Cracked concrete building wall at the outside corner that effected with earthquake and collapsed ground
/ By adminrm / Richardson Foundation Tips/ • / 0 Comments

4 Misconceptions About Slab Foundation Repair in Richardson TX

Knowing some of the common misconceptions about slab foundation repair in Texas can help you make an informed decision when it comes to addressing signs of structural damage in your home. Four popular myths about foundation repair include:

  1. Cracks are the most common warning sign of a damaged foundation.
  2. Foundation damage is primarily a cosmetic issue.
  3. Foundation repair is one of those jobs that you can put off until later.

Concerned by possible foundation damage to your home? Call the friendly, experienced pros at Align Foundation Repair to schedule a comprehensive, no-cost on-site inspection and price estimate. We’ll give you all the facts you need to decide on how best to deal with signs of structural instability in your home.

Misconception #1: Cracks Are the Only Way to Know That Your Foundation Is Damaged

Cracks are actually only one of the warning signs that your foundation is in trouble. In the beginning, you’re more likely to notice problems like doors or windows sticking in their frames or a floor that’s no longer level.

It’s easy to mistake these issues for signs that your house is going through the normal settling process. For this reason, we recommend getting in touch with us if you notice anything unusual going on with your home.

Misconception #2: Foundation Damage Is Mostly a Cosmetic Issue

All of us take great pride in the way our home looks. So we’re quick to address cosmetic problems.

But foundation damage affects far more than your home’s appearance. It impacts every aspect of its construction, including the frame that supports all the other components. In some cases, it can even threaten the safety and well-being of yourself and your loved ones.

Trying to disguise the damage with paint or other surface remedies does nothing to address the underlying problem. This leads us to the fourth misconception on our list.

Misconception #3: It’s Okay to Put Off Foundation Repair Until Later On

Though we’re all looking for ways to save on our home budgets, some issues require immediate attention. Foundation repair is one of them. That’s because your home’s foundation is critical to its structural integrity. The more you put off addressing your home’s foundation problems, the worse the damage will get – and the more expensive it will be to fix in the long run. In other words, addressing foundation issues in the early stages can save you big bucks down the line.

At Align Foundation Repair, we work hard to make our foundation repair services affordable for our customers, including offering special financing options.

Foundation Repair Contractors Richardson Texas

Not sure how well your home’s foundation is doing? It costs you nothing to find out for sure since we provide free inspections throughout our Richardson foundation repair service area. Contact us today to schedule a visit from our friendly professionals.

Cleaning gutters during the summer time.
/ By adminrm / DFW Foundation Tips/ / 0 Comments

Will Gutters Protect My Foundation?

Yes, gutters are crucial factors when it comes to protecting your Dallas Fort Worth home’s foundation. That’s because gutters direct rainwater away from your home instead of letting it collect around the exterior, where it can lead to serious damage and instability.

Will Gutters Around Your House Protect Your Foundation?

Here in North Texas, most residential foundations are made of either wood framing or poured cement. Both materials are vulnerable to water damage, especially when rain stays in contact with them for prolonged periods of time.

The problem can start as a small leak that invades your crawlspace. But over time it will grow worse, leading to serious issues like these:

  • Mold spores – that spread through your HVAC system into the very air that you and your loved ones breathe.
  • Mosquitoes and other insects – stagnant water underneath your home is the perfect breeding ground for all sorts of disease-carrying pests.
  • House settling – rainwater can seep beneath the walls of your foundation, eroding the soil that supports them and making them sink into the ground.
  • Floors that are no longer level – a sinking foundation can affect your home’s entire structure, causing floors to slope and windows and doors to stick in their frames.
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If you’re seeing any of these issue arise with your home, contact Align Foundation Repair experts in Fort Worth – Dallas for a free estimate.

At Align Foundation Repair, we understand the connection between gutters and your foundation and can help you to take proactive steps to protect the underlying structure and stability of your home.

When It’s Time to Call a Foundation Repair Company

Unfortunately, foundation problems are not always obvious. It can take months or even years for a homeowner to notice that something is wrong. In the meantime, the situation with your house foundation will continue to worsen.

