/ By Chase Gohl / Foundation Repair Process/ 0 Comments

How Disruptive is the Foundation Repair Process?

A damaged foundation is a major issue for homeowners. Neglecting repairs to your foundation today can be very costly in the near future. For this reason, it’s essential to repair it at the first signs of damage. However, like many homeowners, you may be hesitant. Buried underneath your home—and bearing its entire weight—the foundation isn’t a simple cosmetic feature. Repairing it can be a significant undertaking, but how disruptive is it? In this guide, our experts at Align Foundation answer your questions.

Can You Live in Your House During Foundation Repair?

Is it possible to live in a house during foundation repair? In most cases, yes, you can. However, it depends on the type of foundation, the extent of the damage, and the process required to repair it. In the sections below, we cover a few of these factors and how they relate to the overall disruption of your home.

Lifting a Home for Major Foundation Repairs

To address the most serious and widespread issues, your home may need to be lifted so your entire foundation is accessible. This is an instance where you will likely be unable to live there—especially since your contractor may recommend additional repairs during this time. See the following examples:

Revealing Past Contractor Shortcuts Through Major Foundation Repairs

The unfortunate reality is that some contractors take shortcuts. When your home is lifted and placed back, you may find other issues appearing as a direct result of past contractors:

  • If your contractor used self-leveling floor mixtures, you’ll experience uneven floors after your foundation is repaired.
  • If your contractor has repatched or repainted drywall, you’ll notice patched areas crack again after your foundation is repaired.
  • If your contractor has shaved down any doors, you’ll see gaps reappear after your foundation is repaired.
  • If your contractor has reworked any fixtures, such as windows and doors, to appear straight, you’ll find that they are once again crooked after your foundation is repaired.
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Need repairs? Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate!

Common Foundation Repairs: Exterior Disruptions to Expect

Whether your foundation repair uses pressed piers or steel piers —you’ll find that most work can be completed from outside.

These piers are typically installed at intervals of 8 feet via 2-foot by 2-foot holes. At a minimum (and often at maximum, depending on the extent of the damage), you can expect one of these holes to be dug around your property. This may lead to some landscaping disruption, as well as the potential removal of a section of your sprinkler or gas line–though this is less common.

Common Foundation Repairs: Interior Disruptions to Expect

Some holes may need to be created on the interior resulting in the need for replacing flooring.

Book Your Free Consultation with Align Foundation

Our goal is simple—provide the highest quality products, unsurpassed workmanship, an industry-leading warranty, and the customer service to back it up. Interested in learning more from us?

Book your free foundation consultation with our team today!

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Can You Live in a House During Foundation Repair?

Many homeowners want to know if they can remain inside their homes throughout the duration of their foundation repair. The answer is “yes.” You can stay inside your home during a foundation repair; no need to check your family into a hotel or stay with relatives. When you learn what the foundation repair process entails, you’ll see why vacating your home is unnecessary.

The Repair Process & How it Impacts Your Home Routines

Typically, most home foundations can be corrected and leveled back into position by installing piers. This also stabilizes the concrete slab and prevents future movement caused by shifting soil.

Contrary to belief, the process does not tear up your entire yard and leave piles of dirt all over the landscape. The process typically can be completed in a single day, though it could take longer depending on the severity of the damage. Disruption to your at-home routines during repairs is minimal.

Once pier installation is complete, the holes are back-filled, and we use any excess soil left over to correct any drainage issues that may arise. If that’s not necessary, then we just haul away the debris. We leave none of the mess behind, so no need to hire a separate disposal crew.

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Align Foundation Repair can fix your foundation with minimal disruption. Contact us for a free estimate.

Leaving the Home During Foundation Repairs

While it’s perfectly acceptable to remain inside your home, some homeowners nevertheless choose to vacate while repairs are in progress. Regardless of whether you choose to stay or leave, we recommend giving your neighbors a courtesy notice that there may be some noise and vibrations from industrial machinery.

If you typically work from home, it may be worth considering whether or not the loud noises will negatively impact your focus.  If loud noises would negatively impact you, then that is a reason to consider leaving for the day to work elsewhere.

If for whatever reason, we feel it is unadvisable for you to stay in your home, we will let you know before beginning repairs.

We Repair Your Foundation Without Home Disruption

Call Align Foundation Repair if you suspect foundation damage. A technician will need to assess the concrete slab and soil conditions to determine the appropriate action to take. In most scenarios, it’s perfectly acceptable to stay in your home while repair is underway. Our Garland foundation service area covers the city and surrounding regions.

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Why Foundation Repair is NOT a DIY Job

Do-it-Yourself home improvements can be incredibly gratifying. Whether it’s fixing a leaky faucet or remodeling a bathroom, there are lots of DIY projects that can draw on your skills and save money in the process. But when it comes to fixing foundation problems or identifying sources of potential damage, online videos and your own elbow grease are not the solution. Diagnosing a foundation problem requires in-depth experience and knowledge, which is why it’s important to leave this complicated task to the professionals.

For quality foundation repair services, you need to work with a reputable company that has the proper equipment and know-how to implement a permanent fix. Sure, there are dozens of tutorial videos online that show homeowners how to spot foundation issues and fix them on a shoe-string budget. The problem is that these DIY fixes are usually temporary and may even create additional damage to an already compromised foundation.

