Top 4 Things You Need to Consider

 

 

Scenario: You have finally made it to the basement to go through those boxes you have been meaning to get to for a while. That is when you discover a rather large crack in your foundation wall that you hadn’t noticed before.  After COMPLETELY freaking out, you hop on the internet to find foundation repair companies to provide you with some insight.  You meet with three or four different companies and each one has a different approach to address the crack in your foundation.  Understandably this leaves you frustrated and confused.  So now what?     Here are our top 4 things you need to consider when scheduling your foundation repair project:

 

 

 1 TYPE OF FIX: Band-aid or Cure? 

First, it is important to understand that every repair company, or contractor, will probably be different in the way they approach repairing your foundation.  This is typically due to the amount, and type, of experience the company has in the industry. You will have some that are more knowledgeable and will bid to fix what is causing the problem.  This will be more costly upfront but will be the cure your foundation needs. The right repair, the first time. You will also have companies that bid to repair the visual symptoms. This will be less expensive but you can be guaranteed to have to spend more money in the future for the same problem. For example, if the crack in the above scenario is repaired with an epoxy injection (the process of installing plastic ports over the crack, coating the crack and, once cured, pressure injecting the crack with epoxy) you would have a sense of security that the problem is solved. If however, the reason the crack has formed is due to settlement of the foundation or inward/outward movement of the wall, then the crack will reopen as the foundation continues to move. Not only was the problem not addressed but the repair that was done will have been a waste of your time and money.

 

2 FUNDING YOUR PROJECT

Foundation repair is not cheap and while most companies do not offer payment plans they may work with an outside source to provide financing. Most companies also require some form of deposit to be paid before the work begins and for payment in full upon project completion. With that in mind, will you need to save for a while or can you borrow money from family or the bank?

 

3 QUALITY OF THE COMPANY: Service and Product 

Doing your due diligence checking into the company/contractor you choose to repair your foundation will keep you from many headaches. Look for things like: how long have they been in business, what do their customers say about them, how responsive are they to your questions, will you receive a warranty on the products/services they provide? You want to make sure that the company you choose will be around to uphold warranties that are promised as well as having a good customer service track record. If the company reviews are generally negative in the customer service arena you can expect to have some frustration in your dealing with the company. You also want to make sure that the company is using quality product for your repairs. Higher quality product will of course cost a little more but will last longer!

 

4 TIME IT WILL TAKE TO GET THE JOB DONE

Depending upon the time of year, you can expect to wait for several weeks (sometimes a couple of months) to get your project on the calendar. It is typically easier to get immediate scheduling during the winter months. Your contractor should be able to give you a close estimation of how long the project will take to complete. There are some unknown factors that can shorten or lengthen project duration, such as weather, equipment and labor availability, and changes to the scope of work but for the most part you should have a good idea heading into the project how long you will have visitors. You also need to consider whether the work will be performed inside or outside. If the work is interior then you will need to make accommodations for access (if taking days off of work, or finding someone to be available, is not an option you will need to provide a key or garage code for the duration of the project.)

 

The staff and crew at Foundation1 know, and understand, the stress and worry that can accompany foundation repairs. That is why we want to educate and inform you during each step of the process. We hope this helps you to make an informed decision when choosing a company to repair your foundation.  Give us a call to schedule a consultation or just to discuss more about your foundation issues 816-682-8440