Comprehensive foundation solutions engineered for Ada County’s loess soils and Idaho’s freeze-thaw climate.
Concrete pressed piers are the most widely used foundation repair method for Star’s slab-on-grade homes. This proven technique involves hydraulically pressing pre-cast concrete cylinders through the unstable loess soils until they reach the stable basalt bedrock that underlies much of the Treasure Valley. Once seated on bedrock, the piers provide permanent support and allow controlled lifting of settled foundations.
In Star, concrete pressed piers are especially effective for homes built during the 2015–2024 construction boom. Subdivisions like Valor, Moon Valley Estates, and Canopi Estates were developed on former agricultural land where decades of irrigation created deep, moisture-sensitive silt layers. As these soils compact and shift with Idaho’s freeze-thaw cycles, slab foundations settle unevenly.
The installation process is minimally invasive. Our crew excavates small access points along the foundation perimeter, drives the pier sections to refusal, and lifts the foundation using hydraulic jacks. Most installations in Star homes are completed in one to two days.
Steel pier installation provides the deepest, most permanent foundation anchoring available for Star homes. Engineered galvanized steel piers are driven through the soil column until they reach load-bearing strata well below the frost line — critical in Ada County where frost depth reaches approximately 30 inches.
Star’s geology makes steel piers essential for certain properties. In areas where the loess deposits are exceptionally deep or where alluvial deposits from the Boise River system create variable subsurface conditions, concrete piers may not reach stable bearing. Steel piers solve this by driving through these challenging layers to competent rock or dense gravel.
Our installation process uses a bracket system mounted to the existing foundation footing. For Star homeowners dealing with significant settlement — especially those with cracks wider than a quarter inch or doors that no longer close — steel piers provide the structural certainty needed for long-term stability in Idaho’s demanding climate.
Slab-on-grade is the predominant foundation type in Star’s newer residential construction. The city’s rapid growth — from roughly 1,800 residents in 2000 to over 18,000 today — produced thousands of slab homes on land that was farmland just years before. These former agricultural soils contain deep moisture-laden silt layers that behave unpredictably under Idaho’s seasonal temperature extremes.
Slab foundation problems in Star typically manifest as interior cracks, uneven floors, and separation between walls and the slab. The root cause is usually differential settlement. In Ada County, this is driven by frost heave pushing the perimeter upward in winter while interior sections remain stable, and by moisture migration through the loess soils.
Our slab repair approach begins with comprehensive elevation mapping. This data reveals exactly where settlement has occurred. We then install piers at calculated intervals to stabilize and lift the slab, restoring it to as close to its original elevation as structurally appropriate.
Crawl space foundations are common in Star’s older homes, particularly properties along Highway 44, near the original Star townsite, and on larger rural lots. Idaho’s building tradition has long included crawl space construction, and many homes in the Treasure Valley rely on this foundation type.
The primary issues we see in Star crawl spaces are sagging or bouncy floors, failing support piers, excessive moisture, and wood rot. Idaho’s freeze-thaw cycles cause the soil beneath crawl space piers to shift seasonally, gradually destabilizing the support structure. Poor ventilation combined with moisture from snowmelt creates conditions that promote mold growth and structural wood decay.
Our crawl space repair services include pier replacement and reinforcement, beam and joist repair, moisture barrier installation, and drainage improvements. We address both the structural deficiencies and the underlying moisture conditions. For Star homes with crawl spaces, proactive maintenance is essential through Ada County’s demanding seasonal cycles.
Poor drainage is one of the leading contributors to foundation damage in Star, Idaho. The Treasure Valley’s loess soils have low natural drainage capacity — when saturated, they hold water against foundations for extended periods. Star’s location near irrigation canals and the Boise River watershed means seasonal water table fluctuations add another variable.
We install comprehensive drainage systems tailored to Star’s specific conditions. French drains intercept subsurface water. Surface drains collect water from downspouts and hardscapes. Grading corrections ensure the soil slopes away from the home — a critical detail often compromised during Star’s rapid subdivision development.
For Star homes near irrigation canals or in low-lying areas, drainage improvements are often the most cost-effective foundation protection available. We recommend drainage evaluation as part of every foundation inspection in Star, Eagle, Meridian, and surrounding Treasure Valley communities.
Foundation cracks in Star homes are often the first visible warning sign that frost heave or soil movement is affecting your foundation. In Ada County’s freeze-thaw climate, cracks can appear in poured concrete walls, block foundations, slab floors, and interior drywall.
Our crack repair methods include epoxy injection for structural cracks, polyurethane foam injection for water-stopping applications, carbon fiber reinforcement for bowing walls, and structural sealants for non-structural repairs. The method depends on crack type, location, width, and whether the underlying cause is still active.
Early crack repair in Star is especially important because Idaho’s winters amplify existing damage. Water enters cracks in fall, freezes and expands through winter, and widens the crack. Each freeze-thaw cycle makes the crack worse. If you notice new or growing cracks in your Star home, scheduling a free inspection can save thousands in future repair costs.
Every Star foundation is different. Contact us for a free, no-obligation inspection and detailed estimate tailored to your home’s specific soil conditions and repair needs.
(208) 598-8638