For this reason, we urge you to keep your gutters clean and in good shape. Give them a close visual inspection after every storm, and keep an eye out for water around your foundation.

If you suspect that damage has already occurred, then it’s important to get in touch with foundation experts serving North Texas today.

At Align Foundation Repair, our technicians have the equipment and the expertise to diagnose and fix all types of home foundation problems, from minor to severe.

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Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Foundation Protection in Dallas-Fort Worth

Align Foundation Repair has been serving the people of Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding areas for more than 20 years. Our rates are fair, our work is guaranteed, and we’re happy to provide references from past customers.

The sooner you get in touch with us, the sooner you can put our foundation repair services to work for you. Reach out to our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation experts today or use our online contact form to request a free inspection and estimate.

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/ By adminrm / Seasonal Foundation Tips/ / 0 Comments

Winterize Your Home Foundation Before Winter Arrives

Foundation protection is just as important in the winter as during other seasons. Your preparations for cold temperatures should include:

  • Checking your foundation for cracks, holes, and other weak spots.
  • Wrapping your pipes to prevent them from freezing.
  • Occasionally watering the soil around your home to within 10 inches of the foundation.
  • Maintaining a minimum level of heat in your home at all times.

Let’s take a closer look at these important steps.

Don’t Let Pests Destroy Your Winter Foundation

When the mercury starts to plummet, critters may seek a warm spot like your crawlspace to ride out the cold weather. Unfortunately, by doing so, they can inflict serious harm on your foundation.

To prevent this problem, you should inspect your home’s exterior during late fall or early winter. Keep on the lookout for cracks, gaps, and holes that could admit insects or other pests.

Most small defects can be repaired by the homeowner with a concrete patch solution, which you’ll find at your local home improvement center. Larger openings are best left to foundation experts serving North Texas. If you notice damage to your foundation, minor or severe, don’t take any chances – reach out to Align Foundation Repair for your FREE inspection and quote.

Wrap Your Pipes to Prevent Them from Freezing

Frozen pipes can inflict terrible damage on a home’s foundation. And this problem is more common here in Texas than we once thought, as the events of recent winters have shown.

For this reason, we recommend wrapping your pipes in foam insulation to keep them above 32°. You’ll find products designed for this purpose at hardware and home improvement stores.

Keep the Soil Around Your Foundation Moist Throughout the Winter

It may sound odd, but dry dirt can damage your home. That’s because soil contracts as it loses moisture, weakening the support your foundation receives from the surrounding earth.

That’s why experts recommend using your garden hose or sprinklers every now and then on mild, sunny winter days. Sprinkle, but do not saturate the ground to within 10 inches of the foundation.

Once you finish this task, remember to shut off the water supply to your hose or sprinklers until its next use. Otherwise, you risk freeze damage.

Maintain a Minimum Level of Heat in Your Home

Turning off your heating system when you’re away from your house can lead to frozen or damaged pipes. Instead, you should keep the heat on but lower the thermostat setting by 7-10 degrees.

DFW Foundation Repair

Sometimes you can take all the precautions in the world and still need the help of professional foundation repair services. We invite you to contact our office today if you find yourself in this situation.

Our Dallas-Fort Worth foundation experts have decades of combined experience. Our rates are fair and we’re glad to provide references from past customers.

Contact us today for foundation repair during winter. You’ll soon have the facts you need to make an informed decision about the next steps to take to protect the value and stability of your home.

/ By adminrm / Seasonal Foundation Tips/ / 0 Comments

How a Freeze Can Affect Your Texas Home Foundation

A Texas winter freeze can negatively impact your home’s foundation. That’s because cold weather can cause the earth around your house to expand or contract, creating stress fractures that lead to problems like these:

  • Doors or windows that no longer fit in their frames.
  • Fractures in the foundation itself.
  • Cracks along interior walls.
  • Floors that are no longer level and rooms that are no longer square.

If you believe that your home has been damaged by winter temperatures, then we urge you to contact us today to schedule a free inspection of your foundation. Our experts will provide a no-cost price quote and give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision about whether our foundation repair services are the right solution.

