Year: 2021

Sometimes, minor problems in your home are an indicator that you are dealing with structural issues. Keeping a close watch for any potential signs of trouble is essential in staying proactive and taking care of these problems before they become more serious overtime. Reaching out to a local contractor is a good idea to further inspect your home to determine the best action and avoid further damage.

Here are a few of the most common types of structural problems within a home.

A Door That No Longer Closes

A door that doesn’t close or sticks isn’t only frustrating, but it’s also a sign that the structure of your home has shifted. The shifting can occur due to saturated clay soil expanding and putting additional pressure on your foundation, or it may happen due to normal settling. Getting a contractor to inspect your home and pinpoint the exact problem is critical in taking care of this problem before it gets worse.

Peeling or Blistering Paint

Another sign of structural damage is if you notice your paint beginning to peel or blister. While it’s possible these problems are the result of a poor paint job, it can also be a sign of water damage. Always investigating the area of the damaged paint is essential to avoid additional problems. You will need to contact a plumber if you notice any signs of moisture.

Sloping Floor

A level floor that eventually develops a slant isn’t always easy to identify unless there’s a noticeable difference. Sometimes a floor can begin to slope due to a broken or rotted joist. You may need to replace the structural members supporting your floor to fix this problem. A structural engineer can find the source of the problem and advise you on the best way to repair this problem.

Whether you plan to buy a new home or you want to know the state of your current house, it is imperative to do a foundation evaluation for various reasons. Below is everything you need to know about foundation inspection.

What is Foundation Inspection?
A foundation inspection is a process where a licensed contractor checks the current state of your home’s foundation. The inspector will examine the basement, slab, and crawl space to identify possible foundation issues such as cracks, slants, and bowed walls.

What Does Foundation Inspection Involve? 
During the assessment of your foundation, the professional checks the floors and walls to identify possible damage. This helps you ensure that your foundation gets immediate repairs to avoid sinking and cracking further.

The inspector walks around your property and examines your exterior and the slab foundation or beam foundation, depending on your home’s structure.  He/she will take measurements to determine the foundation level. Some areas of the foundation could be lower than others.

After the inspection, the contractor will show you the outcome and advise you on the next step. It is worth noting that not all foundation issues need repairs. However, ensure you understand the state of your house foundation to make informed decisions.

What is the Cost of Foundation Inspection? 
Some contractors do not charge for foundation inspections, while others charge fees ranging from $150 to $500. The actual charges depend on the foundation size, type, and foundation damage.

It’d be best to contact your contractor and find out their policy on foundation assessment. If you’re lucky, you can get a free foundation inspection. However, if you’re purchasing the home, you can request the seller pay since that is the responsibility of the current homeowner.

Hire an Experienced and Licensed Contractor 
If you want the best outcome from a foundation inspection, it’d be best to work with a professional who understands the nitty-gritty of a foundation. Contact us today for a free quote.

The foundation is an essential component of your property that needs to be in good condition to hold the home firm. However, things often change during summer. Your foundation becomes vulnerable, and this can lead to severe problems. Here are the effects of the hot weather on your foundation.

Cracked Concrete 
New concrete or slab in your foundation can easily experience water evaporation in the hot season. The water evaporates from the concrete, making it dry and cracked. The foundation becomes unstable, and the cracks can quickly let in water, causing more damage.

Soil Shrinkage 
The soil in your foundation will begin to dry as the weather becomes hotter. It will continue to shrink and move, leading to damage to your foundation. The soil will continue to shrink further and stop supporting the foundation. This leads to many other issues such as cracks, leaks, and sticky doors and windows that will be difficult to open or close.

Soil Erosion 
As the soil in your foundation continues to dry and crack, it will eventually attract soil erosion when the rains come. The water penetrates the cracks and spaces, draining off the loose and dry soil. This can weaken the foundation further and can even push the concrete further, causing more cracks.

Sinking Foundation
Hot weather can also cause your foundation to sink. As the temperatures rise, the foundation cracks further, and the slabs begin to sink. The foundation will continue to move until it gets soil to settle on. If this continues, the foundation and house will start to tilt in a weaker direction as they sink and fall.

