Foundation Repair Blog

Not all foundation contractors are created equal. When evaluating prospective foundation contractors, there are three qualities to seek to ensure the long-term stability of your building. They are accessibility, a comprehensive quotation, and timely project completion. Below is a look at each of these qualities and why they are vital to the success of your project.

1) Contractor Accessibility

Accessibility and responsiveness are vital to your project’s successful completion. You can assess a contractor’s accessibility by reading online reviews and contacting references to inquire about the contractor’s level of responsiveness. Here are some signs of an accessible foundation contractor:

• You receive your initial quotation promptly
• Your contractor arrives early or on time to meet with you
• You are able to easily reach the contractor by phone or email
• Your phone calls, texts, and email inquiries receive a swift response

2) A Comprehensive Quotation

The quotation you receive to repair or raise your foundation is a roadmap for your project’s completion. As you evaluate potential foundation contractors, make sure that you receive a comprehensive quotation that includes the following key pieces of information:

• The total cost of your project, including materials, labor, and any taxes
• A proposed timeframe for completion
• Any special tools or equipment required for the project’s completion
• A date and the signature of the contractor who provided the quote

3) Adherence to a Proposed Schedule

Foundation contractors should have a proven track record of completing projects on time or ahead of schedule. If unexpected delays should happen to arise, the contractor should contact you right away. As you compare foundation contractors, be sure to check the contractor’s references to confirm their adherence to project deadlines.

Finalizing Your Decision

In addition to exhibiting the qualities above, the foundation contractor you select should exhibit professionalism and industry experience. Whether your project is large or small, the foundation experts at Steady House Foundation Repair have the tools and resources to surpass your expectations. Please contact us to learn why we are the most trusted foundation contractor in Texas. We look forward to hearing from you!

If you are concerned about your home’s foundation, you may need a house foundation inspection. What are some common causes of foundation problems? According to the Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers, many parts of Texas have clay soils. This type of soil is affected by changes in moisture content and will shrink and swell, causing the foundation to move. Other factors that affect your foundation include design practices, the deterioration of building materials, slope instability, or landscaping practices.

The inspection process typically begins by meeting with a foundation company representative. This meeting is an opportunity for you to ask questions and express your concerns about the foundation. The contractor will then evaluate the exterior of your home. This includes checking your foundation elevations. The measurements of your foundation elevations will help the contractor determine whether the foundation is out of level. The contractor will also be looking for foundation cracks, damaged walls, doors or windows that are out of alignment, and any other signs of sinking or cracking.

If your home was built using piers and beams, the contractor will inspect the crawl space under your home. The contractor will examine your piers, beams and joists to see if they are wet or rotted. He will also be looking for signs that the crawl space is damp or musty. If so, you may have a foundation drainage problem, or a plumbing issue that needs attention.

The foundation inspection contractor will also check for damage inside of your home. He or she will be looking for cracks in ceilings, walls and floors. The contractor will also take measurements to determine if your foundation is out of level and to what degree. Once the inspection has been completed, the inspection contractor will discuss the findings with you and make recommendations about what, if any, foundation repairs are needed.

If you are concerned or have questions about your house’s foundation, contact us. We are here to help.

A pier and beam foundation is a type of foundation in which piers are placed deep within the soil, and beams are laid across the piers to carry the weight of a house. The piers for these foundations can be made out of either concrete or wood, and they have been a popular type of residential foundation for many years due to their strength, stability, and due to the fact that raised foundations make it easy to add additional plumbing and electrical underneath a home down the road. However, even though pier and beam foundations are a sturdy foundation option, over time foundation damage can occur. If you have discovered foundation damage in your home and you have a pier and beam foundation, you may be wondering what caused this damage; here are a few of the most common causes of pier and beam foundation damage.

