This 1940s home near Raytown South High School had a severely deteriorated block wall foundation. The original masonry had crumbled in several sections, leaving the structure compromised and portions of the crawlspace exposed to the elements. Mortar had washed out of joints, and entire blocks had disintegrated in the worst areas.
At over 80 years old, the original foundation had simply reached the end of its useful life. Jackson County's freeze-thaw cycles and clay soil pressure had taken their toll, and patching was no longer a viable option — the wall needed to be rebuilt.
The project required a full exterior excavation to expose the damaged wall, removal of the failing sections, and construction of a new CMU block wall from the footing up. Our crew worked section by section to maintain structural support throughout the process, laying new block, installing drain tile at the footing level, and applying waterproofing membrane to the exterior before backfilling.
Multiple night shifts were needed to complete the critical corner section. We also installed drain tile at the footing level to ensure water is directed away from the new wall before it can cause damage. The home now sits on a solid, waterproofed foundation built to last another 80 years.