Old stone, modern problems
Stone foundations from that era were often laid with lime mortar on shallow footings. Over a century the mortar washes out, water finds the gaps, and the soil beneath shifts with every wet and dry season. Piers can still work, but the plan has to respect how the old wall carries the house.
What we do on older Kirkwood homes
- Check the stone wall for loose or missing mortar and bulging sections
- Repoint where water and soil are coming through the joints
- Support settled sections with piers fixed to a new bracket or beam where the old footing is too shallow
- Deal with the drainage, which on big old lots with mature trees is often the root of it
Newer houses too
Teardowns and rebuilds have brought plenty of new poured basements to Kirkwood's streets. Those get the usual checks: shrinkage cracks, leaks at the cove joint and settling where fill was placed.
Kirkwood issues its own building permits; we file with the city for structural work.
Booking an inspection in Kirkwood
The visit is free and takes about an hour. You get a written plan, and the price of anything we recommend, before you decide.
See all repairs · What repairs cost
