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Foundation piling and underpinning in Winnipeg

When part of a house keeps settling, sealing cracks won't solve it. The long-term fix is to support the foundation on something more stable than the shifting clay near the surface.

Signs a house may be settling

• Sloping floors or a noticeable dip on one side of the house.
• Doors and windows that stick, or gaps at the top of door frames.
• Diagonal drywall cracks from the corners of doors and windows.
• Stair-step cracks in block walls, or foundation cracks that keep widening.
• Chimneys, porches or additions pulling away from the house.

What piling and underpinning involve

• Piles. Steel screw piles or concrete piles are installed down to more stable soil, then connected to the foundation to carry the load. Many Winnipeg homes, especially newer ones, are already built on piles.
• Underpinning. Extending the existing foundation deeper, section by section, so it bears on firmer soil.
• Levelling. Once supported, part of the house may be lifted back toward level where it's safe to do so.

This is engineered work. Expect a contractor to recommend an engineer's review, a permit from the City, and a written scope before work starts.

Older homes

Many older Winnipeg neighbourhoods have homes on shallow footings, and some have stone or wood foundations. These houses are often the most affected by clay movement and benefit most from a proper assessment.

House settling? Use the form on this page, choose "House settling / sticking doors / sloping floors", and tell us the age of the house. A local contractor will contact you.

Common questions