Top 5 Signs of Foundation Problems

Are you wondering if you have foundation problems?

Foundation problems can be caused by various factors. We at Grant Renne and Sons have made a list to help you identify the signs within and outside your house and to help you determine if you need foundation repair services. Whether you own a house or a commercial property, remember, identifying the problem is the first step in finding a solution to protect your property.

1) Fractures/Cracks

The most common and easiest way to identify a foundation problem is to look for cracks, crumbling or buckling walls. A house/building structure could experience movement due to various reasons such as excessive rainfall, drought, earthquakes etc.

During droughts we usually notice vertical cracks on walls, which generally means settlement. And during excess rain we usually notice horizontal cracks which generally means inward movement of the walls. Keep in mind that some cracks could just be a cosmetic issue which is nothing to be concerned about. So call us at 816-221-6076 to help determine if an action is needed.

2) Foundation Settling or Sinking
Have you noticed that one side of your house is lower than the other? Are any of your walls crumbling on the interior or exterior? Over time structures can start settling or sinking which is a sign for immediate action. The reason you are noticing those cracks is because eventually the soil beneath your building can fall beneath the weight of the structure, as well as react to the expansive clay soils prevalent in our area. If you are noticing any of those signs, contact us immediately as it can be an indication of a potential problem that, if it is fixed in the early stages, can save costly repairs in the future.

3) Doors That Don’t Open/Close Properly
Are your doors uneven, sticking or do they not open/close properly? That could be a sign of your foundation sinking. Extreme rain fall or drought can cause the soil under your building to expand and contract. Once your doors have shown a sign of unevenness, it’s time to contact an experienced foundation repair company to determine if you need repair work. And what better company to contact than Grant Renne and Sons, the oldest foundation repair company in Kansas City with over 140 years of experience.

4) Water Problems or Soil Lifting
Have you noticed water coming into your basement? Are your walls leaking? Have you noticed a musty odor? If you answered yes to any of those question then you need to contact a foundation repair company. Water damage and moisture can lead to serious foundation problems, especially in Kansas City where we have frequent rain as well as drought periods. Crack repair, such as polyurethane injection, and an internal drain tile system can alleviate water from entering the basement, thus making for a usable space. Standing water around your building can cause foundation issues as well. A proper surface drain or French drain is a must have for every house/building. Look for the signs and contact a professional as soon as possible.

5) Cracks in Floors
Most common floor cracks appear in poured concrete floor slabs in basements and garages. It’s key to understand that cracks in the floor that continue up to the foundation wall are the ones to worry about. If there is a significant soil settlement and your building doesn’t have proper reinforcement, it might collapse. So don’t postpone making an appointment for a free estimate (Grant Renne and Sons) as it could potentially save you thousands of dollars on repairs in the future.

Have you been noticing any of these 5 signs? Give us a call at 816-221-6076 or email us at [email protected] and we will be glad to answer your questions and help you solve any structural building problems.

Tom Clarke

20:22 30 Mar 17

We are very pleased with the foundation work that Grant Renne has completed for us. The workmen were very prompt, courteous and went beyond what we expected from them. When they did the regrading around our foundation, the men not only raked up the leaves before putting down the dirt, but they bagged up the leaves for us! We hired them to removed our patio which was causing some of the foundation issues and they moved the furniture for us that we hadn't had time to remove prior to them starting the removal process. Honest, courteous, trustworthy, dependable workers and their price was right too!

Brian Gregory

14:05 14 Jul 17

I closed on a house at the beginning of July and had several cracks in two walls in addition to both walls getting beams installed. The team that showed up did a professional job throughout the process. Latter another very fin crack was discovered crack was discovered . They came back and addressed the new one in the same manner. After last night's heavy rain there were no issues with any leaks from with wall. We discussed grading option along the outside and in the future I will be following up with them. I can not recommend this company enough. They were helpful and gave great advice on how to address the water issues around the outside of the house to insure a dry basement.

Rachel Nachum

15:04 08 Feb 17

I could not be happier with my decision to hire Grant Renne to take care of my basement needs. From start to finish, I always felt like I was in great hands! Prior to and during the work, the company was honest and responsive. They started on time and from there, the work went smoothly. The guys who worked on my home were friendly, diligent and professional. I also appreciate the clean work throughout the entire job. Without any hesitation, I would recommend Grant Renne and Sons Inc.!

