If you’ve decided to embark on the exciting adventure of foundation repair, you might think it’s time to sit back and leave the work to the professionals! Well, you’re mostly right, but there are a few things you need to do before the operations begin. For the safety of your home and its inhabitants, it’s important to research ways you can protect the interior and exterior of your property before repairs begin. Since 1996, Foundation Pro has been helping homeowners prepare their properties for large-scale and minor foundation repairs. The following are some of the most useful tips for getting your house ready for your next project.
Start with a Foundation Inspection
Before you call your trusty foundation repair professional and schedule repairs for newfound damages, it is important to schedule an inspection. (Foundation Pro conducts FREE evaluations, so there is no reason not to schedule a consultation!)
“But if I know what’s wrong, why shouldn’t I just call someone out to fix it?” Good question! Foundation Repair is never one-size-fits-all. Additionally, warning signs such as cracked concrete or damaged door and window frames may be indicative of a larger issue. Simply filling in a minor concrete crack may be like putting a band-aid on an amputated limb. Your foundation repair inspection will help the repair professional determine the source of the damage and develop a customized plan for your property!
Prepare Your Landscaping Prior to Foundation Repair
Depending on the amount of work that needs to be done on your home’s foundation, you may need to consider the removal of plants from the perimeter of your property. For properties with extensive landscaping, an option is to call a professional landscaping service to come and remove your plants or trees and replace them after the work is done.
For large projects, Foundation Pro will carefully consider your landscaping, and remove and replace any plants that are in the way of our project. However, some customers prefer to hire the original landscaping company, and we understand!
Give the Foundation Repair Team Room to Move
Like any extensive home improvement project, the professional team will need unencumbered access to the interior and exterior areas. Foundation repair horror stories often begin with the team encountering physical roadblocks, such as:
- Old wood or sheet metal
- Cars
- Garbage
- Furniture
- Storage items, such as lawn maintenance tools and
- Landscaping obstructions, such as trees, plants, and decorative rocks
“Room to Move” does not just mean shuffling items around to create pathways. Homeowners often use crawl spaces for additional storage. If you have structural damage in your crawlspace, your priority should be to completely clean the area out, so your repair team has full visibility and mobility. With a clean, clear space, the repair professionals can complete your project faster and safer. Prior to the project’s inception, your foundation professional may advise areas for the property owner to address.
Secure Your Furniture and Interior Items
You can never be too careful when it comes to your interior decorating! Your house isn’t going to sprout legs and walk away, but the entire foundation is essentially moving!! Secure your furniture and fragile decorative belongings before the project begins. Here are a few tips for how to secure your furniture before your next foundation repair.
- Decorative Items. Remove all pictures and decorative items from precarious positions or your walls. Foundation Repair will not cause rattling of seismic proportions, but the gentle lift may cause items to shift or fall off the wall.
- Furniture and Appliances. Firmly secure larger, heavier items to avoid scratches to the floor.It is also advisable to cover your furniture with a drop cloth for protection against dust and residue.
Go with the Pro! Call Foundation Pro Today!
Property owners trust the Pro. We are a Central Arkansas-based structural foundation repair company that addresses both interior and exterior issues. Since 1996, Foundation Pro has specialized in residential and commercial repair focusing on concrete foundation repair, crawl space services, and concrete raising. If you have any questions about how to prepare your home for your next foundation repair project, call the Pro! 501-753-1009
FAQs
To make it easier for the repair team to work, you should clear access to the interior and exterior regions of the house. Give them room to move. Additionally, if you use your crawl space for storage, do not forget to clean them out. The foundation repair team should have complete visibility and mobility.
How to prepare a home for foundation repair? ›
To make it easier for the repair team to work, you should clear access to the interior and exterior regions of the house. Give them room to move. Additionally, if you use your crawl space for storage, do not forget to clean them out. The foundation repair team should have complete visibility and mobility.
What is the best foundation repair method? ›
Top 4 Foundation Repair Options
- Push Piers. Push piers, also called resistance piers, are driven down until they reach load-bearing soil using hydraulic pressure along with the weight of the building. ...
