Old stone cellars, bowing block and settling wings are common in and around Chatham. We stabilize foundations from inside with straps, braces and piers, and back every repair with a lifetime warranty.
Chatham Township was founded in 1818, and some farmhouses around the old Chatham Center crossroads are well over a century old. Their foundations were built from fieldstone or brick laid in lime mortar. That mortar softens as groundwater passes through it year after year. The wall loosens, stones shift and sections can bulge inward under the weight of wet soil.
Mid-century and later homes here rest mostly on concrete block or poured walls. The clay-rich soil of western Medina County swells after rain and snowmelt and presses on those walls, then shrinks in dry summers and can leave footings with less support. Block tends to bow along a horizontal mortar joint, while poured walls crack and the cracks slowly widen.
Country houses are often enlarged over time with garages, porches, mudrooms and family rooms. Those later sections usually sit on shallower footings, and they settle on their own as the clay moves. Cracks appear where new meets old, floors slope toward the addition and doors stop closing. Each points to movement under one part of the house, and the gap usually grows a little with every season.
Everything starts with a free inspection where we measure bowing and follow each crack. Walls just starting to move get carbon-fiber straps bonded to the concrete. Walls pushed further in get the Richtech Stabilizer System, steel braces anchored at the floor and framing that can be tightened in stages to bring the wall back toward plumb. Stone walls may need repointing or rebuilding in spots.
Settling garages, wings and corners get steel push piers driven to firm soil, where they take the weight and can lift the section toward level. Cracks in poured walls are sealed with epoxy or polyurethane injection. We also look at grading and downspouts, since clay that stays drier puts less strain on any foundation.
Every Chatham repair is sized to what the inspection finds, and each part of it carries our transferable lifetime warranty.
Carbon-fiber straps and the Richtech system stop walls from bowing and moving any further.
Engineered anchoring transfers load and holds your foundation walls straight and secure.
Epoxy and polyurethane injections seal cracks against water and lock out further movement.
We pair structural repair with waterproofing so the problem is solved end to end.
You work directly with the All American team at every step.
We measure the wall, check for settling and show you what is moving and why.
You get a fixed-price repair plan in plain English, with financing options if you want them.
Our own crew installs the straps, stabilizers or piers your foundation needs.
We walk you through the finished work and hand over a written, transferable lifetime warranty.
Interior drainage, wall membranes and footing drains that relieve water pressure and stop seepage at the source - keeping your Chatham basement dry for good.
Learn moreBowing walls and settlement cracks stabilized permanently with the Richtech Stabilizer System, carbon-fiber straps, and epoxy/polyurethane crack injection.
Learn moreHigh-capacity sump systems with battery backup and water-alarm monitoring that automatically clear water before it accumulates - even when the power goes out.
Learn moreFrench drains, downspout extensions and regraded surface drainage that move stormwater away from your foundation before it ever reaches your basement.
Learn moreRepair, replacement and maintenance of gutters and downspouts so roof runoff is captured and carried far from your foundation - your first line of defense.
Learn moreCode-compliant egress windows that add a safe emergency exit, flood your basement with natural light, and unlock legal bedroom potential and home value.
Learn morePowerful dehumidification and moisture control that clears musty odors, protects against mold, and turns a damp basement into fresh, comfortable living space.
Learn moreDurable, energy-efficient glass block windows that resist leaks and break-ins while still letting daylight into your basement - a clean, permanent upgrade.
Learn moreAll American Basement Waterproofing is a family business at 298 E Walnut St in Wadsworth, working since 1985 with an A+ BBB rating. Our own employees make the drive to Chatham for every estimate and job.
The free visit covers your basement or crawl space, the grade around the house and the gutters. Afterward you get a written plan with the cause, the fix and the price. Call (330) 366-3028 to book it.
We recently hired All American Basement Waterproofing to address some structural and moisture issues in our basement, and we couldn't be happier with the results. Mike and his team installed carbon fiber straps on one of our basement walls.
Exceptional basement waterproofing, highly recommend. I had an outstanding experience with All American Basement for my basement.
We had our cellar door stairs waterproofed, a drain in the basement and downlines for our gutters installed. The crew was great to work with.
Not necessarily. Many stone walls can be repointed, braced or partly rebuilt. We'll check how loose the stones are and how far the wall has moved, then explain the realistic options.
A horizontal crack in block usually means soil is pushing the wall inward. It's a sign to act before bowing gets worse. Carbon-fiber straps or Richtech braces can hold it from inside.
Often, yes. Steel push piers under the footing reach firm soil and support the load, and they can raise the section toward level. We'll check the footing first and give you a written plan.
Yes. Clay swells and shrinks with the seasons, and even newer poured walls can crack as it moves. Most cracks can be sealed with injection, and we'll check whether there's ongoing movement.
Start with a foundation check. Sloping floors can come from a settling footing or from sagging framing. We'll look at both and tell you which is causing it before suggesting any repair.
Mostly. Straps, Richtech braces and crack injection are installed inside. Push piers need small access holes at the footing, which we backfill afterward and leave neat.
It's worth a prompt look. Chimneys often sit on their own footing and can settle or lean. We'll inspect it and explain whether piers or other repairs are needed.
Yes. Our lifetime warranty is written and transfers to the buyer. It shows the foundation was repaired properly, which can make the sale go more smoothly.
Yes. Water off the roof and a yard sloping toward the house soak the clay next to the walls. Fixing both reduces the pressure on the foundation and helps any repair last.
All American Basement Waterproofing does, with our own crew from Wadsworth. We're family-owned since 1985 with an A+ BBB rating. Call (330) 366-3028 for a free inspection.
Chatham is one of the many Medina County communities we serve - or see our full foundation repair service.
Talk to All American today - we'll inspect your Chatham basement or foundation and give you an honest, written estimate at no cost. Family-owned and protecting Northeast Ohio homes since 1985.
24/7 emergency response · Financing available · Transferable lifetime warranty