Portia Gifford, Author at Zyyah

They say you should always build on a strong foundation, but how often are those words of wisdom taken literally? A solid foundation – the real kind – is crucial to the longevity, strength, and stability of your home. Unfortunately, nearly a quarter of all homes experience structural distress with 1 in 20 experiencing major structural issues due to lack of foundation repair and maintenance.

The 5 Worst States for Foundation Repair

The local climate, soil, landscaping, yard slope, builder practices, and water conditions are all factors in how your foundation will fare over the long term. There are a few states with a disproportionate amount of foundation repairs. According to google trends, states with the most residents looking for foundation repair help are Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas. Some areas of Nebraska, Colorado, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Virginia experience foundation issues as well. The severity of issues varies based on whether the home is built on a basement, slab, or crawl space.

Signs of Foundation Damage

Even if you don’t live in one of these highly affected areas it’s still possible for your home to be affected by foundation issues. Here are some early signs of foundation problems to look out for:

Cracks in the exterior or interior walls, especially if they zig-zag or stairstep
Uneven, slanted, bowing, or bubbling floors
Doors out of frame – doors rubbing against thresholds or deadbolts out of alignment
Door frame/window frame separation from the wall
Rotten wood in your basement or crawlspace because of humidity or water damage
The ground around your house is sinking

It’s natural for your home to shift and settle over time, but the best way to prevent a pricier problem is to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for these warning signs. Your home will tell you when something is wrong so long as you’re on the lookout.

Want to make the process easier? Use the ZYYAH app to get helpful home management reminders so you can prevent, stay ahead of, or anticipate major home repairs.

So You Need Foundation Repair. What’s Next?

If you start to notice one or more warning signs, the first thing to do is take an assessment of the rest of the home. It’s possible a small crack or a sticky door indicates a natural, uneventful and temporary shift. But if you notice more than one symptom, it’s time to call in the experts. While many people live in a home with foundation issues, ignoring the problem can cascade into more and more costly repairs.

If you’re considering moving any time soon, any needed foundation repairs could scare away potential buyers and leave you with a large bill while you’re trying to move out. In fact, foundation issues lead to a decline in property value of up to 15%.

Putting off repairs for longer could lead to an array of problems such as:

Cosmetic and structural damage

A faulty foundation will create a ripple effect throughout the home, causing damage to everything attached to it. Cracks in interior and exterior walls, eroded mortar in tile floors, and seal failures in doors and windows are just some of the knock-on effects of a failed foundation.

Water damage

If your foundation is too lopsided, heavy rain or snowfall could lead to water seeping into your living area – especially if you have a basement or crawl space.

Plumbing

Everyone’s worst nightmare. Depending on the foundation’s issues the pipes surrounding your foundation can be stressed or broken, leading to water damage and plumbing repair on top of everything else.

The Cost of Foundation Repair

Foundation repairs are some of the priciest repairs you could encounter as a homeowner. Average foundation repair can cost between $2,000 and $7,500 with the national average being $4,500. Severe foundation problems could cost up to $25,000. Here is a breakdown of areas most affected by foundation repair:

Foundation crack repair

Over 1/8” wide crack in the foundation: $250 to $800 per crack

Foundation-related leak repair

$2,500 to $5,000 to seal and waterproof

Sinking foundation repair

What’s needed and your options vary the price considerably. Most sinking foundations require additional piers be installed under the home. Whether you install pressed pilings, steel piers or concrete mini-pilings depends on your budget, your preferences and your soil; what’s best in north Texas is different than what’s best in Colorado. Budget between $400 to $2,500 per pier to lift the house depending on the type of pier used and whether piers need to be installed along only the exterior wall (less expensive) or smack below the home (more expensive). The number of piers required depends on the size of the house. On average, most reinforcement jobs consist of 8-10 piers.

Bowed basement wall repair

Any wall that has bowed less than 2” can be repaired with carbon fiber or epoxy for $5,000. For a bowed basement that has moved over 2” it could cost as much as $15,000

It’s important to us that as a Zember you are equipped to make the most informed decision about repairs to your home and who is doing those repairs. Once you realize that foundation repair is necessary, follow our tips for how to find the best Pro for the job.

How to Find the Right Foundation Repair Company

Finding the best pro for the job can be a challenge. With everything online, it can be hard to tell the trusted experts from those who aren’t worth your time. We recommend researching Home Services Professionals using a trusted network to find your foundation repair company.

To start, ask people you trust, like your Real Estate Agent, friends, and family whether they have a recommended pro you can use. You can easily find your recommended Foundation Repair Professionals with the ZYYAH app by looking at your Agent’s home team. These are vetted professionals your Agent trusts to get the job done.

