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 provider with a proven history 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
Looking through online reviews, checking the Better Business Bureau, and requesting local references helps confirm that a company consistently provides quality work and great customer service. Pay attention if you see numerous complaints about faulty repairs or poor service.
Licensing and Insurance
Only hire companies that are properly licensed, bonded, and have both workers compensation and liability insurance. Your foundation repair professional will likely be licensed as a specialty contractor by the Utah Department of Commerce Division of Professional Licensing. To receive this license, a contractor needs to take a pre-licensing class, provide proof of liability insurance, and, if necessary, provide proof of workers' compensation insurance. Contractors may have to meet additional requirements to do certain concrete work.
Warranties
Choose a provider that offers long transferable warranties of at least 10 years, ideally up to lifetime guarantees, to back their foundation repairs. This demonstrates that they stand behind the quality of their repairs and offers protection if future issues arise.
Questions To Ask Foundation Repair Companies
During your assessment of potential foundation repair companies, make sure to ask precise questions such as:
- What do you see as the likely cause of the problem based on your inspection? Look for clear explanations and solutions in the answer. Companies that provide unclear answers may be trying to bill you for unneeded work.
- What options do you have for financing? Providers often offer payment plans for larger foundation repairs.
- Realistically, how long will repairs take to complete? Look for companies that provide reasonable estimates.
- What type of guarantees do you offer? Reputable companies typically offer warranties of minimum 10 years on labor and materials.
- What repairs do you recommend for this situation, and why? Your contractor may offer options such as steel piers, carbon fiber, and wall anchors. Asking allows you to compare suggested solutions between companies.
- Can you provide a complete written cost estimate and project scope? Getting the details in writing helps shield you from unexpected expenses.
Thoroughly evaluating foundation repair companies will help you locate the right one for you. Providers that can thoroughly answer these questions will likely provide high-quality, durable repairs. Promptly addressing foundation issues helps avoid future structural damage.
