Can Foundation Repair Be A DIY Job?Posted by Kamp Stack on May 20th, 2021 A home's foundation may be the bottom-most layer that delivers the support for a home. Depending on the part of the country, the size of the home and when it had been built, the kind of foundation can vary greatly. Concrete slab foundations are the most common; some are designed to sustain crawl spaces or basements. Other foundation types are pier and beam, pile and spread foundations. Whatever the type, all will require at some point foundation repair. Signs of a foundation in need of repair include cracks in the walls, bricks, drywall, tile as well as the foundation itself. Other signs are sticky doorjambs and windows, sloping floors, cracking or separating chimneys or fascia board. Sometimes, mold may accumulate in the cracks. Whether an excessive amount of or not enough, water is the main culprit in foundation repair cases. Over-saturated soil expands pushing in to the home and foundation and as time passes loses stability, evoking the foundation to again move and crack. Dry soil however contracts, pulling away from the perimeter of the house, leaving little support for the foundation, causing shifts and cracks. When foundation problems commence to appear it is crucial to correct them immediately. Early foundation repairs may prevent further problems down the road and spend less on more extensive repairs. Unaddressed foundation problems may lead to damaged plumbing, buckled walls and cabinets or mantles coming apart from walls. Worse yet, broken or damaged plumbing can lead to leaks and mold. In our age of DO-IT-YOURSELF (DIY) and an easy task to follow instructional videos, it could be tempting to attempt foundation repairs on your own. This however, is not often a recommended course of action. There are easy preventative and maintenance steps which might be taken such as watering your foundation during dry seasons, ensuring proper drainage during wet seasons. Other best practices include keeping the south and west sides of the home shaded, but also ensuring trees and shrubs are far enough from the house to avoid roots from growing in to the foundation. True foundation repair is best left to a professional who understands the structural soundness of your home, has the most current knowledge, equipment and tools for foundation repair. Repairing your home's foundation is not only about eliminating cracks in walls or evening sloping floors. It involves getting underneath your home, using heavy equipment and installing repairs which will last. Along with stable and staying repair work, your foundation must remain safe. Poorly repaired foundations not merely lead to more foundation problems, but compromise the safety of your home & most likely won't pass inspection. To ensure the greatest foundation repair, consulting and hiring the foundation repair professional you feel most comfortable with is essential. Interview foundation repair companies to get their area of expertise also to obtain bids. Based on your quest, then ask for referrals to acquire customer insight into the company and process. Ask the firms about warranties, guarantees, how they handle unexpected findings that raise the initial bid and cost estimate. Also inquire further how foundation companies near me propose to correct the damaged foundation and what things to expect about the time of the project and any pre-project work you will have to do. Some repairs require that mantels and walls are emptied or basements cleared out.Like it? Share it! |