Foundation repair in Rush City, MN, is a tricky business. With all the myths there are surrounding the industry, it’s difficult to know what’s true about the business and what isn’t.
With that in mind, let’s bust some of the myths that have kept smart homeowners from saving their properties.
Your New Home Can’t Develop a Foundation Crack
Just because your home is brand new doesn’t mean that your foundation can’t crack. Of course, if you had waterproofing solutions put in at the same time you had your home built, you’re going to be better off than many. It’s not just older homes, though, that have foundation problems. If you live in an area that sees a lot of precipitation, or if the builder you hired used green wood for your supports, you may find yourself dealing with foundation problems sooner than you’d like.
It’s easy to DIY a Solution to a Cracking Foundation
Nowadays, the thought is if a professional can do it, you can do it, too. The DIY movement has been liberating for many, and for good reason. If you can caulk a window, though, surely you can fix a crack in your foundation – right?
Not necessarily. In fact, if you don’t have the certifications to inspect and fix someone else’s foundation, you should call a professional to work on yours. Foundations are notoriously temperamental, and if something happens while you are repairing your own home, you risk damaging the entire structural support system behind your home. Not only will your home’s value be at risk, but you’ll have to pay a professional more to both uninstall your quick fix and institute an effective foundation solution.
When in doubt, reach out to the professionals in the Rush City, MN, area. It’s much easier to do the job right the first time than to have to fix, undo and refix a home.
If You Overwater Your Lawn, You’ll Make a Foundation Crack Worse
Many folks know that heavy rain can crack a foundation, but some don’t know why. When rainwater presses up against your home after a rainstorm, it generates hydrostatic pressure. That pressure, when used against your home, forces your foundation materials to cool and constrict. To try and accommodate the changing temperatures and the erosion that results from long-term exposure to the aforementioned pressure, your foundation may start to crack.
So if exposure to water puts your foundation at risk, shouldn’t overwatering your landscaping make a foundation crack worse?
Not really. In fact, watering your landscaping and lawn can sometimes protect your foundation. See, if you’re living through a drought, the soil around your home is going to shrink. As a result, when it finally does rain, the soil won’t be able to absorb as much water as it normally would. More water will, in turn, reach your foundation and cause its materials to contract.
When you water your landscaping and lawn, you keep the soil around it healthy. As a result, your foundation will be less likely to leak.
Putting Off Foundation Repair to Save Money is a Sound Course of Action
Unfortunately, foundation leaks don’t work like the monsters under a child’s bed. Even if you can’t see them, they’re probably still underneath your home. It’s tempting, of course, to see if a leak will eventually resolve itself without you having to pay any money to fix it. However, the longer you ignore a leak, the more severe it’s going to get – and the more you’re going to have to pay to have it fixed.
Foundation Repair is Too Expensive
The foundation repair solutions available today typically involve some degree of construction work. Doesn’t that mean, though, that foundation repair will be too expensive for the average family?
Not necessarily. Foundation repair isn’t a one-and-done job, but it’s also not unreasonably priced. On average, modern foundation solutions, from piering to foam injections, run between $500 and $10,000, with prices fluctuating based on the size of your home and the crack in question. Most foundation repair professionals will even work with you to ensure you can pay what you owe in a reasonable fashion.
Selling a Home with a Cracked Foundation Is Impossible
Your foundation serves as the bedrock of your home – often literally. If your foundation isn’t steady, though, why would anyone else in the world want to take the place off of your hands?
The good news is that selling a home with a cracked or leaking foundation isn’t impossible. That said, homes listed with cracked foundations can lose up to 30 percent of their market value.
If you’re looking to sell a home with a cracked foundation, then, you have two paths you can take. You can list your home as-is and possibly lose up to 30 percent of its value, but save on repair costs. Alternatively, you can pay to have your foundation repaired and earn your home’s full value when you place it on the market. Either way, you’ll be able to sell your home to an interested buyer, history of foundation problems notwithstanding.
Don’t let the myths surrounding the foundation repair business keep you from reclaiming your home. If you suspect you have a leak or crack on your hands, reach out to the professionals in your area for a free inspection and estimate.