- Helical Piers. Helical piers look like big screws. ...
- Drilled Concrete Piers. ...
- Screw Jacks.
There are many different methods of repairing a home's foundation, and most of them are considered permanent solutions. However, just because a foundation repair is considered permanent does not guarantee that you will never have issues with your foundation again.
Can you fix foundation problems yourself? ›
While store-bought repair kits may be considered for cracks and other damage, DIY solutions pose safety risks and are not recommended. Contact a professional for an inspection and a holistic, long-term solution for foundation repair.
How do you jack up a house to fix foundation? ›
Lifting a house to repair a foundation is accomplished by piering. This technique involves the placement of vertical piers deep into the soil beneath the sunken part of the foundation. Hydraulic jacks on the piers lift and level the sunken foundation section.
Does foundation repair affect home value? ›
How Foundation Repair Affects the Value of Your Home. It's important to remember that foundation repair does not directly increase the value of your home. However, it does restore the value of your home, allowing you to sell it closer to its actual worth.
What time of year is best for foundation repair? ›
This makes it easier to inspect and monitor any damage. Foundation repairs like fixing interior cracks or reinforcing structures are unaffected by colder weather. Many professionals suggest that winter is the most efficient time of year for foundation repairs.
How to fix the foundation of an old house? ›
6 Foundation Repair Methods
- Polyurethane Foam Jacking. This foundation repair process uses polyurethane foam material to lift and support a sunken concrete slab foundation. ...
- Concrete Pressed Piling. ...
- Steel Piers. ...
- Helical Piers. ...
- Concrete Piers. ...
- Slabjacking/Mudjacking.
Sinking foundation ($1,000–$25,000): A sinking foundation also requires extensive repairs to address poor soil, insufficient drainage, damage to the house, and an unstable foundation. This type of foundation repair is usually the most expensive.
While you're home isn't likely to collapse, that doesn't mean you should try to live with a foundation problem. An unrepaired foundation problem will get worse over time and could lead to unexpected and dangerous situations. For example, foundation problems can prevent doors and windows from opening.
How long does it take for foundation to settle after repair? ›
How Long Should You Wait After Foundation Repair? A common waiting period before starting any remodeling work is around 8–10 weeks after the foundation repair. This period allows the soil beneath your home to stabilize and ensures that the foundation has fully settled into its new position.
How can I save money on foundation repair? ›
5 Ways to Save Money on Foundation Repairs
- DIY small, doable repairs like hairline cracks or sealing your basem*nt.
- Keep an eye out for foundation problems to catch any issues as soon as they appear as well as prevent long-term damage and more severe foundation repair work.
Note: Many folks wonder, “can a house collapse from foundation issues?” The truth is yes, a house can eventually collapse from foundation issues. However, this usually takes many years, and a homeowner can usually catch their issue in time.
What happens if you don't fix foundation problems? ›
If ignored, foundation problems lead to severe structural damage. As the foundation shifts or cracks, your walls start to crack, floors become uneven, and doors and windows stop functioning correctly. Your entire home becomes out of alignment. And over time, this can compromise the stability and safety of your home.
How do I stop my house from sinking? ›
One of the most reliable ways to stop your house from sinking is to inject geopolymer resins directly into the ground underneath your house. When the geopolymer resins have set, they compact aerated or damaged soil and become rock solid.
How do you fix foundation without lifting a house? ›
Foam jacking is a potential alternative for homeowners who do not wish to raise their existing house. Foam jacking works by helping to raise sunken concrete slab foundations. Your foundation pro will start by drilling holes into the concrete slab before injecting it with polyurethane foam.
How long does it take to repair the foundation of a house? ›
The average structural job takes around 3 – 4 days to complete, but it can last as long as two weeks. This is due to the intricate detail and care taken to preserve your foundation while it's being worked on.
How long does a house foundation take to cure? ›
The concrete curing time takes about 28 days to be fully cured. Differences in weather, mix, and other items can slightly change the timeframe of the curing period. The general rule of thumb for concrete drying is 28 days to dry for every 1 inch of slab thickness.
