How To Choose a Foundation Repair Company
Hiring a qualified foundation repair contractor ensures you have someone who will inspect the damage thoroughly and make appropriate fixes. It's important to conduct research beforehand, focusing on the factors listed here.
Experience
Look for a reliable local foundation company with many years of successfully fixing a wide range of foundation problems. Technicians should have expert-level understanding of current repair materials and methods. Contact the company to ask how long the business has served your community.
Reputation
Spend time checking online reviews, browsing the Better Business Bureau, and requesting local references. This will help confirm that a provider consistently delivers quality work and great customer service. Take note of complaints describing faulty repairs or poor service.
Licensing and Insurance
Make sure any professional you hire has the appropriate licenses, bonds, and insurance for liability and workers' compensation. In California, general contractors need to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board before working on projects valued at $500 or more. To apply for a license, an individual needs to have at least four years of related work experience in the last decade (or be represented by someone who does), must pass both a law and business and a trade exam, and must be bonded. If an individual or business has employees, workers' compensation insurance is also required. Contractors may have to meet additional requirements to do certain concrete work.
Warranties
Opt for a provider offering long transferable warranties of at least 10 years, ideally lifetime guarantees, to completely back its foundation repair work. This exhibits belief in the quality and durability of the repairs and offers protection should problems develop later.
Questions To Ask Foundation Repair Companies
To compare foundation repair professionals, you should ask detailed questions such as:
- What do you see as the likely cause of my issues based on your inspection? Look for clear explanations and solutions in the answer. Companies that provide unclear answers may be attempting to bill you for unnecessary work.
- What repairs do you recommend for this situation, and why? Your contractor may consider options such as wall anchors, carbon fiber, and steel piers. By asking, you can get an idea of what solutions a company offers and compare between providers.
- Realistically, how long will the repairs take to complete? Look for companies that provide reasonable estimates.
- What guarantees do you provide? Reputable providers usually provide labor and materials warranties for at least 10 years.
- Can you provide a cost estimate and project scope in writing? Be sure to get quotes in writing to shield yourself from unexpected expenses.
- What options do you offer for financing? Many providers offer payment plans for larger foundation projects.
Thoroughly evaluating foundation repair companies will help you identify the right one for you. Providers that can thoroughly answer these questions will likely provide long-lasting, high-quality repairs. Promptly addressing foundation issues helps prevent future structural damage.