Myths about foundation repair costs often keep homeowners from reaching out to foundation repair contractors when they should. By the time they do decide to reach out, the problem with their foundation has often become so severe that the myths they’ve heard accidentally become true.
Preparing a foundation repair budget isn’t easy, but it’s much simpler if you work quickly and with professional guidance. With that in mind, what should your repair budget prepare you for?
Preparing for Cracks
Cracks are among the most common problems your foundation will endure. As a result, they’re also the easiest to deal with. The cracks that may appear in your foundation may include:
- Vertical cracks – Vertical cracks form along the walls of your foundation. These cracks tend to appear when the contractor who built your home used inappropriate building materials, like green wood, to support your foundation.
- Horizontal cracks – Horizontal cracks form when your home is exposed to excessive or long-term hydrostatic pressure.
- Diagonal cracks – Diagonal cracks form for the same reasons that horizontal cracks do. However, a crack will grow diagonally if one side of your home is exposed to more pressure than the other.
- Stair-step cracks – Stair-step cracks tend to form in homes with foundations made out of brick and mortar. The brick and mortar will begin to crack along mortar lines with exposed to long-term or extensive hydrostatic pressure.
Regardless of the type of crack that appears in your foundation, a foundation repair contractor will likely be able to repair it via crack injection. It depends on the size and severity of the crack, and other interior wall repair and reinforcement solutions also may need to be used. Exterior foundation cracks will be more expensive to repair, as you may have to include exterior waterproofing solutions in your budget.
Preparing for Leaks
Cracks beget leaks, but the two problems are not the same thing. If a foundation repair contractor finds dampness in your basement or foundation, you’re going to have to expand your repair budget to include waterproofing solutions. Other factors that may increase the cost of your repairs may include:
- Window well drainage
- Outdoor excavation to install an exterior drainage system
- Sump pump installation
- Tie-rod repairs
What to Expect If Your Home is Sinking
Nothing is scarier for a new homeowner than learning your home may be sinking into the ground. A sinking home is a home where the grading may be failing it or that may be succumbing to the kind of hydrostatic pressure that comes after a natural disaster. Either way, your home sinking is not a sign of personal failure. Rather, it is a challenge that you’re going to need professional help to face head-on.
If a contractor does find signs of sinkage, you’re going to have to act fast to bring your home back up to its original ground level. Various solutions your contractor may recommend will include piering and concrete leveling. These solutions will vary in cost depending on the size of your home and the severity of the sinkage. However, in general, average costs include $1,000-$3,000+ per foundation pier and $500-$1,300+ for leveling/slab jacking.
Because these repairs are so extensive, you may be able to reach out to your home insurance provider for help covering your costs. It never hurts to ask, so see if your provider will let you file a claim. If the contractor you’re working with can accept that form of payment, you won’t have to worry as much about your repair budget.
Contractor Repairs and Other Solutions
As has been mentioned, the overall cost of your foundation repair will vary based on the severity of the problem and the size of your home. Talk with your local Rush City, MN, contractor after she’s performed an inspection, and you’ll have a better idea of what expenses you’ll need to budget for.
Some of the most popular solutions employed by contractors for the aforementioned problems include:
- Crack injection
- Piering
- Slab Jacking
- Preventative Exterior Waterproofing
- Preventative Interior Waterproofing
- Gutter Cleaning Fees
Should You DIY Your Foundation Repair?
In light of your potential expenses, you might think that it’ll be easier to repair your foundation on your own time. After all, the fear of failing to budget appropriately for repairs is what keeps many homeowners from reaching out to a foundation repair contractor in the first place. The question, then, is this: is it safer and more cost-effective for you to DIY your foundation repair?
More often than not, the answer is a resounding no. Foundation repair professionals have years of experience, state licenses, certifications, and zoning permits to work safely on your home. They also often have business insurance that’ll help them cover any accidents that may occur while on the job. Unless you have comparable resources, you’ll want to leave your foundation repair to the professionals. If you don’t, you risk making the problems with your basement even worse.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with trying to save money on foundation repair. While you should never let your desire to be frugal keep you from fixing a severe foundation problem, you can seek out ways to save money and stick closer to your budget.
Saving Money Long-Term
One of the best ways to save money on repairs, in the long run, is to waterproof your foundation as soon as you move in. Admittedly, it is more difficult to waterproof pre-existing homes than it is to waterproof brand new homes. Even so, there are solutions available to you that’ll cost you less to install than it will to repair your foundation later.
Alternatively, seek out multiple free inspections and estimates from the contractors in the Rush City, MN, area. Oftentimes, contractors in the area will be able to offer you a free quote after an inspection. By gathering these quotes together, you can get a better idea of how much your foundation repair is going to cost. Then you can negotiate with your contractor of choice to get the best deal.
Foundation repair contractors also often run small businesses themselves and are freer to negotiate than their corporate peers may be. If all else fails, don’t be afraid to ask if your contractor of choice has a payment plan available.
Preparing for a foundation repair job can be intimidating, especially for new homeowners. Don’t let your budget apprehension keep you from seeking out the repairs you need, though. The longer you wait to fix something that’s gone wrong with your foundation, the more expensive the eventual fix is going to become.