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If you’re afraid that a freeze has damaged your home’s foundation, contact Align Foundation Repair today.

How Winter Weather Can Wreak Havoc With Your Home’s Foundation

Here in Texas, most of the state has dense, clay-like soil that responds quickly to changing moisture conditions. Like a sponge, it expands when wet and contracts when dry.

This push-pull effect creates constant stress on your foundation. The problem can become acute when the ground freezes, as happened during the great blizzard of 2021.

To see what we mean, think of what happens to a can of soda when it freezes. It expands outward and may even split in two, spraying its contents all over your refrigerator.

The effects of these forces can take weeks or even months to become obvious. When they do, you may find yourself facing an expensive repair bill, not only for your foundation but for problems throughout your home.

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Contact Align Foundation Repair today and take care of the effects of a freeze before they become major problems.

Not every foundation is affected in this way, of course. But why take chances? After all, for most people, their home is their biggest investment. Protect your home’s value and structural stability by reaching out to us as soon as you suspect a problem.

Foundation Repair Services That You Can Trust

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we’ve spent more than 20 years providing Dallas-Fort Worth foundation repair to our fellow Texans. Here’s what you can expect when you get in touch with us:

  • A prompt response from one of our customer service specialists – we’ll listen to your concerns and schedule a free visit from one of our technicians.
  • A thorough inspection of your foundation – we’ll assess the problem and give you the results right away.
  • A no-cost, no-obligation estimate – we’ll give you an honest and transparent price quote and fill you in about our special financing options.

Align Foundation Repair is a respected member of the local business community. Our rates are fair and we’re happy to provide references from past customers. Get in touch with our North Texas foundation repair experts today to schedule your complimentary inspection.

foundation repair waterproofing
/ By adminrm / Foundation Repair Process/ • / 0 Comments

What Is House Leveling and When Is It Needed?

House leveling is the process of restoring a home to a square and level condition. It’s used to correct the problem of foundation settling, which occurs over time as the earth beneath the house erodes or becomes compressed.

Your home may need house leveling foundation services if you’ve noticed any of these warning signs:

  1. Windows and doors that stick – in severe cases, the frames may crack and the glass might shatter.
  2. Cracks in the walls – either inside or outside the home.
  3. Sloping or lopsided floors – that can affect a room’s appearance or even its comfort.
  4. Corners that are out of square – If interior walls no longer meet at a 90-degree angle, then a settling foundation is the likely cause.
  5. Cracked or leaking pipes – due to constant pressure on the home’s plumbing fixtures.
  6. Squeaking or cracking noises – which can indicate that the home’s frame is beginning to fail.
  7. Gaps around ceiling trim or crown molding – this is a likely sign that you need foundation repair.

 House leveling is one of the many Dallas-Fort Worth foundation repair services we provide. Get in touch with us today to schedule your free inspection.

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Contact Align Foundation Repair to schedule a home inspection and leveling today.

What Can Cause a Home’s Foundation to Sink

Believe it or not, the ground under your feet is constantly shifting and moving. Most of us don’t notice these changes because they occur slowly, over a period of many years.

A number of things can speed up this process, including the natural settling that occurs after a home is constructed. To understand why, consider that a typical American house can weigh up to 80 tons, which is 40 times heavier than the average automobile.

All of that weight creates constant pressure on the soil underneath your home, amplifying the natural effects of erosion. Eventually, your house will begin to sag and slope, compromising its safety and livability.

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Repair the damage from a sinking foundation. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

We Can Fix Your Sinking Foundation

As North Texas foundation repair experts, we have the equipment and expertise needed to make your home sound and level once more. We use industrial-grade hydraulic lifts along with steel or concrete pilings to anchor it to the bedrock deep in the earth. This creates a true long-term solution to the problem.

Get in touch with us today to schedule a visit from one of our trained technicians. You’ll soon have the facts you need to take the next step.

