A detached brick shop building was showing classic signs of foundation settlement. The property owner had noticed growing stair-step cracks in the brick veneer along one side of the structure, as well as interior cracks around door openings and along the ceiling line. The shop sits on a concrete slab, and as the footing settled and shifted, the movement began telegraphing through the walls and finishes.
Left unchecked, the settlement could have led to more extensive brick failure, misaligned doors, and long-term structural issues with the slab and framing. The owner wanted the building stabilized before cosmetic repairs were made, so cracks wouldn’t simply reopen over time.
The Solution
After a full inspection of the slab and perimeter, Smouse Bros designed a foundation stabilization plan focused on long-term support, not cosmetic patching.
Steel Pier System – Structural Stabilization
Smouse Bros installed 12 centric-load steel piers along the affected foundation, spaced roughly 7.5 feet apart to support the length of the wall. The piers were hydraulically driven down to competent bearing strata, transferring the weight of the structure from unstable surface soils to stable material below.
- Centric-load piers carry the weight straight down under the wall instead of pushing from the side, which reduces bending, cracking, and future shifting.
- This system contrasts with offset piers commonly used by competitors, which apply angled pressure and can introduce new stress points into the foundation over time.
Once proper resistance was reached, the foundation was carefully lifted and stabilized to recover as much original elevation as was safely possible without damaging the structure.
Poly Lift-Jack – Slab Void Fill & Support
With the footing stabilized, Smouse Bros used structural polyurethane foam to fill voids beneath the slab created by settlement. The Poly Lift-Jack process helps re-support the concrete, reduce future slab movement, and minimize the risk of additional cracking or differential settlement between the slab and foundation.
This combination of deep foundation support plus slab void fill ensures the structure is supported from below at both the footing and slab level, rather than relying on cosmetic fixes alone.
The Result
After the pier installation and poly void fill, the shop’s foundation is now structurally stabilized and better protected against ongoing soil movement. Visible cracking in the brick and interior finishes has been arrested at the source by addressing the underlying settlement, not just the symptoms.
The property owner can now move forward with brick and drywall repairs knowing the building is supported on a stable base, reducing the risk of having to redo cosmetic work later. The project turned a worrisome pattern of growing cracks into a controlled, stabilized structure with a clear path forward.
Project Impact
By combining a centric-load steel pier system with targeted slab support, Smouse Bros delivered a long-term solution for a heavily used shop space. Instead of gambling on surface patchwork, the owner now has:
- A stabilized foundation supported on competent bearing strata
- A slab with voids filled and reinforced under load
- A building that’s ready for cosmetic repairs and future use without constant concern about ongoing movement