Seek Professional Help 
A sinking and cracked foundation can be risky for your property and household. Call out a professional to deal with all your foundation issues before it is too late. This can save you time and money in the long run.

We spend some quality time at home. It is where most of us build lifetime memories and interact with our friends and family. It should, therefore, be safe all the time by ensuring that every part of the house from the roof to the foundation is in the best condition.  The foundation is the “root” of the house, whose state determines the overall quality of the house. It is advisable to inspect your foundation regularly or routinely to ensure that you are comfortable and safe at all times. But how do you do this?  Steady House Foundation Repair offers the best foundation inspection services for both homes and business premises within the Dallas/ Fort Worth (DFW) area. We carry out our work diligently, treating your home or office with the professionalism it deserves.

Please read on to learn more about foundation inspection and how you can reach us for an appointment.

What Takes Place During a Foundation Inspection Session?

Our team of highly-qualified inspectors evaluates to identify any structural issues your foundation has or might be at the risk of having. It is upon these findings that we proceed to devise an action plan to protect you and your home from further damage or apparent risks.

A foundation inspector will:

• Visually check your home inside and out to identify any issues with the foundation
• Specifically, look for anomalies such as drainage issues, leakages within the plumbing, wall cracks and fractures, and soil deformities. For instance, a heaving or uneven floor is an indication of plumbing leakages, thus issues with your foundation.
• Conduct a slab foundation inspection to identify any cracks in the foundation of your home or business unit.
• Carry out leveling using a state-of-the-art Zip Level. A foundation that is not level indicates some underlying issues that might compromise your home’s safety and comfort.

When or Why Do You Need Foundation Inspection services?

Foundation inspections precede repairs. It is necessary when you start noticing some of the following issues with your house:

• Uneven or saggy floors
• Heaving floor or general floor movement
• Shrinking foundation
• Cracks in the slab, floor, and walls
• Foundation upheaval
• Gaps between doors and window frames
• Bent or tilted in-house structures like chimneys,
• Fractured bricks.

Foundation Inspections Don’t Take Long

A typical foundation inspection session will take between 45 minutes to one hour. We might need you at home if your home is occupied. But if the home is empty, you do not have to be physically present during the exercise.

You do not have to worry about the cost of carrying out an inspection since most of these services are free. It is after the inspection that we make recommendations on the best way to repair your foundation. Our foundation repair services are affordable as we try to work with your budget.

Work With the Professionals

Do you need quality foundation inspection and repair services in the Dallas/Fort Worth, TX area? Our team of experts at Steady House Foundation Repair is there to ensure that your foundation, thus house, is in the best condition. Please contact us today to enjoy our services.

Your home is precious; it should be your safe haven where you feel relaxed and comfortable after a long day or night at work. When it comes to your home, you want to work with the best and dependable company for all your leveling and foundation repair needs, regardless of their size or volume, to ensure comfort and safety while working within your budget.  At Steady House Foundation Repair, we do leveling and foundation repairs with the utmost professionalism to provide quality services for both homes and business premises within Dallas/ Fort Worth (DFW)  Read on to find out more about house leveling services and how you can reach us.

House Leveling; an Art and a Science

Skills and techniques are critical when leveling a house. These can only be acquired with the right expertise and years of experience, which our team at Steady House Foundation Repair guarantees.

A house leveler is keen on every detail during the exercise; where the house needs to be raised first, the areas that should be raised together, and those that have been raised wrongly to avoid putting the occupants in any danger.

Why Do You Need it?

House leveling or raising is necessary during foundation repairs for several reasons, including:

• Adverse weather conditions, compromising your foundation
• Poor soil type causing bowing or bounding of your house
• Cracks from plumbing leakages
• Poor or improper compaction during initial construction, throwing your house off level, and
• Upheaval from vegetation growth through the foundation.

How Much Does it Cost?

The cost of raising or leveling your house depends on the condition of your foundation or how damaged it is, its type (slab, beam, or piers), the number of piers used, structure type, soil type, and the weather condition in DFW.

It is advisable to hire a contractor who will inspect your property to help provide accurate figures on how much you will need for your house leveling project. Our company also provides some funding (Hearth and GreenSky) to help with your foundation repair and leveling project. You can learn more about these financing options here.

