Tackling Foundation Settlement In Short Hills, NJ

Friday, May 23rd, 2025 by Rebecca Brossa

Challenge

This homeowner in Short Hills, NJ, became increasingly concerned after discovering signs of foundation settlement in their basement, most noticeably, horizontal cracks forming along the walls and doors that no longer closed properly. Compounding the issue, their crawl space revealed deteriorating support beams and musty odors, clear signs of excess moisture and potential structural weakening. Wanting to protect their home and investment, they reached out to Quality 1st for a professional assessment.

Solution

Our team responded promptly, conducting a detailed inspection of both the basement and crawl space. The evaluation confirmed that years of water intrusion and poor soil conditions had compromised the home’s foundation and internal supports. We created a tailored plan that addressed both the immediate structural concerns and the underlying moisture issues. The first step was installing our patented Push Pier System, which permanently stabilizes the foundation by transferring the home’s weight to stable, load-bearing strata beneath the shifting surface soils. To protect the basement from ongoing water intrusion, we installed our WaterGuard Drainage System along the interior perimeter, efficiently capturing any incoming water and channeling it to a sump pump system. We then lined the basement walls with BrightWall Panels, providing a clean, durable, and moisture-resistant finish. Moving to the crawl space, we addressed insulation and moisture issues by installing SilverGlo Insulation Panels, which reflect heat and block vapor, improving energy efficiency. Finally, our SmartJack Support System was installed to reinforce and lift the sagging floors above, ensuring long-term structural stability. With this comprehensive solution in place, the homeowner now enjoys a safer, drier, and more secure home environment!

We installed our patented Push Pier System by driving heavy-duty steel piers deep into stable, load-bearing soil beneath the foundation.

Once in place, our Push Piers were used to lift and permanently stabilize the settling structure, effectively halting further movement and restoring the home's structural integrity from the ground up.

SilverGlo's reflective, rigid foam panels create a thermal barrier that helps keep the space dry and energy-efficient, while SmartJack supports were used to lift and stabilize sagging floor joists, restoring structural integrity and preventing further damage from compromised support beams.