YOU COULD USE A FOUNDATION REPAIR CONSULTANT

If you live in expansive soils in Texas and are going to:

• build a home,
• or buy a new home,
• or buy a used home,
• or sell your home,
• or are considering remodeling or adding on to your home,
• or have seen cracks or other signs of foundation movement in your home,
• or you have gotten several bids for foundation work and they don’t make sense,
• or you have foundation repair that failed,
• or you just want to be sure that you are doing whatever is needed to protect your home from foundation repair.

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If any of these situations are applicable to you then you will receive real benefits by reading on and considering using my services to help you handle any foundation or drainage problems now, or in the future. Please read on for details.

GOING TO BUILD A NEW HOME?

While most people are concerned with the physical construction of their new home, foundation movement and damage are usually the results of the soil composition, pad preparation, drainage control and very often the installation of planter areas around the foundation. If developers and builders would run soils test on every lot and paid more attention to what is under and surrounds the structures  they build, the amount of foundation damage in North Texas would diminish substantially. It is a good idea to have someone check the soils and the drainage of your lot before the foundation is poured. It may seem minor now but foundation movement could be almost eradicated in North Texas with proper attention to the “lay of the land”. See what my customers say at Testimonials.     For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186 

LOOKING TO BUY A NEW HOME?

A new home can experience foundation movement during construction; I have seen slabs with major cracks even before the brick is applied. In cases like this, flaws and problems are sometimes covered up by sub-contractors before the builder has a chance to see them. Also, builders have been known to ignore obvious drainage issues that can lead to foundation problems not covered by builder warranties. You should check the lot for drainage problems and the exterior and interior for previous cover up! See what my customers say at Testimonials.    These are My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

WANTING TO BUY A PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOME?  Here you can really get into trouble without the help of someone not trying to sell piers. Although home sellers are required by law to disclose previous foundation damage they often do not recognize the signs of foundation movement or do not know of problems or repairs experienced by previous owners.  And, sometimes they just don’t tell the truth! I can, however, help you find the truth.  When advised to get an authority to check out  signs, that may be foundation problems, most people just call a foundation repair company because they are free. They are also going to send out commissioned salesmen with the mission of selling piers whether the house needs them or not. Worse yet, and this is a big problem, they, or you, or your realtor, or your inspector may see something that you, or they, don’t understand, and confuse it with a foundation problem, when it is really only cosmetic, causing you to pass on a home that you want, at a location you love and a price you can afford. This happens every day in North Texas. This is where I often am able to save the day by showing what is really going on. See what my customers say at Testimonials.    Here are: My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

LOOKING TO SELL YOUR HOME?

Here’s where it can get kind of tricky. Sellers are required to disclose any concealed defects including current or previous foundation damage or repair.  Most people including realtors, home inspectors, and foundation repair salesmen don’t know what is actually structural foundation damage. That is, damage which must be addressed, usually, with piers, in order for the buyer to get financing. Their attitude is if it moves, pier it! That attitude causes more problems than it fixes. It is also the opposite of the most common occurring distress, that of cosmetic damage, which is usually handled by minor corrections such as guttering or drainage. It is also very unlikely that they understand what is causing the foundation movement, whether it is settling soils, which would need piers, or expanding soils, which would not need piers. Maybe it is drainage problems which also would not require piers or it could possibly be caused by a plumbing leak, also which would not need piers. When advised to get an authority to check out the signs that may be foundation problems, most people just call a foundation repair company. They call a foundation company because they come out free! (  which is usually the most expensive  they ever get.) The foundation companies are also likely to send out commissioned salesmen with the mission of selling piers whether the house needs them or not. Worse yet, and this is a big problem, they, or you, or your realtor, or your inspector may see something that you, or they, don’t understand and confuse it with a foundation problem, when it is really only cosmetic, causing the buyer to pass on a home that they love, at a location they want and a price they can afford. And you lose the sale. This is a big problem which causes many people to lose sales or lose out on getting top dollar for their home. These are things I am eminently qualified to assist you in understanding. I have dealt with these situations for years and am capable and willing to explain it to sellers and/or buyers.  Every day in North Texas, real estate sales are lost due to ignorance of the facts. See what my customers say  Testimonials.    Here are: My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

ARE YOU CONSIDERING REMODELING OR ADDING ON TO YOUR HOME?     In the event that you are moving walls or adding windows, hard floor coverings, cabinets or an additional floor it is absolutely imperative that your existing house has not experienced foundation movement. Your contractors can usually install additional built-ins and usually square them up to the existing structure. However, if the existing structure is not straight square and plumb, when the remodeling is started, and the new section or even the old section moves, it will be almost impossible to ever straighten them both. If the old part moves it affects the new. If the new part moves it affects the old. You’ll never get them both straight.  It is wise to get an outside opinion about stabilizing original areas before dropping a lot of money on improvements.  Another problem to consider is the enclosing of a garage. As a rule, the area under the original garage door is not supported by an extension of the original, as-built, foundation and will not support bricks or other heavy sidings without adding a new foundation section. This is why garage walls are often the first to show distress. In modern homes, some builders are now completing the foundation. In older homes it is almost always a problem. Most remodeling contractors will sell you what you want. It is usually worth a small price to have someone on your side who understands what will, or might, or won’t work. I can be that person. See what my customers say at: Testimonials.    Here are:   My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

