Problems with your home’s foundation can be scary. They can trigger extensive structural damage to your house’s exterior and interior. Because your home’s structural integrity will be compromised, you’re often no longer safe.
Repairs cost money, and you’d have to foot the bill yourself if you don’t have insurance. Fortunately, a reputable repair expert can fix several structural issues without tearing out the entire foundation. Doing so will significantly lower the resulting repair costs with a focus on the quality of work.
If your home sits on expansive clay or in an area with poor drainage, foundation problems won’t be much of a surprise. However, you’ll need to be prepared before your repair contractor comes up to fix these foundation issues. These three tips will make things easier for you and your repair contractor during and after the work is complete. We provide foundation repair in Houston and the surrounding areas also provide foundation repair in Dallas and the surrounding area.
1. Schedule a Foundation Inspection
Before you kick-start your repair work, first assess the extent of foundation damage in your home. Performing an initial assessment helps you get a rough idea of how much work needs to be done on your foundation. Additionally, an inspection can point out the main cause of damage and the different strategies that your contractor could use to perform repairs.
Common problems found during an inspection can include:
- Jammed doors
- Isolated water pools
- Crawlspace issues
- Drywall cracks
- Warped flooring
During the inspection, your repair contractor could also draft you an initial budget estimate using their inspection findings. A prior foundation inspection is one of the most important steps when preparing for repairs. Therefore, working with a reputable contractor is your best bet towards an actionable and effective foundation repair plan.
2. Draft a Temporary Relocation Plan
A foundation repair procedure is often very loud, with noise from construction equipment such as jackhammers and hydraulic machines. The entire process is usually quite intrusive as well, affecting both your comfort and safety in the home. Therefore, temporarily relocate your family until all the work is finished or after your contractor gives you the green light to return home.
However, temporary relocation might only apply if your home needs extensive repair work, such as replacing an entire concrete slab unit. But if moving out not an option for you, your foundation repair contractor could plan out a work schedule that considers you and your family’s needs.
They could choose to focus on particular sections while you and your family are still in the house. However, such a strategy might keep you shifting from room to room until the whole foundation is safe for you.
3. Protect Your Home
Most foundation repairs are quite extensive, affecting both the inside and outside of your home. Because the repair crew will need access to your home, make sure that the work area doesn’t have furniture or other items that could limit their mobility.
Also, repairs create a lot of dust that could damage your electronics and other valuable items in the house. Children and pets should also be in the rooms furthest from the construction site for their own safety.
If you have plants around your home, move them away to give the technicians a clear pathway and protect your plants against root damage. You could always move them yourself, but using a landscaping expert ensures the safety of removal and replanting after repair technicians finish doing their job.
Ignoring foundation problems drastically lowers your home’s value and the safety of everyone living there. If you notice signs such as sagging floors and cracks, feel free to contact Du-West. Our technicians are well-trained to handle any foundation issues you might have in your home, with great attention to repair quality and safety.
