Foundation Repair In The City of San Diego
As one of California’s most dynamic coastal cities, San Diego poses unique foundation challenges due to its diverse soil types, coastal humidity, and seismic activity. Homeowners may encounter foundation settling, cracking, or moisture issues, especially in older properties or those located near slopes or the shoreline. At Dalinghaus Construction, we understand the intricacies of San Diego’s environmental factors and offer tailored solutions that ensure long-term stability for residential and commercial structures alike.
Founded in 2015, Dalinghaus Construction has completed over 2,000 projects across Southern California, Arizona, and Nevada—earning a reputation as one of the most trusted names in foundation repair in San Diego. Our team of seasoned professionals specializes in foundation repair, concrete foundation stabilization, crawlspace repair, retaining wall restoration, and seawall reinforcement. Whether you’re dealing with foundation cracks, uneven floors, or failing support structures, we combine precision diagnostics with proven engineering to deliver permanent repair solutions.
From coastal homes in La Jolla to hillside properties in Mission Hills, Dalinghaus Construction brings localized expertise and cutting-edge technology to every project. We use industry-leading tools like helical and push piers, carbon fiber reinforcement, and advanced moisture control systems to stabilize and protect your home’s foundation. Backed by years of hands-on experience and a commitment to integrity, we’re proud to be San Diego’s go-to experts for foundation and structural repair. Schedule your free foundation inspection today and take the first step toward protecting your home’s value and safety.
Signs of foundation, seawall, and retaining wall issues for a San Diego, CA, home or business.
- Uneven or sloping floors
- Cracks on walls, ceiling, and/or flooring
- Gaps between the walls and ceilings, floors, or wall corners
- Sticking doors and windows
- The chimney starts to tilt or lean
- Wall cracks along windows, doors, and foundations
Your raised foundation home might have your floor starting to bow out or sag to indicate crawlspace issues. If you go inside your crawlspace, you might see deteriorating wood or your posts and pads aren’t holding your floor up properly.
You’ll know you’re having hillside instability when your retaining wall starts to lean, bow or buckle.
Seawalls are very similar to retaining walls, except they deal with land and the ocean. So along with a seawall starting to lean, bow, or lean, you might also see concrete spalling and/or rust stains.
San Diego, CA, property owners have their whole plethora of with the different soil types, clays, and sands. Clays in particular are prone to expansion and shrinkage depending on the amount of moisture present, temperature, and other factors in the environment.
You want to make sure you have an experienced professional to help you with your issues. Dalinghaus Construction serves in San Diego, CA, helping keep homes safe for local San Diegans.
How do you do foundation repair and crawlspace repair near you in San Diego, CA?
When it comes to underpinnings that are affordable and effective, Dalinghaus Construction prefers to use galvanized steel underpinnings instead of concrete. We use push piers and helical piers.
Both serve the same purpose of stabilizing your home from foundation settlement or the structure on your property from sinking. Think of them as hands holding your home or business up so it doesn’t fall and hurt itself. Each of them is driven into the soil until reaching competent soil or bedrock.
Using the weight of a structure, push piersare hydraulically driven into the ground. Helical piers are installed separately using a helical torque motor. Helical piers can be driven until reaching competent soil or bedrock, but they can also be installed until reaching the recommended torque.
Not only can these piers be used for stabilization, but they’re also effective for foundation lifting, which brings the area affected by the settlement to maximum practical recovery.
When you lift your slab-on-grade home or business, there are voids in the ground that need addressing. This will be done using polyurethane foam, which is injected into the ground and rapidly expands, becoming as hard as concrete when it cures (in a 15-minute timespan).
Polyurethane is used for deep injection, void fill, soil strengthening, and releveling.
When it comes to lifting a raised foundation home, some things need to be fixed in your crawlspace. So pieces of wood to support your floor will be replaced, especially posts and pads that aren’t doing their jobs as well as they could. Crawlspace jacks will be put in place of the posts and pads to hold up your girder beams.
Crawlspace repair will also happen if the wood is deteriorating. Everything will be shored up and replaced so your floor is supporting you on the best and worst of days.
How do hillside stabilization and seawall repair happen?
Both types of repair are very similar except for some environmental factors. Retaining walls and seawalls both retain soil and deal with hydrostatic pressure. When pressure is applied, you might see these walls start to bow, crack, or buckle.
Cracking seawalls will have carbon fiber stitching applied on cracks to reinforce, strengthen, and prevent water from getting in between them. That way water won’t oxidize the rebar.
And depending on the type of seawall you have, water may be going through weep holes, which also takes soil with it. Due to this, you’ll have voids in the soil, which need to be strengthened via polyurethane.
Fun fact: Polyurethane is environmentally friendly!