Insufficient Drainage

One of the most common culprits of damage to pier and beam foundations is improper drainage. If you do not have sufficient drainage under your home, rainwater and other moisture can accumulate there. This can not only cause water damage to your piers, but it can also cause the soil underneath your home to shift which can further destabilize your foundation. If you have ever noticed standing water in the crawl space underneath your home, you should consider having drainage added to prevent future damage. Overall, moisture is deadly to foundations, and you should consider having your foundation inspected if your crawl space floods, or if you notice excessive moisture underneath your home.

Insect Damage

Another common cause of damage to pier and beam foundations is insects. Termites, carpenter ants, and other pests can take root in your crawl space and cause damage to your piers and beams, causing critical damage that can threaten the structural integrity of your home. This makes it imperative that you regularly inspect your crawl space for signs of pests, and that you call an exterminator and a foundation inspector if you notice carpenter ants or termites in and around your home.

It is important that when you have a damaged pier and beam foundation repaired that you know what the cause of the damage was, as this will allow you to address the cause of the problem. If you do not address the cause of the foundation damage, you will be likely to encounter foundation damage again in the near future. Contact us to learn more about pier and beam foundations including how you will know when your foundation is in need of repair.

While most home’s foundations will settle over time, additional factors such as soil erosion and tree roots can compound these problems and cause severe foundation damage. When this damage becomes significant enough it can cause cracking in your home’s walls and ceiling, and it can begin to negatively impact the structure of your home. When this happens, it is important to hire a qualified house leveling contractor to level your house. Yet, how will you know when your home’s foundation needs to be leveled? Here are a few of the signs you can look out for in your home indicating that your home may need to be leveled.

Sticking Windows and Doors

In addition to cracks in your walls, another common sign of foundation problems that you can look out for is sticking windows and doors. If you are suddenly having problems opening the windows and doors in your home, this could be a sign that your foundation is uneven and that your home is no longer level, which is making it difficult to use your windows and doors. Thusly, if you are having issues with sticking windows and doors in your home, you should consider contacting a foundation specialist.

Your Chimney is Unstable

Another common sign of foundation problems is chimney damage. If your chimney shares a foundation with the rest of your home, then damage to your home’s foundation could result in an unstable chimney. If your chimney is leaning or has severe cracking, this is likely a sign of foundation damage.

Uneven Flooring

If you suspect foundation damage in your home, you should also check to see if your floors are uneven. If your floors were once even but suddenly seem to slant, or there are hills in your flooring, you likely have foundation damage. If you are unsure whether or not your floors are level you can purchase a cheap level from your hardware store, or you could even place a marble on your floor and see if it rolls dramatically as if it is on a hill.

Contact us to learn more about how you can tell if you have foundation damage in your home as well as to schedule a foundation inspection.

If upon inspecting the exterior of your home you notice that there are noticeable cracks in your slab foundation, then you may be wondering whether or not you have foundation damage. While many homeowners may be quick to dismiss these cracks as signs of their home settling, it is important that you determine whether or not you may have foundation damage so that you can have the damage repaired before it gets worse. Fortunately, there are signs you can look for throughout your home which would indicate foundation damage. Here is a quick overview of the most common signs of foundation damage.

Cracked and Bowed Walls

A clear sign of foundation damage is if you notice cracking or bowing in any of your interior or exterior walls. This is usually indicative of your foundation shifting which is putting pressure on the structure of your house, resulting in this damage. Over time, foundation damage can affect the structure of your home, making it important that you have your foundation inspected if you discover this kind of wall damage in your home.

Crooked Doors and Windows

If foundation damage continues to affect the structure of your home, this can also cause your doors and windows to no longer hang properly. You may then notice that there are large gaps in your door frames, and you may even find that you suddenly have a hard time closing your windows and doors all of a sudden. This usually indicates severe foundation damage that will need immediate repair.

Uneven or Sagging Floors

Another clear sign of foundation damage is sagging or uneven flooring. Assuming your floors were once level, you should not suddenly notice slopes or hills in your flooring. However, if walking across a room is now like walking across uneven terrain outside, then this is a clear indicator that you have serious foundation problems that will need to be repaired as soon as possible.