Home foundation repair inspection contractor
/ By adminrm / Seasonal Foundation Tips/ / 0 Comments

End of Summer Means Time for Foundation Repair

If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, then the end of summer is the perfect time to think about foundation repair. Here are the reasons why:

  1. Hot weather can cause the soil around your home to dry out and settle – robbing your foundation of needed support.
  2. Plants and trees in your yard draw water out of the earth – contributing to the soil’s moisture depletion.

The best way to guard against these problems is to contact our foundation repair services company today to schedule a free inspection. Here, we look more closely at those three factors mentioned above.

How Dry Soil Can Hurt Your Foundation

Anyone who lives in the Lone Star State knows just how brutal our summers can be. Months of hot, dry weather can suck the moisture right out of the soil, causing it to contract and robbing your foundation of much-needed support. Common signs of this problem include:

  • Cracks along the perimeter of your home
  • Warped or buckling floor tiles
  • Loose or damaged bricks
  • Gaps along window frames
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Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Plants and Trees May Contribute to the Problem

The plants and trees around your home need moisture to survive. They draw this essential liquid in through their roots, speeding up the soil contraction process and taking a further toll on your foundation.

Dallas Foundation Repair Services You Can Trust

Autumn is the perfect time for an inspection performed by your local Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair professionals. That way, you can catch any problems before cold weather sets in. After all, who wants to spend the holiday season worrying about home repairs?

Align Foundation Repair is known and respected throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area for our expertise, affordability, and outstanding customer service. Our rates are fair and our work is guaranteed.

Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection. The sooner you reach out to our North Texas foundation repair experts, the sooner your foundation problems will be in the past.

Investor show hand holding a model home and coin
/ By adminrm / Home Values/ / 0 Comments

Does Foundation Repair Add Value to Your Home?

Foundation repair adds value to your home by protecting it from serious structural damage. If your foundation is in trouble, then it’s important to have the problem corrected right away. Otherwise, you might find yourself on the hook for expensive repairs that will turn potential buyers away.

Does Foundation Repair Increase Home Value?

The answer is absolutely “yes,” foundation repair does increase home value, when you consider what may happen if structural problems in your foundation are allowed to develop and worsen.

Here’s what you can expect if foundation problems are not addressed:

  • Big repair bills – that will only grow bigger the longer you put off the work.
  • Declining home values – the housing market will de-value your home if it has serious structural integrity issues.
  • Difficulty selling your house – home inspectors will red-flag any obvious foundation problems to potential buyers.
  • Jeopardizing your quality of life – a failing foundation will impact every aspect of your home’s construction. Eventually, the floors and walls may begin to buckle, jeopardizing your wellbeing. In extreme cases, the home might even become unlivable.
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Head these problems off before they can start. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Align Foundation Repair provides comprehensive foundation repair services that are affordable and backed by guarantees. If you are concerned about foundation problems impacting the value of your home, reach out to us today to schedule a free inspection.

Does Foundation Repair Affect Home Value?

Repairing your foundation will do more than protect your home. It will also lay the groundwork for future projects that will make your house not only more valuable but more enjoyable as well.

Having a strong, healthy foundation is a crucial first step before pursuing big home improvement projects, such as remodeling your kitchen or adding an extra room to your house.

Our Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair professionals can help you ward off future trouble while maximizing your upcoming opportunities.

214-463-2974
Raise your home value and contact Align Foundation Repair today.

Foundation Repair Services You Can Trust

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we’re known and trusted throughout the local Dallas-Fort Worth area for our expertise and our ethics. Here’s what you can expect when you do business with us:

  • A thorough inspection of your home’s foundation – so you’ll know exactly what kind of shape it’s in.
  • A free, no-obligation estimate – giving you the facts you need to make an informed decision.
  • Rates that are fair and honest – we’ll do everything possible to make your foundation repairs affordable.
  • Work that’s guaranteed – once the repairs are complete, you can relax and enjoy some much-needed peace of mind.

Contact our North Texas foundation repair experts today to schedule a visit from one of our technicians. With our free inspection and price quote, you will get all the facts you need to make an informed decision about how best to address your home’s foundation issues.

