Stem Wall Repair

Because Union City sits atop the Palisades overlooking the Hudson River, structures are exposed to airborne moisture, coastal precipitation, and shifting groundwater levels. In older residential buildings with concrete stem walls and crawl spaces, untreated ground moisture penetrates the porous concrete through capillary action. When moisture contacts embedded carbon-steel reinforcement rods, oxidation causes the metal to expand up to five times its original volume. This expansive force fractures the concrete from the inside out, causing severe horizontal cracking, hollow sounding concrete, and structural crumbling that compromises the home's baseline bearing perimeter.