severity and/or frequency of some of these causes is what varies. One of the biggest issues in St. George is flooding and leaking due to poor and improper basement waterproofing, and this issue is mainly prevalent during the latest and earliest months of the year because of the increased moisture during these times in the form of rain and snow. Given the climate in St. George, it isn’t uncommon to find that a home has had minimal work done to seal the basement from leaks because precipitation in the region is more infrequent than areas like Salt Lake City and Park City, and ironically, the flooding problems in St. George can be excessive for this reason. In St. George, it is best to have your foundation waterproofed just to be on the safe side. Other causes of damage to the foundation in St. George consist of shifting soil and uneven concrete foundation structuring.

In St. George, Utah, what can I do to keep my foundation well maintained?

Inspect the base of your house near the foundation for cracks frequently, especially after a period of rain washes over. Inconsistencies in the moisture level around a structure can cause the soil to move around and cause the house to experience leaks or sinking. Additionally, it is ideal to install and maintain a drainage system for water to flow away from the foundation for that same reason, and this is even more important if the soil leading to your home slopes slightly inward rather than outward. Keep trees far enough away from your house, as their roots can grow and affect the foundation. It may be in your interest to install a root barrier to avoid this potential issue. Finally, make sure to have the plumbing of your home inspected at least once per year.

How long will it take for my foundation to be repaired in St. George, Utah?

Much like the cost of repairs, the length of time a company like Rhino Foundation Systems will need to perform the repair process primarily depends on how excessive the damages are. On average, it is found that the average number of days needed for repairs ranges from 1-3 days, although, this is of course subject to change depending on the amount of work that needs to be done.

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