Realtors, Homeowners, Property Managers, Sellers, Buyers, Home Inspectors, Builders, and remodelers…What do you need to know about Foundation Repair

Richard Rash

Foundation Repair Consultant | 40+ Years Experience. Foundation repair companies sell piers...I provide solutions.. Call/text 817-308-8186

July 31, 2024

Foundation movement is a big deal that must be handled correctly to avoid ongoing damage and repair failure.

Do you have questions about why your home is moving? It may be an Earthquake, Sinkhole, Soil Compaction, Slab Leak, Pool Leak, Crawl Space Leak, Sprinkler Leak, Subsidence, Drainage, Erosion, Settlement, Subsurface Spring or the main cause of the Foundation movement/damage in areas of expansive soils…Upheaval

You need to know the degree of damage? Cosmetic or Structural. Most cosmetic damage and a good deal of the structural damage do not require piers.

What type of repairs are required to provide a permanent solution to your problem? Piers, Plumbing Repairs, Drainage Control, Retaining Wall, Mud-jacking, Pressure Grouting, Foam Injection Chemical Injection, Irrigation or a combination?

If Piers, what kind?

· Concrete Drilled (single or double shaft)

· Concrete Pushed

· Concrete spread footing

· Helical? What diameter, what wall thickness, what section length. How many flights, new or used pipe, galvanized or not?

· Steel Piers? What diameter, what wall thickness, what section length, with or without friction reduction ring, galvanized or not, new or used pipe.

Plumbing check: Incoming, outgoing, irrigation, pool or spa, neighbors and city?

Drainage Control?

·???????? Grading

·???????? Conventional French Drain

·???????? The Foundation Man French drain

·???????? Slope

·???????? Swale

·???????? Berm

·???????? Gutters

·???????? Grate

·???????? Catch basin

·???????? Catch basin with sump pump

·???????? Rock paths

·???????? PVC or ADS materials

Retaining wall

·???????? Railroad ties

·???????? Landscaping timbers

·???????? Concrete (With functional weep holes)

·???????? Rock (With functional weep holes)

Mud-jacking, pressure grouting, foam injection, chemical injection?

Pier and Beam/ Crawl space

·???????? Vent

·???????? Encapsulation

·???????? Piers (concrete, precast concrete)

·???????? Bodark wood

·???????? Shims (wood or steel)

·???????? Wood for joist repair replacement

To avoid additional scams, you must also understand:

· Foundation elevations: Will not mean anything without a benchmark and original elevations from construction to use for comparison.

· Contracts: You must understand what they are proposing and why the procedure will provide you with a permanent solution.

· Warrantees: You need to understand what the warrantee covers. Does it cover the entire structure? Just the area worked on against future movement OR, as with, many foundation repair companies, specific types of failures, such as piers “against vertical settlement only” …which actually protects the contractor more than the consumer.

Also, it is advisable to get at least 3 bids. If they don’t all agree at least two of them are wrong.

If in doubt contact me from anywhere in the country for an independent evaluation. Remember: Your home is likely your largest investment. You need to get it done right and if I can’t help you don’t pay me.

Additional information:

Navigating foundation repairs requires a thorough understanding of soil behavior and building dynamics. If you have foundation issues, please watch this short video made by a prominent Texas Engineer. /Rain caused foundation damage (youtube.com)

Now if you still have questions explore my website: Foundation Repair Consultant – I provide foundation repair solutions, not piers (repairfoundations.com)

If you still aren’t ready to contact me, consider ordering my new 211-page book “Foundation Repair…The Book.??Click here: Foundation Repair…. The Book!: Consumers Guide to Dealing with Foundation Damage: Rash, Richard: Amazon.com: Books