An important thing to look out for when seeking a foundation repair pro is checking to see how long they have been in business. You’ll also want to ensure all the information you’re given matches what you can find in a google search. Finally, make sure their google reviews go back a few years and appear to have been posted by real people. Don’t trust reviews if a large batch appears to have been posted back-to-back. A quick crosscheck across multiple platforms like the Better Business Bureau could save you thousands in unnecessary repairs or potential headaches if something goes wrong and the warranty is no longer valid or you can’t get ahold of the business.

A poor job done by an unreputable company could leave you holding the bag. Making the search for a trusted Home Services Professional recommended by experts you know is the foundation of ZYYAH’s platform. So if you haven’t already, click here to download for iOS or click here to download for Android.

Get in touch with a trusted Pro by clicking Find-a-Pro to schedule routine maintenance and checkups on your foundation!

How to Prevent Foundation Damage

If you don’t currently have foundation issues, let’s keep it that way! The best thing you can do is maintain an appropriate level of ground moisture level year-round. This means that in dryer months use soaker hoses and ensure proper drainage in wetter months. Some techniques for maintaining the right level of moisture:

Cleaning gutters and downspouts
Maintain gently sloped landscaping that angles down away from the home
Install drains where you notice marshy or puddled area
Install a smart sprinkler system
Don’t plant trees around/near the foundation
Repair any small cracks before they turn into big ones
Test underground sources for leaks
Perform regular foundation inspections

We hope you never run into significant foundational issues, but if you do let ZYYAH know how we can help!

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Whether you’re in an area affected by harsh winter storms or not, making sure you, and your insurance coverage are prepared to face a winter storm is essential to protecting your home.

Here are our tips for preparing for winter’s worst-case scenarios.

Preparing your home for winter storms

Review Your Home’s Coverage:

The insurance challenges many faced during and after the winter storm that Texas faced in 2021 stand as a cautionary tale. Whether it’s through hail, heavy snow on your roof, or dangerous winds, winter storms can cause damage to your home. If you haven’t already, now is the time to check your home’s coverage and ensure it can handle the catastrophic damage that winter storms can cause.

Check Your Roof

Make sure that you stay on top of your roof damage throughout the year to prepare for snow, fixing small damage will be much easier than fixing major snow damage down the road.

Take Care Of Your Pipes

Insulate your pipes and have the water running in a slow but steady stream during any major winter storm. Pipes freezing can cause cracks or breaks in your pipes leading to flooding and damage.

Watch for trees:

If your roof doesn’t collapse under heavy snow, surrounding dead trees can be a major issue when weighed down by snow or ice. Dead trees should be removed.

Overall keeping up with your home’s maintenance is the key to protecting your home in the colder months but double-checking that your insurance policy is current and up to date with the right coverage is an extra layer of protection when you need it most.

Checklist for when a winter storm is approaching

In the event that a storm is heading your way, here is a checklist of what to do. When a winter advisory, watch, or warning has been issued, check this list to make sure you and your family are ready.

Once a winter storm advisory has been put into effect, keep a close eye on the weather and connect with friends and family to ensure you are all prepared for the storm ahead of time.
Keep your phone charged.
Make sure you have enough food and water for a few days. Don’t count on being able to use your tap or stove should the electricity go out.
Lower your storm windows and replace screen doors with storm doors if your home has them.
Fill your car’s gas tank and back your car into your parking space. If you have a cover for your car, now is the time to give your car some extra protection.
If you do have a generator, make sure you have the gas you need to keep it running for a few days if needed.
Make sure you have plenty of blankets and winter clothing available. Using the 2021 Winter Storm that impacted Texas as an example, having the right clothing and bedding to keep warm should your heat go out is very important.
Purchase batteries and candles if you are not already stocked up. Also, make sure your flashlights are working.
Run the heat in your house or business slightly higher than normal. While this isn’t great for your utility bills, it could literally save you if the power and heating go out.

If Winter Storm Disaster Strikes

If a tree does fall cutting your electricity or the pipes do burst and flood your kitchen, here is how to prepare to file a claim:

Contact your insurance company: contact your insurance provider immediately after the damage occurs
Create a log of the damage: create your own damage report, logging what time the event happened, how the damage occurred, what was damaged, and any other details you can remember.
Review your inventory: with ZYYAH this step is made easy, using our vault feature during setup your home will already have video images and documentation of the value of everything in your home. Now is the time to make sure everything that was damaged during the incident is accounted for in your inventory.
Gather repair estimates: connect with your trusted home service professionals to get repair estimates and recommendations on your repairs.

Have other tips or tricks for preparing for a winter storm? Share it in the comments.

Posts By: Portia Gifford

An Unbiased Guide to Foundation Repair