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Austin Foundation Repair and Using a Professional

Foundation problems occur in areas where properties are constructed on clay soil. If you suspect you may have a problem, the first thing you should do is to contact a plumbing company to test for leaks in your fresh water and sewage lines. After testing you should contact a foundation repair contractor. The contractor will take extensive interior measurements to determine the area of the foundation which needs attention. They will also take into consideration other factors, such as the landscaping, drainage, and trees around the foundation.

Read more about foundation repair below and watch the video about foundation problems in Texas.

Did you know? Masons are the professionals who would typically install new foundations, fireplaces, brick and stone walls and veneer.

You must take initiative and investigate references of the repair contractor you will hire to do the work. This is for your own good. The Better Business Bureau, engineers, and city inspection departments are all assets when performing research on different companies. Do not make an impulse decision to hire a contractor simply because you here a radio or television commercial. Once you have a sufficient amount of information on the contractor, ask them more about the crew that will actually be doing the work.

You already know that you want a professional doing the repair on your home. But how do you decide which one to hire? In order to choose you should focus on the type of support they want to put under your foundation, and what that support depends on to hold your foundation and itself, in place. Basically, your foundation had to soil to hold it up before, but it failed. The foundation needs supports or piers to accomplish what the soil failed to do. The type of pier depends on the soil beneath your foundation to do its job. There are many different types of piers on the market. Two of the main types of piers on the market are friction and point bearing piers. Friction piers depend on the soil around them to hold them in place, while point bearing piers depend on the load bearing strata or rock beneath your foundation to support them. Friction piers are mostly made of concrete and point bearing piers are made from steel pipe. Concrete piers come in many shapes and sizes but the larger their diameter and the deeper their depth the better their predicted performance in years to come. Steel piers are constructed from sections of steel pipe and are hydraulically pushed through the soil until their point reaches a subsurface strata which will provide support for the house. Steel pier contractors should be able to tell you the estimated depth to load bearing strata for your area.

Make sure as with any major repair to read the fine print. If you are in doubt or do not understand some parts of the contract, do not hesitate to ask questions. Be very careful regarding warranties and extended warranties. The same rules apply. Do not sign if you do not understand. It is imperative that you ask for assistance if you are in any doubt. Consult a family member, coworker, or friend, maybe they have been in this situation and may have some valuable advice for you.

~CJ Salgado

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