Sunday, 26 February 2012

Residential Property Foundation Repair Cost Estimates

Securing your residential foundation is a smart investment in the future of your home. By getting a foundation repair cost estimate to help determine the most effective solution for your property, you can make a more informed decision regarding future home improvement costs. A proper evaluation relies upon determining which structures and materials are necessary to ensure you get the best possible recommendation for repairing your home foundation. Keep in mind that any evaluation you receive should help you to make an informed decisions, whether you are looking to invest in your own home, business or an investment property.
Residential repair processes rely upon proven ECP Steel Piers, which anchor your foundation for the long run. As a result, estimates should include a complete lifetime warranty so you can evaluate the return on your repair bills across the entire ownership cycle for your property. Look for a contractor who will provide lasting, proven, cost effective, engineered solutions that help restore and stabilize your home foundation.
While there are many methods to repair your foundation, Steel Piers are built to last and backed with a lifetime warranty. By making a solid investment the first time, you can increase the long-run value of your property for resale as well as saving on any future repair bills. Many contractors rely upon ECP Steel Pier Technology to deliver superior value to home foundation projects.
Foundation Repair Estimates
With trained repair professionals, you can get free no obligation quote for your home or business. You may be surprised with how affordable home repairs can be, especially given their impact on the long run value of your home or business. Trained professionals can help you understand the entire foundation repair process, as well as providing a cost estimate to help you make an informed decision. The exact estimate received will often depend on the structure and condition of your property, as well as the size and difficulty of the project. Property owners can often find options that work with both their budget and repair goals to effectively fix their foundations in less time.

The Cost of Foundation Repair

If you own a home with a concrete slab foundation that sits on heavy clay soils that expand and shrink with the weather, sooner or later you are going to wonder if the foundation might be damaged. If you have doors or windows that stick, uneven floors, or diagonal cracks in the inside walls or outside bricks, you may be facing a repair job.
So how much is it going to be, what is the cost of foundation repair? The straight answer: it depends.
The costs vary because each situation is different. It depends on how many piers are needed to underpin the foundation. You may need piers all around the house or maybe just in front. One of the worst cases is when you have a foundation that slumps in the middle. The repair company has two choices. Either tear up floors or go in underneath with tunnels.
The cost can also vary by types of piers needed. Steel, bell-bottom (or drilled) and concrete pilings are the most common types. Helical steel piers are sometimes needed on hillsides. There are just too many variables to be able to just throw out a general figure for how much the job might cost.
Here is what I do know. I live in North Central Texas and two of my neighbors have had foundation repair. Their foundation repair costs were both about $7,000. I was nosy enough to ask.
Granit Foundation Repair lists the average cost for the Dallas-Fort Worth area at $5000 to $7000. Down around the Austin-San Antonio area in Central Texas, Centex Foundation Repair puts the average cost at $5646.
In Louisiana, Jericho Foundation Repair puts it this way: "We have been able to establish a consistent cost for an average foundation repair. Slab foundation, the average cost is approximately $3,000. We have completed repairs for as little as $250 and as much as $30,000 on a single home. The price varies with each home".
You can see that there are a lot of variables at play when determining what the foundation repair cost is going to be. Remember, I'm just a homeowner/writer and not in the foundation repair business in any way. But many experts give this advice: Get your foundation inspection done by an independent professional structural engineer with foundation experience who has no financial ties to any repair company. Then get at least three bids from repair companies if the engineer thinks repairs are needed. From there, make your choice.

Saturday, 25 February 2012

Costs and Solutions to Home Foundation Repair

Home repair is often expensive and inconvenient, and it's possible that one of the most problematic is home foundation repair. If you are faced with this problem you mustn't ignore it. You must make the repair as soon as possible with the help of a residential structural engineer.
The foundation is the most important structural element in a house. The floors, roof and walls depend on a solid foundation to hold them up. If your foundation is sinking, splitting or sliding, your home will suffer serious structural damage that can reduce its value.
Causes of Foundation Damage
Most foundation repairs are caused by soil-related problems such as:
• Poor waterproofing
• Poor compaction
• Overloading
• Excessive organic materials
• Erosion
• Expansive soils as a result of changes in moisture content
Under these conditions, stresses can damage your home's foundation and overall structure.
More often than not, the cause of the damage is poor construction practices by the home builder. Builders can cut corners to save on costs. In the process, the foundation is not as strong as possible. A footer may be too narrow or thin. A poured concrete wall may not be reinforced with steel. A concrete block foundation wall may not have been filled solid.
Solutions to Home Foundation Repair
If you need major repairs on your home foundation, you must call a residential structural engineer. Making a mistake in repairing the foundation of a home can lead to serious damage. Structural engineers can provide the solution to your home foundation problem. They can also recommend contractors who can do foundation repair work.
For minor repairs on the foundation, including small cracks, FixCrack or similar products can be used. However, if the task proves difficult or challenging, a professional who specializes in repairing home foundations should be consulted.
If damage to the foundation is serious, extensive excavation and powerful hydraulic lifts may be required to secure the foundation while repairs are made. This kind of repair work is very expensive but cannot be avoided. It may even be necessary to shut off the water and electricity for safety reasons.
Home Foundation Repair Costs
To determine the cost of home foundation repair, contractors must make an initial inspection and assess the damage. They have to determine how long it will take to repair the foundation. Cost estimates will depend on the materials used, labor component, and cause of the damage.
It's best to get at least three estimates from different contractors to compare the cost. The cheapest estimate may not be the best option. You must consider the materials to be used, quality of work, and the contractor's reputation. It's better to pay more to get a better quality job.