Suzanne Zarda

14:53 05 Jun 17

I was in a rush to have foundation work done on my home for sale. Mark went above and beyond to get the work done, and kept me in the loop the whole time. They were able to begin the work early, finish early and keep me updated through the whole process. Staff in the office was also very friendly and professional. They treat their customers as their top priority and they will be my first call if I need any foundation repairs in the future.

Richard Holmes

14:33 19 Sep 17

My dad Joe West was a supervisor I used to work for them very excellent company

Dana

18:34 13 Feb 18

Excellent work! Professional. Didn't recommend more work than we actually needed. Went above and beyond expectations.

David Robinson

06:00 10 Feb 18

Great work done quickly and excellent customer service.

Amenta Terry

00:46 22 Apr 18

They have great workers and staff especially Alton Jones he knows his work and loves what he do!!!

Mary Lappin

16:02 03 May 18

There's a reason these guys have been in business so long! I've used them on two jobs, and each time they exceeded my expectations for courtesy and a job well done. Can't imagine calling anyone else for this work!

John Crooks

23:30 08 Aug 18

Although I live overseas I had confidence in their workmanship and ethics and was not disappointed

Xue Chen

20:19 24 Oct 18

I have to give a five star to this company even though I didn't actually use them. I called Dry Basement Foundation Repair Co. first and experienced a horrible customer service, so I decided to try Grant Renne & Sons. They are very friendly and connected me to a specialist. He listened to my issue (which Dry Basement completely ignored) and told me the cheapest solution that I can do myself. I appreciated their patience and knowledge to customers. Highly recommend.

Albert Sunseri

14:05 15 Mar 19

Mark gave us an excellent appraisal of our foundatiion problem. He answered all our questions and explained different ways to best fix our situation. He pulled no punches and even though there was no mpney to be made by his company he still shared with us all his time and experience. I would highly recommend Grant Renne to provide you with honest answers and repairs as needed and not to just make a sale..

Skyler Huff Howard

16:31 02 Apr 19

If you have foundation work needed or even suspect that you might, don't hesitate to give Grant Renne a call. We recently bought a home and wanted to check on our foundation based upon an inspection report, and Grant himself came out and was so helpful in reviewing. Even though at this time we don't need to do any hired work (which speaks volumes that he didn't try to sell us anything we didn't need), if we do in the future I know I will be calling Grant Renne again. He's also absolutely wonderful to chat with. Thank you, Grant!

Jerry Kolb

02:35 15 Apr 19

I thought that I had a problem in my basement because I had some water at the base of my wall. Called Renne Foundation to please come assess the problem. Gentleman came within hours of when I called. He examined the wall and then took me downstairs to show me what he found. He pointed out that water was standing on the top of the foundation wall. He then took me outside and showed me where water had leaked down the outside of the foundation wall. He concluded by saying that he did not think I had a foundation problem but I had a plumbing problem. It turned out that my cast iron drain pipe from the kitchen sink had broken and the water and garbage disposal material was running down the basement wall. He was accurate, honest and helpful. I"d be happy to have them do work at my house - when I needed it.

Laura Tourtellot

18:49 03 May 19

Excellent work done by quality people I am absolutely comfortable having in my home. This is my second use of this company, and am planning on using them again. I give my highest recommendation.

Kara DiSalvo

14:34 30 May 19

Grant Renne & Sons, Inc. squeezed me in even though they were very busy. They were very professional and honest. Its always nice to find someone honest that won't try and sell services that you don't need. I would definitely recommend them!

Nathan Griffin

18:18 28 Jun 19

I’m a new Midwest homeowner that found out crazy wet Kansas City weather and basements don’t really mix well. With my new found knowledge and a flooded basement, I researched companies that could give me a quote and Grant Renne & Sons was one. I had nothing short of a great experience with Mark when he visited to provide a walk through and a quote. He went above and beyond a normal ‘sales’ call and didn’t pressure services on me, but actually provided great advice for things to do before ripping out concrete. I’m really glad I stumbled onto this local company and even though I might not use their service immediately, I’ll be sure to contact them when I do! Thank you!