Architecture detail of damaged house corner dilapidated old building facade wall over blue sky background. Private abandoned home fall to ruin. Exterior House
/ By adminrm / Signs of Foundation Issues/ / 0 Comments

How Foundation Problems Can Also Cause Roof Damage

Foundation problems can damage your roof in three ways:

  1. By forcing the ridgeline to curve.
  2. By pushing beams out of place.
  3. By creating gaps between shingles or other roofing materials.

Roofing work alone may correct these problems for a while. But foundation repair is essential to prevent them from coming back.

Contact our foundation repair services company today for a free inspection and to have your questions answered by our friendly professionals. For now, let’s take a closer look at how roof problems and foundation problems are connected.

Where Your Foundation Goes, the Rest of Your Home Will Follow

Foundation problems can cause trouble throughout your house, not just the parts that are underground. To understand why, consider that modern houses are held together by tightly connected wooden frames. The frame is supported by the foundation, which is held up by the earth itself. It only takes one weak link to create problems throughout the entire system.

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Unexplained damage to your home can be signs of foundation damage. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

A lot of things can damage your home’s foundation. These include:

  • Soil contraction – here in North Texas, the fierce heat of the summer sun can cause the earth around your home to expand and contract. This creates “push and pull” pressure on the foundation that weakens its structure over time.
  • Thermal expansion – the sun has a similar effect on the foundation itself, which soaks up solar heat during the day and releases it at night.
  • Root growth – underground roots from nearby trees and large bushes can literally poke holes in your foundation. Roots also contribute to moisture evaporation.
  • Normal settling – the average home can weigh anywhere from 100,000 to 200,000 pounds. All that weight puts constant pressure on your foundation, forcing it deeper into the ground while bending it out of shape.

Because every part of your home is interconnected, these issues can spread throughout the frame and eventually affect the roof, too. When that happens, you may notice any or all of the following problems:

  • A groaning or creaking sound coming from your attic.
  • Gaps or cracks in the wooden decking beneath your roof’s exterior.
  • Loose or missing shingles.
  • Bent or damaged roofing panels (in the case of a metal roof).
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Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

For all these reasons, it’s a good idea to have a qualified Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair contractor perform an inspection, no matter what kind of home problems you’re having. Otherwise, you could sink a lot of money into costly repairs without addressing the underlying cause.

Foundation Repair Services You Can Trust

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we serve the people of North Texas by providing quality service at affordable prices. Our work is guaranteed and we’re happy to furnish references from past customers.

The sooner you act, the sooner your home problems will be in the past. Contact our North Texas foundation repair experts today to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection and estimate.

Foundation Repair Inspection Free Estimate
/ By adminrm / Home Values/ / 0 Comments

Is Foundation Repair Worth It?

If your home has developed foundation problems, professional foundation repair is definitely worth the investment to protect your home’s value and livability. Here’s why:

  • No amount of home improvements can make up for a bad foundation – since the foundation is what supports the rest of the structure.
  • A strong, solid foundation is the first thing that a home inspector will look for – selling or financing a home with foundation problems is virtually impossible.
  • Foundation repair is more affordable than you may think – especially when you consider the many financing options that are available. Our customer service experts will be glad to give you all the details.

Let’s look at each of these points in more detail.

214-463-2974
Contact Align Foundation Repair to protect your home’s value and livability today.

Your Foundation Is the Most Important Part of Your Home

In America, the average family house weighs between 100,000 and 200,000 pounds. Your foundation’s job is to bear that heavy load 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Here’s what can happen when it begins to fail:

  • Floors start to sink – you will notice sagging or uneven floors.
  • Door and window frames begin to separate from the surrounding walls – making them hard to open or close.
  • The walls in your home can move out of square – giving the rooms an odd-looking oval shape.
  • Your roof can spring a leak – believe it or not, foundation damage can create a chain reaction that affects even your roof.

Align Foundation Repair provides professional foundation repair services to prevent and rectify these problems. The cost of putting off the work will only get higher over time, taking a bigger bite out of your finances.

214-463-2974
Seeing signs of trouble in your foundation? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

Keeping Your Home in Sellable Condition

Interested in selling your home? Remember, buyers will almost always hire a professional inspector to give your house a top to bottom check. Any trouble with the foundation will immediately become known to the potential purchaser, putting the sale in serious jeopardy.

