Monday, January 31, 2011

Foundation Repair

Foundation repair is the most complicated and the most expensive type of repair your home will ever need. This is the reason why so many people go to school to get training specifically to become a foundation repair contractor. Foundation repair is not something most people like to think about. Foundation problems can be a stressful, potentially costly endeavor, filled with uncertainty, particularly if not done professionally. Foundation Repair is needed when your foundation begins to settle. This can be caused by building on expansive clay, compressible or improperly compacted fill soils, or improper maintenance around foundations. Mother Nature plays a big part in this also depending on the state you live in and how cold your winters can get.

Foundation repairs are usually quite expensive, but are an essential home improvement. Foundation repairs are often difficult and expensive, so its important to build the foundation correctly the first time. The Build A Better Home program from APA- The Engineered Wood Association is designed to provide builders and homeowners with the construction guidelines they need to protect their homes against damaging moisture infiltration. Foundation repairs aren't easily performed, so breathe deep, sit back and hope for the best. When your choices are few and far between, you need to find the best contractor for the job. The lowest price is not always the best way to go and if you choose to make your final decision on just that fact, be prepared to be disappointed most of the time.

Cracks that are buckling, bowing, sinking and other defects are commonly caused by the foundation settling, unstable or shifting soil, environmental conditions or even poor landscaping design. When left untreated, these seemingly minor problems can become a major headache and lead to serious structural damage. The earlier you catch this problem and try to fix it the better your chances of it not costing a fortune.

Foundation repair cant be ignored. The traditional answer to foundation repair has been to erect piers to jack up the foundation and raise it off the expansive clay soil. Piers have several distinct disadvantages and drawbacks. Foundation repair can be expensive and tricky. You'll want to shop around and get several bids from several different contractors as well as have a look at their experience in such matters. Foundation repair can be the most expensive repair that you will make to a property. One of the saddest things I've heard in the investment community are the stories of investors who have purchased a property, rehabbed it, and put it on the market only to have the buyer's inspector tell them there was a problem with the foundation.

Cracks and other damage can look unattractive, reduce the overall value of your home and lead to more serious structural problems. Steps can be taken to fix foundations to maintain the quality and value of most homes. Cracks usually develop in the floors and grade beams of buildings having an abnormal degree of differential settlement. The cracks in concrete are normal and could be a symptom of differential settlement and not the problem.

Foundation repair is critical to address as soon as you suspect a problem. For starters, the sooner you fix a failing foundation, the less damage it will cause. My best advice any professional contractor can give a homeowner in need of foundation repair is to remedy the problem as soon as possible before it gets worse and leads to several costly other repairs.