Ultimately, if you have a suspicion that you may have foundation damage, it is best to have your foundation professionally inspected, and if necessary, repaired. Even if you are unsure if there is damage, having your foundation inspected will be in your best interest as catching the damage early can save you time and money in the long-run. Contact us to learn more about how you can tell if you have foundation damage as well as to schedule an inspection.

If you believe that your home may be suffering from foundation damage, then you may be understandably worried about what this could mean for your home, and how extensive the damage may be. The first thing you will want to do is to consult a foundation repair specialist who can inspect your home and help you to determine what the best course of action would be. However, if you have never worked with a foundation contractor before, how will you know what company to work with? Here are a few tips to help you find a reputable foundation repair specialist in your area.

Research Local Contractors

Your first step when looking for a foundation repair specialist in your area will be to research your options online. Look to see what companies are in your area, how long each one has been in business, and look at the quality of their reviews online to help you begin to compile a list of companies you may feel comfortable working with.

Ask for Referrals

Another great way to find foundation contractors in your area is to consider asking for referrals. If the houses in your neighborhood were all built during the same era, it is likely that you are not the only one who has experienced foundation problems. Consider asking neighbors if they have had foundation problems, and if so, who they worked with and whether they would recommend them. You should also consider asking for referrals from friends and relatives, as word-of-mouth is often the best way to find reliable contractors.

Talk to a Few Contractors

Once you have compiled a list of a few potential contractors you would consider working with, you should call them up to ask about their services. You can tell a lot about a company by the way their customer service staff treats you during this initial call. Representatives who are kind, attentive, and knowledgeable of the problems that plague foundations in your area are indicative of a company that will be easy to work with, and that will know how to address your home’s foundation problems.

Following these steps can help you to find a reputable contractor who can walk you through the process of repairing your home’s foundation. If you live in the Dallas/ Fort Worth, TX area, consider contacting us to find out how we can help you repair your home’s foundation.

Foundation problems often occur because of a drought: lack of water in the soil can cause the soil around your foundation to compact and shift, and your foundation might shift along with it. But once you’ve noticed the signs of foundation problems and brought an inspector onto your property, your region might be in the rainy season or a surprise rainstorm could coincide with your scheduled repairs. If this happens to you, you might be worried that this can mean a rescheduling or that your repairs won’t solve the whole problem.

Can foundation work be done on your house if it’s very wet or even raining outside?

If you need cracks filled in and repaired:

Cracks can be the first sign of a developing foundation problem or just a sign of regular foundation settling. Either way, small cracks should be monitored and filled in, both for interior and exterior placements. If you’ve scheduled an appointment to get minor exterior cracks filled in and you and your foundation expert are surprised by a sudden storm, that might just mean your cracks are filled in with a polyurethane injection instead of epoxy. Epoxy doesn’t adhere to wet surfaces, so polyurethane is the go-to compound; the same is true if you have a crack leaking water in your basement.

If the project requires excavation:

Unlike other repair jobs where there may be alternative processes and ways to keep working, excavations generally should not be continued during or following the rain. This is because the soil can cave in, compress unexpectedly, and make a mess of the whole work-site. Also, many foundation coatings are water-based, so the finished project is not as reliable. In these circumstances and depending on the exact type of foundation repair, your project’s next steps will need to be rescheduled or modified.

If your foundation needs a concrete pour:

Even concrete pourings aren’t necessarily put out by the rain. With advance notice, your repair company can build a temporary enclosure to keep out the elements: they can close off the worksite with plastic sheeting to keep a long-term project dry. Even if there’s a sudden rainstorm, most foundation experts will bring along extra plastic sheeting just on the off chance of bad weather and can protect your new concrete quickly.

