The tool box (Using the right tool makes all the difference.)
Foundation Repair Methods | TLS Foundations New Mexico (505) 991-4180 You reach the owner
Foundation Repair Methods

We start with the ground. The method follows.

New Mexico soils do not behave the same from one property to the next. We do not force a repair method first and explain it later. We look at what is actually happening, then choose the method that fits the problem.

(505) 991-4180 You reach the owner
0+ Miles across New Mexico
0 Field miles on one truck

A repair is only as good as the judgment behind it.

We are not looking for a reason to install a product. We are looking for the reason the structure moved in the first place. Sometimes the right answer is a foundation repair method. Sometimes it is drainage. Sometimes it is monitoring. Sometimes it is a combination of those things.

Step 1
Evaluate the soil

Identify the soil type, moisture content, and how it's moving. Expansive clay, collapsible sand — each behaves differently.

Step 2
Find the cause

Is water pooling near the foundation? A plumbing leak? Seasonal drying? We trace the movement back to its source.

Step 3
Select the method

We match the repair to the soil, the structure, and the budget. Each method has a specific use.

Step 4
Verify and monitor

We check that the repair is working. Sometimes that means monitoring over time. We stay with the job until it's stable.

The method follows the problem. These are the tools.

We carry a broad enough toolkit that the method genuinely follows the diagnosis. Click or tap any method to learn more.

01
Helical Piers
Deep bearing · Residential
+

Installed where deeper support is needed and where site conditions call for a deep foundation solution.

In New Mexico, that may mean clay, fill, collapsible soil, or something else entirely. The point is reaching competent support in the right place.

When it fits: Homes with shallow foundations, expansive clay, or variable soil conditions.
02
Push Piers
Heavy structures · Settlement
+

Used when the structure and site conditions call for a driven deep support system.

One of several tools we may use when the foundation needs to be stabilized or adjusted based on actual site conditions.

When it fits: Commercial buildings, multi-storey homes, or heavy structures where driven support is the right approach.
03
Micropiles
Drilled · Deep profiles
+

Useful where access is limited or where the site calls for a drilled deep foundation solution.

One option in a broader toolbox, selected only when they make sense for the structure and the ground.

When it fits: Tight spaces, deep unstable soil, or limited access where other equipment can't reach.
04
Compaction Grouting
Loose soils · Void fill
+

Used where voids, loose zones, or settlement conditions call for densification and support.

It works when the soil and the problem match the method. Not a one-size-fits-all answer.

When it fits: Settled slabs, voids under foundations, collapsible soil, or loose zones that need densification.
05
Foam Injection
Slab leveling · Light voids
+

Often used for slab lifting and void filling where the movement is more about the slab than the larger foundation system.

A practical solution when the problem is localized and the conditions support it.

When it fits: Sunken driveways, sidewalks, light interior slabs, or small voids under concrete.
06
Drainage and Grading
Often the right first step
+

Sometimes the right repair is not a structural repair at all.

If water is driving the movement, correcting drainage and grading may be the most important step on the property.

When it fits: When water is the obvious culprit — downspouts, grading, irrigation, or surface runoff.
07
Monitoring
When waiting is right
+

Not every issue needs immediate intervention.

In some cases, the smartest move is to watch the movement over time so we can understand whether it is active, stable, or related to a seasonal condition.

When it fits: Minor movement that may stabilise on its own, or when we need more data before acting.
08
Custom Solutions
When nothing else fits
+

Some sites do not fit neatly into a standard category.

When that happens, we build the repair around the actual conditions instead of forcing the problem into a template.

When it fits: Unique structures, historic buildings, complex site conditions, or anything that doesn't fit a standard method.

What homeowners notice before they call us

These are some of the signs that usually bring people to us. Tap or click a card to flip it for more context.

Doors or windows that start sticking

Often the first sign of foundation movement.

Tap to learn more

If they worked before and now don't, the frame may have shifted. This is often subtle at first but worth investigating.

Cracks above openings

Diagonal cracks from corners of doors and windows.

Tap to learn more

Diagonal cracks often indicate differential settlement. Hairline vertical cracks may be minor settling. The direction and width matter.

Uneven floors

Feeling like you're walking uphill inside.

Tap to learn more

If a floor that used to feel level now slopes noticeably, the foundation could be sinking on one side. A level check can confirm.

Gaps where walls and ceilings separate

Separation at the top of interior walls.

Tap to learn more

This can indicate the foundation is settling unevenly, causing the structure to pull apart. It's often accompanied by other signs.

Stair-step cracks in masonry

Cracks that follow mortar joints in brick or block.

Tap to learn more

These often point to ongoing movement. The pattern and width can tell us whether it's active or historical.

Water collecting near the foundation

Soggy soil around the perimeter.

Tap to learn more

Moisture is often the root cause of movement. Downspouts, grading, and irrigation are the first things we check.

We'll listen, ask the right questions, and tell you what we'd do next. No pressure, just straight talk.

(505) 991-4180 You reach the owner
What stays

When the regional expert retires or gets absorbed, the knowledge doesn't transfer with the reports. It walks out the door.

We built this library before that wave. We still hold it — in the people doing the work.

Ready when you are

Give us a call we REALLY like talking about this stuff.

Text or call — you reach the owner(s).

Text Send a text → Usually same day
Call (505) 991-4180 The owner(s) answer
Location Albuquerque, New Mexico The state is our office