Chris Thompson

13:04 07 Sep 19

Mark is very knowledgeable and doesn't just tell you what you want to hear, but informs you so that you thoroughly understand the process. He also gives options of the work needing done with information on what to expect with various estimates. No "up selling", just honest information.Jason & Randall were the1st 2 crew members, and sorry I cannot remember the 3rd gentleman's name. Everything was done in a timely manner, professional work ethics, and they never did anything differently without conferring with me first.Cost was fair, they did not let the rain hamper their progress after they got started, although it does cause delays on outside work. Not an issue as they are well prepared to handle such obstacles.I will , and already have referred family and friends.The Thompson's

Chris & Erica Hamm

17:10 14 Oct 19

Great on pricing and completely fair when we found issues that were hidden. They also do quality work. I would recommend them to anybody.

Martin Meulendyke

15:14 20 Dec 19

My 70 year old basement suddenly started leaking after being dry for the previous 14 years I have lived here. I called several foundation repair companies and the first two both recommended $15,000 repairs. Then Mark of Grant Renne came out, and based on his knowledge and experience, recognized that I had a simple clogged sump drain. He told me to call a plumber, which I did, and $400 later my pipe was cleared and my basement was dry again. What a great Christmas present for me and my wife.

Annette Griggs

14:41 10 Mar 20

I have the greatest respect for Grant Renne & Sons. They drilled down and piered our 80 year old house, added an internal French drain in our basement and a sump pump. Their work was wonderful and professional. But perhaps the most impressive quality was Grant Renne’s honest assessment of the work that needed to be done and the cost saving measures he suggested. Very impressive company.

Ruth Robertson

15:00 07 May 20

At Mark’s initial visit to assess my old foundation and damp crawl space, I realized I had finally found an honest man who would not try to sell me more than I need. Four other companies advised me that my foundation was in dire need of expensive fixes costing up to $1600. After checking out my crawl space, Mark said, “At some point your foundation had slipped but had been remedied with proper braces on two different occasions and that there had been no additional slipping since those repairs were made. Unfortunately, continued dampness did need to be addressed to prevent future problems. We need to divert rain water to run AROUND your house instead of damming up and seeping UNDER you house.” Jason headed up the crew that did the actual trenching and installation of French drain, raising the entry access to the crawl space and landscaping the dirt to ready it for re-seeding. They did a professional and timely job. Every staff member that I have met at Grant Renne and Sons, whether by phone or in person, has been professional, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. HURRAH! FIVE STARS. PS. The job cost less than half of the highest bids made by competitors.

Sandi Lerner

15:40 02 Jul 20

Grant Renne was recommended to us by previous customers who were more than satisfied with the work performed on their homes. This company has done amazing work on our home and we know that there is no company and no staff anywhere that treats customers with such respect and does the finest quality of work that we have experienced. Their professionalism, integrity and customer caring is unmatchable. Over the years we have found that everything they repaired has held up perfectly without any problems. The work is done in a timely fashion and everything is cleaned up afterward by the workers themselves. From the initial contact to the final finish, this is the best foundation company to work with.

karol h

18:54 09 Oct 20

I love this Company!!!!!! They are by far one of the most honest and best companies I have ever worked with. They have done work on my home on more than one occasion and I would definitely use them again. Being a "mature' single person I was concerned about being "taken" for the cost of two large projects. I didn't need to worry cos everything from the estimates to the completion of the jobs was on point. Definitely would recommend.

Rayelle Miller

03:36 08 Dec 20

We have used 2 different Foundation Companies and had quotes from 3 and BY FAR Grant Renne & Sons had the best quoting process and did the BEST WORK. Great communication, and the team day of Keight/Geno/Bobby was fantastic. They were thorough, friendly, and respectful (especially during Covid times).

Roxanne Gillenwater

03:05 24 Oct 21

Had high hopes because they were recommended to us by our realtor but we were let down, big time. The company did a great job when it came to scheduling the foundation inspection in June. After that, we emailed back and forth with the admin assistant (who was great!) and were told multiple times across a span of four months that the crew would contact us to schedule the actual foundation repair. The crew never emailed or called and we ultimately decided to look for another company. Very disappointed.

Fun Smiles

23:16 07 Nov 21

Nice people.

Kimberly Howard

22:21 17 Dec 21

They were very professional and did the work very well. I could count on them to do everything they said they would do.

Jason Carr

02:15 02 Apr 22

Very happy with the work they did on our house. Very honest and on time and the finished product was great and couldn't even tell they were there!! Thank you guys so much!!