As for retaining walls, they will have helical tiebacks installed into them until reaching competent soil or the recommended torque. These are similar to helical piers, except they’re installed more horizontally. They’re anchored into the wall so the lateral movement of the soil won’t cause more damage as it tries to move.
Why should my San Diego, CA, property receive foundation repair, crawlspace repair, hillside stabilization, and seawall repair?
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Foundation settlement gets worse before it gets better. Maybe heavy rains (when they happen) can temporarily cause the soil to expand and make your home or business relatively level again, but that’s incredibly rare and only lasts for a short time. And they’ll always come back. Foundation repair will let you take care of cosmetic problems without them coming back due to your foundation.
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The hope is that the extent of the issues you face with your home or business is cosmetic only. That’s how it is most of the time, but they can become structural if you refuse to do anything about your structure over time.
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Raised foundations are pretty cool in being able to keep your floors up and level as though there are no issues. It’s when your floor literally feels down when you know there’s something wrong. Crawlspace repair lets you know your floor was never depressed; it just needed more support.
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San Diego is a much hillier place than many people know. Those retaining walls need support in keeping the soil in its place and off your property. Hillside stabilization does just that so your San Diego, CA, property is still looking beautiful alongside the rest of the city.
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Seawalls are essential in maintaining your property value and making sure your home or business stays on land. Seawall repair lets you do those things. Plus, seawall repair doesn’t get cheaper as more damage happens over time.
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Hey, what if your foundation repair, crawlspace repair, seawall repair, and seawall stabilization just made sense? It makes sure your property is stabilized and your number one investment is secure.
Keep your property beautiful like San Diego, CA. Schedule your foundation inspection today!
Of course, it isn’t just foundation repair. Dalinghaus Construction will look at your retaining wall and seawall, too.
Thankfully, these inspections are all free IF your property isn’t on the market. Real estate inspections will be $1,000.
Have a professional come to your property and take a look at everything. Dalinghaus Construction is more than willing to come to your doorstep for your 60-90 minute foundation inspection.
Don’t wait to see if everything is good with your property – contact us today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common foundation issues in San Diego homes?
San Diego homes often face foundation settlement, cracking, and lateral shifting due to expansive clay soils, seasonal drought-to-moisture swings, and minor seismic activity. Sloped lots and older homes with unreinforced foundations are especially vulnerable.
How do I know if my crawl space needs repair in San Diego homes?
Common signs include musty odors, visible mold, sagging floors, high indoor humidity, condensation on HVAC ductwork, or standing water under the house. Pest infestations and wood rot are also indicators that your crawl space may need professional attention.
What causes crawl space moisture problems in coastal climates like San Diego?
San Diego’s coastal environment introduces high humidity, salty air, and occasional storm runoff. Homes with open crawl space vents, poor drainage, or exposed soil floors are especially susceptible to moisture buildup, which can lead to mold, rot, and structural decay.
What foundation repair methods do you use in San Diego?
Common solutions include helical piers and push piers for settling foundations, epoxy crack injection for non-structural cracks, wall anchors for bowing basement walls, and slab underpinning for sunken sections. Crawl spaces may be reinforced with support jacks or encapsulated for moisture control.
Are homes in San Diego more prone to crawl space humidity problems?
Yes. San Diego’s proximity to the coast means homes are more likely to experience high crawl space humidity, especially in older homes with open-vented crawl spaces or inadequate vapor barriers. This can lead to mold, musty odors, and wood rot if not addressed.
Is crawl space repair covered by homeowners insurance in California?
Usually, no. Crawl space repairs related to general wear, moisture buildup, or poor construction are considered maintenance issues and not covered. However, damage resulting from a covered peril, like a burst pipe, may be partially reimbursed. Always check your specific policy.
Do earthquakes affect foundations in San Diego?
Yes. San Diego sits near several fault lines and, while major quakes are rare, even minor seismic activity can crack or shift foundations—especially older homes without seismic retrofitting. Foundation inspections after quakes are strongly recommended.
Are slab foundations common in San Diego homes?
Yes. Many post-1980 homes in San Diego are built on slab foundations, especially in areas with limited rainfall or flat terrain. However, crawl space foundations are still common in older coastal and hillside properties.
Do I need a permit for foundation repairs in San Diego?
Yes, most structural foundation repairs require a permit. Licensed contractors will handle the permitting process and ensure all work complies with San Diego Building Code and seismic retrofit requirements where applicable.
Does San Diego’s soil type affect foundation stability?
Absolutely. Parts of San Diego contain expansive clay soils that shrink and swell with moisture changes, leading to foundation movement. Homes built on fill soil or near hillsides may also be more prone to settling or shifting.
How does coastal air impact crawl space problems in San Diego?
The salty, humid coastal air accelerates corrosion of metal components and promotes wood rot and mold growth in unsealed crawl spaces. Homes near the coast benefit significantly from encapsulation systems, dehumidifiers, and vent sealing.
