How To Choose a Foundation Repair Company
You need a good foundation repair company to properly assess issues and make appropriate repairs. Do thorough research and focus on these key factors when selecting the right company.
Experience
Look for a reliable local foundation provider with many years of successfully fixing all foundation types. Technicians should have extensive experience with current repair materials and methods. Contact the company to ask how long the business has served your community.
Reputation
Researching online reviews, checking the Better Business Bureau, and requesting local references helps you confirm that a provider consistently delivers good workmanship and a positive customer service experience. Pay attention if you see multiple complaints about shoddy repairs or poor service.
Licensing and Insurance
It's important to select a provider that has the right credentials, bonding, and insurance for liability and workers' compensation. General contractors in California are required to be licensed by the Contractors State License Board in order to work 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 ten years (or be represented by someone who does), must pass both a business and law and a trade exam, and must be bonded. If an individual or business has employees, workers' compensation insurance is also required. There may be additional requirements for contractors to do certain work with concrete.
Warranties
Pick a company that offers warranties of 10+ years that you can transfer to a new owner if you sell and, if possible, lifetime guarantees to fully back its services. This displays faith that their repairs will be high-quality and long-lasting and provides protection if problems come up later.
Questions To Ask Foundation Repair Companies
As part of your research into foundation repair providers, get detailed answers to questions such as:
- What guarantees do you provide? Reliable companies typically provide labor and materials warranties of at least 10 years.
- What financing options do you offer? Providers often offer payment plans for larger foundation repairs.
- Realistically, how long will repairs take to complete? Look for providers that provide reasonable estimates.
- What foundation flaws did you identify during inspection that could be causing the issue? The response should have easy-to-understand explanations and solutions. If a provider offers an unclear answer, it may be attempting to bill you for extra work.
- Can you provide a complete written cost estimate and project scope? Asking for a quote in writing helps protect you from unexpected costs.
- What repair method do you recommend for this specific situation and why? Your provider may offer options such as steel piers, wall anchors, and carbon fiber. By asking, you can get an idea of what solutions a company offers and compare between providers.
Carefully evaluating foundation repair companies helps homeowners select the ideal match for their needs. A provider that can answer the questions above is likely one that offers high-quality, long-lasting repairs. Swiftly tackling foundation problems helps prevent further structural damage.