House Leveling Is Not Time-Consuming.

You wouldn’t want to spend much time away from your home. A typical project takes approximately 2-3 days to a week depending on how damaged the foundation is, the type used, soil type, weather conditions, and the type of your building.

Work With the Professionals

Do you need quality and affordable house leveling and foundation repair services in the Dallas/ Fort Worth, TX area? Our team of experts at Steady House Foundation Repair guarantees getting your house and foundation back to its best condition. Please contact us today for the best leveling and foundation repair services.

Foundation issues occur when moisture in the soil below your house causes the foundation to rise or settle. Both rising or lowering foundations will cause cracks throughout your home, uneven floors, and other signs that your home is slowly wrenching apart from the ground up. If your foundation is taking damage, this means repairs and property improvements will be necessary very soon.

To help homeowners know when to prepare for foundation repairs, let’s spotlight the top six signs that you may have ongoing foundation issues.

Cracks in the Walls or Floor

Look for cracks anywhere in the house – especially the walls, ceiling, and floors. These are signs that rooms are no longer even and the building materials crack when they are pulled in two different directions – half higher or lower than the other. Cracks indoors or outdoors in your home structure is most commonly a foundation shifting issue.

Uneven Doorways and Doors that Swing Open

When doorways are torqued with a shifting foundation, they become uneven and doors no longer hang right. If your doors don’t latch closed anymore or swing open, this could be a sign. If measured with a right-angle tool, you may find your doorways are no longer level at all.

High or Low Floor Sections

Look for spaces where your floor is pushed up or has settled down, creating an uneven flooring surface. Most often, the floors drop near the center of a house but rise around the outer walls like the garage.

Cracks in Basement or Foundation Brickwork

Basement and foundation brickwork (or concrete) are the most likely to show early cracks as the foundation shifts. Damp basements with cracks in the walls are often caused by foundation issues. Stairstep cracks are especially conspicuous. Also look for cracks around your outdoor foundation line.

Gaps Around Window and Door Frames

Window and doorframes need the house to be flat and remain at right angles. When the house shifts and torques with foundation movement, the frames themselves can gap around the moving walls. If you see gaps around window frames or doorframes, your foundation is likely to blame.

Damp Crawlspace and Foundation Flowerbeds

Watch out for unwanted or unexpected dampness. Because moisture is what causes soil to swell or sink, moisture often comes up around areas where the foundation is damaged. Watch for foundation-line flowerbeds that are too damp (and don’t overwater) and for unwanted dampness around cracks and seams in the basement.

Does your house have potential or obvious foundation issues? We can help! Contact us today to consult on your foundation concerns and the best methods to repair and prevent further damage.

The increasing climate change, which brings unpredictable rainfalls and thunderstorms, has proven to be quite a task for maintaining the value of homes and protecting the drainage systems from frequent breakdowns. Be it a new or an old house; it’s always essential to engage an expert in detecting a problem with drainage systems.  At Steady House Foundation Repairs, we make it our business to ensure that your home drainage system is efficiently and adequately maintained. Our drainage correction services help prevent you from incurring costs associated with poorly controlled and managed drainage systems.

Drainage system to protect your foundation

The importance of a sound drainage system is always overshadowed when it comes to maintaining a good house foundation by most homeowners. The slopes of driveways and patios are crucial when it comes to maintaining the agility of our homes. The sloppiness determines whether water is dispersed or concentrated in one area around or near your foundation.

It may seem like a harmless process but may prove disastrous when not detected early and on time, costing you lots of money which could have been saved had the situation been handled on time.

Protect your foundation

Always engage our experts at Steady House Foundation Repair as soon as you notice any drainage issues. If you just bought a home, and you are in doubt about how your drainage system works, feel free to engage us and let us make the complex process seem easy for you.

May it be a simple or complex job at Study House Foundation Repair, we got you covered. Don’t hesitate to contact us today for all your drainage correction problems, and be sure that we will perform the job to your satisfaction. Spending a little on drainage correction now could save you a lot on foundation repair later.