HAVE YOU RECENTLY SEEN CRACKS OR OTHER SIGNS OF FOUNDATION MOVEMENT?  Cracks or other signs generally thought to be foundation damage can mean foundation movement and, left unattended, will usually, at some point, lead to extensive/expensive repairs. Rarely, however, when these signs first show up, does it mean expensive repairs are required. In the great majority of cases, proper maintenance can, and will, not only stop this movement but often allow for it to reverse itself, to a point, where piers are not required. A knowledgeable consumer advocate, with extensive foundation knowledge, such as myself, can go a long way in helping you avoid accelerating problems. Remember: foundation repair contractors sell piers, I provide solutions.  See what my customers say at Testimonials.    Here are    My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

HAVE YOU BEEN ASK TO LET FOUNDATION ELEVATIONS DETERMINE YOUR FOUNDATION REPAIRS?                                       

Foundation companies sell piers. That’s how they make the vast amount of their profits.  Buildings occasionally “settle” or drop and need to be repaired by using piers. Piers, however, cannot stop or reverse “upheaval “which is lifting or rising of the structure due to soil expansion caused by moisture. In spite of what you may have heard upheaval and not settling is the major cause of foundation movement.  It is to the foundation companies’ advantage to have potential customers believe that all foundation movement is really settlement. Remember, most foundation movement in areas of expansive soil is not foundation settlement. It is upheaval of the foundation!

Using leveling devices without being in possession of the original construction elevations from sea level, which is a calibrated benchmark, keyed from sea level, one CANNOT determine if a foundation has settled on one side or lifted on the other. In other words, has the home gone up or gone down or was it poured that way? Unfortunately, no one has that benchmark, so the elevations will not provide a legitimate basis for determining foundation repair needs.

If the operator wants it to show it settled, they put the zero mark at one point. If they want it to have heaved, they put it somewhere else.   If you want to sell piers, you make it appear that settlement is the problem.

Foundation companies do this every day to convince homeowners to buy piers they don’t need. These un-needed piers will usually cause additional problems later on. The real reason that there are so many failures is not necessarily because of bad piers, but because piers were installed where they should not have been. And guess what, your warranty will not usually cover that "mistake". Contact me and I will explain it all.

The use of elevations is the biggest fraud in the foundation industry. In Areas of expansive soils, upheaval is much more often the cause of foundation movement than settlement. In North Texas, as an example, concrete beams in both slab and pier and beam (crawl space) construction are designed to be supportive and protect against settlement from minor voids under beams.  Expanding soils, on the other hand, are able to push areas of the slab up, essentially causing the same damage signs as settlement, only in a somewhat different pattern. These different patterns require different repair procedures.  Call me for more information.    See what my customers say at: Testimonials.    Here are    My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

HAVE YOU CALLED OUT SOME FOUNDATION REPAIR SALESMEN AND GOTTEN A WIDE VARIETY OF COST ESTIMATES AND CONFLICTING SUGGESTIONS ON REPAIRING YOUR HOME?  This is probably the thing I hear the most: “none of the contractors agree on what it will take to repair my home”. The reason for this is everybody is trying to sell piers, usually as many as they think you will buy. Most will have taken elevations of your floor and try to use the resulting numbers as a basis for placing piers. The reason they don’t agree on numbers is because their elevation readings are not accurate as to the amount and type of movement your home has experienced. Elevation readings on residential construction in North Texas, for the placement of piers, is a scam, unless you have the original elevations based on sea-level…… which, no one has. It is a way for untrained, commissioned salesmen to sell un-needed piers. The bid may also suggest a different type of piers or suggest similar piers that are priced completely differently. The type of piers used is important and the ability of the installers are of utmost importance.  This is where you need an unbiased consultant, who will not profit whether you get repairs done or not, who has no stake in the type of repairs you use, and who can advise you on each company’s true long-term reputation. Someone who will only benefit by seeing you successfully conquer your foundation issues, and in turn, recommend their service to  your friends relatives and neighbors. That would be me.  I respectfully suggest that you consider contacting me for advice and reassurances for any problems, real or perceived, that relate to foundation repair or drainage. See what my customers say at: Testimonials.    Here are    My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

HAVE YOU HAD PREVIOUS FOUNDATION REPAIRS THAT FAILED OR ARE FAILING?  In many of these cases, the homeowners have become aware that foundation repairs have failed and the warranties are designed to protect the foundation repair contractor and not the customer. As a rule, I can’t do much to get your money back because the contractors are good at protecting themselves. If it’s too late to prevent the problem what I can do is guide you through steps to deal with the situation as it stands. I can help you recover and correctly stabilize and if needed re-repair your home at the least possible expense and with the least possible disruption.                                                       See what my customers say at Testimonials.    Here are: My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

I also am available for talks to gatherings such as HOA meetings, realtor sales meetings, civic club’s meetings and any other legitimate group of homeowners in North Texas.

See what my customers say at Testimonials.    Here are My Fees.      For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186

My fee is a flat $350.00 within forty miles of DFW Airport. A little farther a little more. A lot farther, what can I say, a lot more! If you are remodeling and spending $35,000 my fee is but 1% to assure that you don’t have to redo it because of the foundation. If you are buying a Home for $350,000 my cost is 1/10 of one percent to protect that investment. The cost is small and the value is great.