In some circumstances, this might cause a bit of a delay. Depending on the full nature of the repair project, they’ll need to pull the water off of the in-progress surface in order to continue and make sure rainwater isn’t incorporated into the concrete.

If you don’t have workers on-site during a sudden storm, don’t worry. The surface of the concrete will need to be protected if it was just mixed between two and four hours ago, but once the concrete has stiffened after approximately four to six hours, rain usually can’t cause much in the way of damage. However, your foundation repair team will always assess the project for potential damage with either a visual survey or a scratch test to make sure the concrete is solid.

If your foundation problems are caused by sudden, excessive water:

The root cause of a foundation problem or shift isn’t always a drought or compacting soil. Sometimes, it’s caused by a slab leak. Other times, your foundation might have heaved due to your gutters depositing water in a focused stream on the edge of the foundation. In these circumstances, your foundation repair company might put a temporary drainage system on your property to clear the area of water. If your house is in an area or on a grade where excessive moisture might be a recurring problem, you can incorporate a more permanent drainage system into your property for regular maintenance.

If your foundation needs an inspection or repairs, go to Steady House Foundation Repair here.

While foundation damage can mean costly repairs, the earlier you catch this damage, the easier (and more affordable) it is to fix. This makes it important that you have your foundation professionally inspected if you believe that you may have foundation damage. However, many homeowners do not know how to detect foundation damage. To help get you started, here are a few of the signs indicating that you should consider having your home’s foundation inspected.

Uneven/Sagging Floors

A clear sign of problems with your home’s foundation is if you notice sections of your flooring that are uneven or sagging. If there are sections of your home’s flooring that seem lower or higher than the rest, do not ignore this as just a sign of your house aging; this is likely indicative of serious foundation damage and you will want to have your foundation inspected immediately.

Water Collects Near Your Foundation

After recent rainfall, have you noticed that water tends to stand near your foundation? This is a sign that you have poor drainage around your home, as gutters and proper grading should direct water away from your foundation. If water has been collecting near your foundation then this water may have seeped under your home causing foundation damage. It would then be in your best interest to take a precaution and have your foundation inspected.

Cracks in Your Foundation

In order to catch foundation damage as early as possible, you should occasionally inspect the exterior of your home. If your home is on a slab foundation then you may be able to see exposed concrete at the base of your home where it sits on the foundation. If you notice cracks in this exposed concrete, there may be foundation damage. While small cracks may not indicate structural damage, it is best to have them inspected just in case there is a bigger problem.

Contact us to learn more about foundation inspections and how you will know if you have foundation damage.

Foundation repair sounds pretty serious, but it is a regular part of any home maintenance. Foundation repair comes up less often than other home repairs so it seems like a bigger deal than it is.

However, if you don’t take care of small foundation problems you could face bigger and costlier foundation issues down the road. Let’s take a look at some of the signs that signal it is time for you to look into getting your foundation repaired.

Cracks

If you see cracks on your home’s exterior or on the inside walls you have a foundation issue. Specifically, this is indicative of your foundation settling off balance. You will see diagonal cracks in your brick exterior or on your drywall inside. This is a problem that can be fixed relatively cheaply, but if left to continue settling in this way it could cost you a lot more. Plus, cracks in your walls is aesthetically displeasing so get it fixed as soon as possible.

 

Stuck Windows and Doors

Have you noticed that your windows and/or doors are sticking a lot more than they used to, or are completely stuck shut? Besides cracks in the walls and on the outside brick, this is one of the most common signs that your foundation is settling wrong. The good news is that it is still early enough to repair your foundation without major cost or production.

 

Gaps

If you notice gaps on your ceiling between the molding and your ceiling or around the caulking of your doors and/or windows, you are more likely than not experiencing a settling or shifting foundation. Luckily, this is a small problem and can be taken care of before it gets out of hand.

 

 

These are a few common things to look that indicate you are experiencing foundation problems. Don’t wait until it is too late to get repairs.

Please contact us if have any foundation concerns or issues in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.