While it is found in many areas of the United States, much of Texas is home to expansive soil. Many homes in the Dallas Fort Worth area are built on this expansive soil that is heavy with clay. While this soil seems pretty sturdy, it comes with a unique issue when it comes to foundations. When the clay is wet, it swells. When the clay is dry, it shrinks. This is why on some hot Texas summer days, you can actually see the soil pulling away from your foundation. What does this mean for your foundation?

What the swelling and shrinking of expansive soil means is that shifting is a regular occurrence. Any shifting is bad news for a foundation, which is why we try to limit it as much as possible. In the wet seasons, drainage solutions are employed to keep the soil nearest your foundation from becoming too swollen with water. However, too few consider the shrinking in summer a problem.

In truth, if you see the soil pulling away from your foundation during the dry season, it is not necessarily something you should panic about. It is, however, something you should do something about. Just like you employ drainage in the wet seasons, you should employ moisture when the soil is too dry. If you do actually see the soil pulling away, it is recommended that you water the foundation with a hose to introduce some more moisture. This helps limit the extreme shifting that can happen as the soil switches from dry to wet.

Do you have a home built on expansive soil? It may not mean you have foundation problems yet, but you do need to monitor your foundation more closely than other homeowner’s might. Contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to keep your home on a steady foundation.

In this age of pandemic, many people have been putting off crucial home repair tasks simply because they don’t want several strangers in their home to do those repairs. However, even before COVID-19, you may still wonder if you will have foundation contractors and work crews inside your actual home if you are having foundation repairs done.

The answer as to whether foundation repair contractors will need to come inside is not a simple answer. As you may expect, it depends on the nature of your problem. Some foundation repairs can be done completely outside your home and some of them will require crews to come inside.

The good news is that your foundation contractor of choice should fully inform you of what needs to be done as well as how it will be done. In most cases, you will find that they will actually dig under your foundation to do common repairs like installing piers to provide stability. However, in some circumstances, they may need to come inside and do installations from inside your home.

Aside from various check-ins with you, typically done at the end of the day to be transparent with the work that was done and the work that still needs to be done, usually there isn’t a lot of reason for a foundation contractor and their crew to need to be inside your home. However, you do want to be aware that if you need to have a foundation inspection done, your inspector may want to come inside to look for signs of foundation damage. Sometimes the very first signs of damage start inside your home.

Do you have a foundation issue? Unfortunately, just letting it sit will not be doing it any favors. Ignoring foundation issues just makes them more expensive to repair later. If you are having foundation problems, contact us today to see what Steady House Foundation Repair can do to help.

When you spot foundation cracks, one of the first questions is whether homeowners insurance covers the damage if the cracks signify something beyond a cosmetic issue. As a general rule, people take out homeowner’s insurance to protect against natural disasters. Most if not all mortgage companies require borrowers to have a homeowner’s insurance policy in place as part of the loan processing. When it comes to foundation repair, your insurance may or may not cover it. Homeowners are expected to maintain their properties whether they own a new home or a home with an aging foundation.

Understanding normal factors

In some cases, people spot foundation cracks that are part of the home settling over time. In other cases, drought or various climate changes cause shifting. A professional puts your mind at ease by determining whether your home needs actual foundation repair.

Reviewing your policy

Review your homeowner’s insurance policy to find out whether the company covers foundation cracks resulting from fires, explosions, natural disasters and plumbing backups. Most policies cover reconstruction after such problems. If not, make changes to your policy for maximum protection. People with flood and earthquake insurance rely on the coverage for such catastrophic issues.

Keeping up with maintenance

Because insurance doesn’t cover normal wear and tear of an aging home, it is important to keep an eye on your home. Don’t make the mistake of simply painting over foundation cracks because the cracks signify possible damage due to improper drainage, tree roots or improper ground preparation prior to construction.

The good news is that a foundation repair expert takes measures that mitigate foundation damage before the problem gets out of hand. Remember, too, that when you change homeowner insurance companies they often come out and inspect the home. Your insurance rates could go up if an inspector sees foundation cracks or other signs of foundation problem. Before switching property insurance providers, it’s always good to enlist the help of a foundation repair service.

At Steady House Foundation Repair, we are proud to be your one-stop shop for foundation and concrete needs because your home’s value and security rests on its foundation. We are a specialty foundation repair service based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. For more information or to have one of our experts diagnose foundation damage, please contact us today.