Foundation repair · Portsmouth, NH
Foundation repair in Portsmouth, NH
Stone, brick and concrete foundations repaired or replaced under Portsmouth homes, including older houses near the waterfront where water is the main enemy.
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Portsmouth foundations
Foundations that have seen centuries.
Many Portsmouth homes sit on stone or brick foundations built long before modern drainage or waterproofing. Water from storms, tides and rising groundwater has been working on them ever since.
We repair sections that have bowed or lost mortar, underpin settled corners and, when the foundation is beyond saving, lift the house and build a new one. Near the water, we design the new foundation for flood conditions.
New footings go below the frost line, which typically reaches 48 to 60 inches in New Hampshire. Where waterfront soil is soft, helical piles can carry the house instead.
Foundation snapshot
Common types
Fieldstone, brick, block and poured concrete
Main enemy
Water from tides, storms and groundwater
Repair options
Rebuild, underpin, waterproof or replace
Soft soil
Helical piles driven 10 to 25 feet
Approvals
City permits, plus historic review where it applies
How it works
How Portsmouth foundation work runs
From finding the water to fixing the walls.
01
Find the cause
We trace cracks and water back to their source before we recommend anything.
02
Plan the fix
Repair, underpinning, waterproofing or full replacement, with a written estimate.
03
Build
We excavate, shore and rebuild with our own crew, lifting the house if needed.
04
Keep water out
Drainage and grading so the new work stays dry.
Warning signs
Signs a Portsmouth foundation is failing.
These problems tend to grow if they are left alone.
Masonry
Crumbling stone or brick
Mortar washing out, loose stones or spalling brick mean water is getting into the wall and weakening it.
Water
Water at high tide
A basement that takes on water when the tide is high often has groundwater pushing through an old foundation.
Movement
Settling and cracks
Sloping floors, sticking doors and cracked plaster usually point to a foundation that has settled.
FAQ
Portsmouth foundation questions
Can an old brick or stone foundation in Portsmouth be repaired?
Often, if the damage is limited to sections of the wall. When it is failing widely, replacing it with a new foundation is the better long term fix.
Why does my basement get wet when the tide is in?
In low parts of the city, groundwater can rise with the tide and push through older foundations. Drainage, waterproofing or a new foundation can address it.
How deep do new footings need to be?
Frost in New Hampshire typically reaches 48 to 60 inches, so footings must be set below that depth to avoid frost heave.
Do you work in the historic district?
Yes. Foundation work in Portsmouth's historic district may need city review, and we plan the project with that in mind.
More in Portsmouth
Related work in Portsmouth.
Foundation work often connects to these.
01
House lifting in Portsmouth
Lifting the house so a new foundation can go under it.
Learn more →
02
Flood mitigation in Portsmouth
Foundations and elevation for flood zone homes.
Learn more →
03
Structural repair in Portsmouth
Sills and beams above the foundation.
Learn more →
04
Excavation in Portsmouth
Digging, shoring and drainage.
Learn more →
05
All services in Portsmouth
Back to our Portsmouth page.
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06
Foundation repair in NH
Our foundation work across New Hampshire.
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Let's talk
Foundation problems in Portsmouth?
Tell us what you are seeing, wet or dry. We will find the cause and give you an honest plan.
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