Posts Categorized: Good To Know

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 have kids or not, Trick-or-Treating is a fun night of costumes and candies. While we don’t want to take away from all the fun, as a homeowner, you do have a level of responsibility for the guests on your property. So, to ensure that you don’t have to spend the night worrying about potential liability, should a Trick-or-Treater accidentally get hurt on your property, here are some of the basics you need to know.

Are Trick-Or-Treaters Guests?

In short, yes. If your porch light is turned on during Trick-Or-Treating, that can be considered an invitation onto the property. Making Trick-Or-Treaters your guests, and causing you to have a level of responsibility for their safety on your property. Should your porch light be turned off, that is translated as not offering an invitation, making any Trick-Or-Treater that comes onto your property a trespasser.

Premises Liability & Trick-Or-Treating

As a property owner, you have a responsibility to create a reasonable and safe environment for guests. And if a guest is injured on your property due to your inability to provide that safe environment, you may be deemed responsible. However, it’s not that simple, there are a couple of things that need to be a part of the incident to constitute liability; actual damages, and negligent conduct being the reason for an injury.

It could be as simple as your Halloween decorations malfunctioning and hurting a guest, or even a simple trip and fall due to uneven pavement (that you should have fixed when you used our fall checklist to prepare your house for fall and winter). Ultimately, you are responsible for providing appropriate warnings for any dangers, or hazardous areas, of your property and/or taking actions to amend any and all risks possible (like that uneven pavement we just talked about).

What About Dogs?

We love our furry friends but Halloween can be a tough night for Fido. From spooky decorations to masks and costumes, there is a lot happening that is not normal and for many dogs, their threshold for the unknown can be reached quickly, causing even a mild-mannered dog to act abnormally. As the property owner and dog owner, you are responsible for the actions of your pet. Because of that, we recommend making your pets comfortably safe in a room away from where you will be handing out treats, with some soft music, or sounds to drown out any unexpected noises, and don’t forget to provide snacks and water as well. Ultimately, for the team at ZYYAH, it is not worth the risk of what could go wrong if your pet is startled.

Can Tricks Cause Problems?

Halloween means TRICKS and treats. If you love to set the mood on your property with scary decorations and lighting there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly be aware of the area around where you plan on scaring the guests on your property. For example, don’t set up a ‘jump scare’ (find an example of a classic candy bowl jump scare at the 13:45 mark) at the top of steps, should your guest fall backwards down the steps when. Secondly, be aware of the materials and/or props used to scare your guests. Avoid anything that is sharp, hard, or could generally cause harm. Finally, it’s spooky season, so don’t be afraid to have some fun, just make sure that you are aware of how your trick will be experienced by someone that is not familiar with your property.

Some Things To Think Of Before Trick-Or-Treating

• Are there any cracks or uneven pavement or steps that I need to address?
• Is my property lit well enough to navigate easily?
• Are my walkways clear of debris?
• Is there anything on my lawn, the garden or near my walkways that could harm my guests?
• If I scaring Trick-Or-Treaters is the area safe and is my ‘scare plan’ reasonable?
• Remember that Trick-Or-Treaters are not familiar with your property, it is worth walking through your property with that in mind to identify any potential issues.

Taking a few extra minutes in your preparation to ensure that your guests are safe and that you can enjoy handing out treats without any concerns. Leaving you to raid your candy bowl, or your child’s loot, with some peace of mind.