We probably don’t need to tell you that a foundation repair is most definitely not a DIY project. Only a licensed, experienced foundation repair specialist should fix your foundation problem. So, here are a few things to keep in mind when hiring one…
Get more than one on-site inspection and proposal. Foundation repairs could be major construction projects. Therefore, you’ll want to get more than one opinion and proposed solution. A visual, on-site, residential inspection should take less than an hour.
Do plenty of research and educate yourself about the various foundation repair techniques used today. You want to hire a professional foundation specialist because they have plenty of experience and a good reputation, not because they’re offering to do the job for the lowest price or because they gave you a slick sales pitch. The more you know about foundation problems and repair techniques the easier it will be for you to weed out the fly-by-night hustlers and make information-based decisions.
Make sure the contractor’s repair will be evaluated by local building officials. This is necessary to ensure they are up to code. Reject any proposal that does not include this.
If you’re going to have hydraulic piles installed to lift or stabilize the building, ask the contractor if they charge extra when the piles need to be installed deeper than the standard 20-30 feet. A reputable foundation repair specialist will always charge extra for this. Beware the contractor who doesn’t because they may not install the piles deep enough in order to save themselves money. The physical property condition of the soils below your building changes with depth. All piles should be installed to a load bearing soil strata and to a minimum calculated load bearing capacity. Piles typically are installed to various depths depending on the soil conditions.
Make sure the contractor is willing to remove any shrubbery that’s too close to the house where the piers need to be installed.
Evaluate the warranty being offered for the repair and consider what you’ll do if the company goes out of business.
Consider hiring a structural engineer to do the inspection and repair proposal. A structural engineer has no financial stake in whether you do the proposed repair or not. After the inspection, the engineer will write up a detailed report including a proposed solution. You can then present this to the foundation repair contractor.