Hills, cuts and fill
Building on a slope usually means cutting soil from the high side and placing it on the low side. Fill that was not compacted well keeps settling for years, and the low corner of a house built over it is the one that drops. Walk-out basements add a tall downhill wall that can lean if water collects behind it.
Calls we get from Chesterfield
| What the owner sees | What it often turns out to be |
|---|---|
| Crack in a finished basement wall | Shrinkage crack letting water in, sealed by injection |
| Gap opening at a rear deck or porch | Porch footing settling in fill, set on helical piers |
| Sloping floor toward the back of the house | Downhill corner settling, supported on push piers |
The valley
Chesterfield Valley was flooded in the Great Flood of 1993. Most of it is commercial today, but it is a reminder that river-bottom ground and high water tables are part of the picture on the low side of town.
Booking an inspection in Chesterfield
The visit is free and takes about an hour. You get a written plan, and the price of anything we recommend, before you decide.
See all repairs · What repairs cost
