Initial evaluations are always free. After you call the office to schedule an inspection, a structural analyst will come to your home to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the foundation. He will first ask you questions about the signs of stress that you are seeing, when you first noticed them, previous repair history, etc. He will then prepare a scaled footprint drawing of your home. He will note any physical signs of the post-construction movement for both the exterior and interior finished surfaces. He will look at the drainage conditions around your home. He will then perform an elevation survey using a Technidea Ziplevel™. Finally, he will analyze all the information and determine if repairs are recommended. Depending on multiple factors, the entire evaluation process can usually be completed in about an hour.
Structured Foundation Repairs recommends and includes third-party, independent Professional Engineering reports before repairs are started. The engineer’s job is to make sure that the repair plan makes engineering sense. The initial engineering report is also needed to obtain city permits. After the repairs are completed, the engineer performs a final inspection to ensure that the work was completed per his original report.
Most repairs can be completed in just one to two days. Ultimately, the time to complete repairs will vary depending on the scope of work and the weather.
Concrete and Steel pilings installed by Structured have a lifetime transferable warranty against re-settlement. If any area re-settles over ¼” over a 5’ span Structured will adjust those piers at no charge. (See Terms and Conditions). Pier & Beam understructures have an industry standard 1-year transferable warranty.
The cost of repairs is typically less than what people expect. Historically, the average cost of repairs is between $7,000 and $9,000. This cost will vary based on the scope of work.
Yes, Structured Foundation Repairs carries both Liability and Worker’s Compensation insurance. A simple call to our office and our helpful staff will be able to answer your insurance questions and provide insurance documents when requested.
Concrete slab foundations have pipes underneath them. Those pipes can leak at any time. When a slab foundation settles, the pipes underneath and attached to it move and can be compromised as a result of that movement. Foundation repairs typically involve lifting the foundation. The act of lifting the foundation back towards its original position moves the pipes and that movement can compromise the pipes that are underneath and attached to the foundation. The chance of the plumbing being compromised during the repairs is a function of how much the foundation is being lifted, what type of material the pipes are made from, and the condition of the pipes beforehand. Structured Foundation Repairs recommends and can include pre and/or post-plumbing tests. All plumbing tests are performed by licensed plumbers.
It is possible to do both. The goal of most foundation repairs is to attempt to lift the foundation back to as near its original horizontal position while stabilizing it from future movement. When a foundation settles, the walls get “stretched” somewhat. That “stretching” of the walls can create cracks in the finished surfaces (exterior brick and/or interior sheetrock). When the foundation is lifted, the cracks can close to some degree. However, Structured has no control over how the finished surfaces react to the lifting. If new cracks start to appear during the lifting process, Structured will stop lifting and will stabilize the foundation.
There is a misconception that the foundation needs to “settle” after repairs have been done. It is not the foundation that needs time to “settle”, it is the framework behind the sheetrock that may, or may not, need a short period to “adjust” to its new position. Therefore, if you have the luxury of time, you may want to wait a few weeks before commencing cosmetic repairs. If you are selling your home and would like to do cosmetic repairs immediately and the framing has not yet fully adjusted to its new position, it may become necessary to do some minor cosmetic touch-ups in the future.
Yes, after the engineer certifies the repairs as being complete per his original report, the house can be sold. When you are ready to sell, you will need to disclose the foundation repairs and show the third-party Professional Engineering reports to your buyers. Your real estate professional can assist with this process.