Mary Heft, RN

02:27 24 Apr 22

Less than a year after their work

Betty Lacy

18:45 01 Feb 23

Grant Renne & Sons, Inc. was a joy to deal with. The people they sent for the repair were very nice to explain what they were doing through out the process. A supervisor stopped by as well to answer any questions we might have.A very professional group!!

Alberto Orozco

21:53 23 Feb 23

Loved the fact when they come out straight facts, no B.S. or upsell just straight talk. The experience & knowledge reflected from the 1st person came out to the workers doing the work.

Terry Williams

21:19 13 Mar 23

We’ve had a settling problem on our front porch for years. The folks from Grant Renne came out and did an excellent job of putting in some piers to keep everything stable for the future. They were very nice to work with and were priced quite fair compared to some other bids we received. I would highly recommend this company for any structural foundation work.

Susan Sargent

20:32 10 Mar 23

We did an extensive basement repair and were very much aware of disruption to our lives and new basement remodel. We have yet to see Mr. Renne. They tore through our entire basement. All floors (not partial) sheetrock and ceilings had to be redone. We spent as much putting it back as it was for 9k they charged us. They absolutely said would be perimeter. However, what was worse is it took 3 times as long to get done during Covid season. We understood, but the foreman said they could not get people to work. What happened next we certainly should not be responsible for. Our entire upstairs was destroyed. Every seem, sheetrock and taping buckled and was destroyed. We asked for him to please come out and help with a resolution and instead we were bombarded with attorney's correspondence. To date, he has never contacted us 20k later. You only know someone's work ethic when something goes wrong. There are too many professional and qualified basement specialists to take the risk on him. It is not about the work, the delay....it is about the irreparable destruction that it created. Please do not do business with this man.

Kathleen Wirt

20:49 29 Apr 23

The first time I had Grant Renne install a pier under my home was 15 years ago. I was pleased with the results then, and so they were my go-to most recently when I decided to have two more piers installed under portions of my house that needed attention. Everybody I have come in contact with has been professional and courteous, and the crew was great. I highly recommend Grant Renne.

Vic Cundiff

20:11 12 May 23

We used Grant Renne & Sons to mud jack our driveway after 20 years of settling. We are very happy with the results, the staff, and the clean up.

Ashley Fae

15:42 05 May 23

Grant Renee is just wonderful. The work is reliable, the communication is great, Customer service is quick, helpful and always a great help! I would recommend. 10/10

gwenn

13:28 13 Aug 23

We have been very pleased with their services, professionalism, quality of work and timeliness in completing work! Thanks everyone with Grant Renne & Sons!

Megan Adams

13:40 23 Nov 23

We have a late 1800s Farmhouse that needed an old fieldstone foundation wall replaced and some additional walls piered most recently. When looking for a repair company it was very important to me that the company have experience with old houses, which we found with Grant Renne. I appreciated Mark coming out to give us an estimate and help give me peace of mind on the work to be done from a practical standpoint. Fernando and his team did a great job getting the work done! Overall, everyone we worked with and talked to at Grant Renne provided excellent customer service and communication from start to finish! We highly recommend them to others in the metro area!!

Brittni W.

19:15 29 Oct 24

Wild conversation. Phone lady told me my address and City didn’t exist for a quote I needed after closing. It’s a smaller city off State Line with only about 60 houses between Westwood and Mission Hills. Didn’t even offer to get any quotes on the calendar for after closing. Customer Service 0/10.

Anh Murphy

18:12 04 Feb 25

A+ service. I have been a client for 15+ years. I completely trust these guys to fix any of my foundation and drainage issues.

Caitlyn L

16:54 10 Jun 25

Mark is the best! I had quotes ranging from $2k - $80k! I followed back up with Mark who reassured me that the things other company’s were quoting were unnecessary. This company has everything you want: Zero upsell, honest folks, and quality work.

Greg Morlan

01:36 12 Aug 25

Great experience with the project from start to finish. Mark did a great job explaining the process to fix my water issues in my basement. The crew carried buckets of broken concrete up stairs and did a nice job of cleanup. I recommend this company highly for water issues in your basement.

Rose Hinsz

17:12 09 Jan 26

Had one pier installed to support a sinking addition on my old home.Easy communication, thorough information & lovely folks to work with. Showed up early and were able to complete everything in less time than I was expecting. Jobsite left clean and all the guys were kind. My dog even liked them!