With this in mind, it’s easy to see why foundation repair services are such a smart investment. The cost of being stuck with an unsellable home is too great a risk.

Worried about the cost? Don’t be! We have several financing options from which to choose. Our friendly staff will do everything possible to fit the repairs within your budget.

Foundation Repair You Can Trust

Contact us today to learn more about our Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair services and to schedule your free, no-obligation inspection and estimate.

Our North Texas foundation repair experts will give you all the facts you need to make an informed decision. Make sure to ask about our special financing options!

Basement or crawl space with upper floor insulation and wooden support beams. An area of limited height under the floor of a house with concrete wall and floor.
/ By adminrm / Crawl Space Issues/ / 0 Comments

What to Expect During the Crawl Space Encapsulation Process

The primary purpose of Crawl space encapsulation in North Texas is to control vapor (humidity/moisture) in the crawlspace.   Vapor above safe limits can cause excess organic growth, like mold, and cause sever lumber damage, weakening the structural integrity of the foundation system – think of the lumber like a sponge for vapor, a food source for the organic growth.  Additional benefits of encapsulation are a healthier crawlspace leading to improved indoor air quality.

The installation is relatively quick, typically less than a week and will have minimal impact on your daily activities. The professionals at Align Foundation Repair can answer any questions you may have when you contact us for your free estimate. Read on below for what to expect from crawl space encapsulation

Crawl Space Encapsulation Step-By-Step

Most crawl space encapsulation projects follow these five steps:

  1. Cleaning out the crawl space itself – We’ll remove clutter and debris.
  2. Performing repairs – This step is only needed if we find damage to structural system. An estimate of damaged lumber is provided prior to install, generally along with the proposal for the vapor barrier.
  3. Laying out the vapor barrier/retarder – This is the most essential step in the encapsulation process – the material is rolled across the ground and attached to the piers and foundation walls with a dual adhesion system. We lap each layer and join the seams together with a low perm acrylic tape. The pressure-sensitive tapes provide maximum adhesion for a long-lasting seal.

Align only uses vapor barriers that conform the American Concrete Institute (ACI 302.2R-06) not allowing a permanence value over 0.010 PERMS.  Which allows it to be called a vapor barrier.  All vapor barriers are vapor retarders, not all vapor retarders are vapor barriers.  This is very important to complete a quality install.

Steps 4 and 5 are optional – WHY?  A lot of times the excess vapor is primarily caused by soil moisture evaporation, if the vapor barrier alone resolves this without creating other issues, then the passive ventilation systems can be considered adequate.  Drainage correction is typically recommended at a minimum with encapsulation.  This reduces the need for additional mechanical systems, lowering cost and maintenance, while still providing high level of benefit.

  1. Sealing vents – Sealing off passive vents is done when vapor levels are still high meaning the vapor barrier and passive ventilation are not sufficient enough.  This step has to be accompanied by mechanical dehumidification, ventilation, and drainage.
  2. Installing a heavy-duty dehumidifier and/or sump pump –This allows for complete control of the vapor levels under the home.  This is the most ideal situation because we have full CONTROL of the crawlspace and is the most beneficial way of install.  However, this does require additional maintenance and may not be required or necessary depending on site conditions.

We gain entry to your crawl space either through the existing access door or by tunneling under the foundation. This means you won’t have to worry about dirt and debris being tracked through your house or disruption to your daily life. The work itself typically takes no more than 2-5 days.

What You Can Expect Once the Job Is Complete

Once we’ve finished our crawl space encapsulation services, you can look forward to the following benefits:

  • Cleaner, fresher air inside your home – since most of the air circulated by your HVAC system comes from your crawl space.
  • Protection from moisture-related problems throughout your house – including the crawl space itself, where your floor joists are vulnerable to warping, splitting, or buckling from overly humid air.

Crawl Space Encapsulation Dallas

We’d love to tell you more about the benefits of crawl space encapsulation in Dallas. Contact us today for your free quote. We can soon help you to have a cleaner, safer, healthier place to call home.