Professional Foundation Repair Is Worth It

You’ve invested a lot of money in your home, and foundation problems are not something to be taken lightly. Serious foundation damage can affect property value and the safety of occupants. No matter how minor the foundation issue might appear, the safest and most permanent repairs are those performed by a licensed professional. Our technicians know how to spot and diagnose issues while taking into account the following factors:

  • The age of your home
  • The soil condition and characteristics
  • The foundation type
  • The duration of the foundation problem
  • The local climate

At Align Foundation Repair, we have the expertise to properly diagnose underlying issues and the equipment to get the job done right. Plus, all of our foundation repair work is covered by an industry-leading and trusted warranty.

Specialized Equipment and Experienced Contractors

Poor drainage, shifting soil, and plumbing leaks can undermine the structural integrity of your home’s foundation. Some foundation problems can even call for excavation, and the installation of steel piers, and concrete pilings to remedy the situation. Our experienced contractors and installers have been serving the Dallas Fort Worth area for over a decade, providing high-quality products and unmatched workmanship for a variety of foundation repair issues.

Foundation Repair – DFW

Don’t risk the safety and integrity of your property by trying a DIY foundation repair. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a professional repair job. If you notice large cracks, settling, sloping floors or upheaval, call Align Foundation Repair and schedule a complimentary inspection and free estimate. We are proud to offer affordable services and financing options to our valued customers.

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How Long Should I Wait to Make Cosmetic Home Repairs After Foundation Repair?

You should put off any cosmetic work on your home until at least six weeks after the foundation is repaired. This will give the frame and other components time to settle back into their proper shape. Otherwise, the projects you undertake may actually do more harm than good.

Let’s look at how fixing your foundation can transform your home both inside and out.

What you can expect from foundation repair

When a residential foundation starts to disintegrate, the consequences can often be seen throughout the home. In fact, you may have already noticed problems like these:

  • Cracks in your drywall
  • Doors or windows that no longer fit their frames
  • Floors that squeak or pop
  • Rooms that are out of level or out of square
  • Unusual odors coming from walls, vents, or the crawlspace

Once a foundation is properly repaired, many of these problems begin to fix themselves. For example, you may notice the cracks in the drywall getting smaller, or the doors or windows working properly again. Even the floors might stop squeaking and start to level out.

Getting better takes time

But don’t expect these benefits to occur overnight. Like a patient recuperating from surgery, a home with a repaired foundation needs a reasonable amount of recovery time. Rushing to do cosmetic work may cause problems like these:

  • Cracks that appear to get worse, not better – especially if you try to cover the gaps in your drywall before they’ve had a chance to close up on their own.
  • Doors and windows that require complete replacement – if you attempt to sand them down, replace their hinges, or change their shape during the first few weeks after foundation repair Richardson.
  • Needless expenses that take a bite out of your budget – such as spatula, wallpaper, and other products you may no longer need after you’ve taken advantage of our foundation repair services.

Foundation repair Richardson TX homeowners know will be done right the first time

Do you live in or near the Dallas-Fort Worth region? If so, then your home is probably within our Richardson foundation repair service area. Contact us today to learn more about our affordable rates and guaranteed results. With our help, you can soon put your foundation problems in the past.

Cracks on the white wall blocks. The destruction of the wall. Background texture
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Is It Safe to Live in a House With Foundation Problems?

If you live in a home with foundation issues or you’re considering buying one, you may be wondering what to do next. The bottom line is that it’s usually quite safe to live in a home with foundation problems. It usually all boils down to identifying whether your home is experiencing a common, fixable foundation issue, or if it is a more rare case of severe foundation damage that could put your family in harm’s way.

Your Home’s Foundation Is Very Important

There’s no doubt about it: your home’s foundation is very important for several different reasons:

  • It holds up your home’s entire structure, preventing it from sinking into the ground.
  • If it’s insulated, it can help protect your home from extreme temperature changes.
  • It helps keep water and moisture out of your basement

Very Few Homes With Foundation Issues Are in Immediate Danger

Out of all of the homes that have foundation repair issues, very few of them actually have issues severe enough to warrant an immediate evacuation of the premises. Some repair companies will go out of their way to scare the wits out of potential clients when it comes to foundation repair, but we work differently.

At Align Foundation Repair, we recognize that most people are able to continue living in their homes while a full assessment is done. The reason that most people in our area are in no immediate danger when it comes to foundation issues is due to local conditions: Texas soil and Texas weather!

The clay soil and weather that affect most of Central Texas are the key reasons that area homes’ foundations can become damaged. Clay soil expands when it’s wet, and it shrinks when it’s dry. When the soil is extremely wet, it can cause portions of your home’s foundation to rise. When the soil is extremely dry, it can cause your home to sink lower than the level it was originally set at. Weather in the Dallas-Fort Worth area changes at the drop of a hat, making it more likely for these types of foundation issues to show up.

Reasons You’ll Eventually Want to Take Care of Foundation Issues

While the likelihood of your home collapsing in on itself due to foundation issues is pretty small, there are reasons that you’ll eventually want to get it repaired.

  • Banks are often reluctant to provide financing to potential homebuyers if there are foundation issues with the homes they’re planning on purchasing, limiting your pool of available buyers if you want to sell.
  • The cosmetic and functional issues that come from foundation issues, including uneven floors, growing cracks in the wall, doors and windows that are jammed or can’t close properly, and mold and moisture issues, will only get worse over time, leading to more expensive foundation repair

If you live in our broad Richardson foundation repair service area, contact Align Foundation Repair with any questions about the type of foundation damage you’re seeing in your home. We’d love to help, and offer free inspections and price quotes, as well as warranty-backed repair work.

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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.

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Foundation Repair From the Interior

Is the inside of your home telling you that you need interior foundation repair services? It might be, if you notice any of the following warning signs:

  1. Cracked Sheetrock™ or drywall.
  2. Doors or corners that are out of square.
  3. Door or window frames separating from the surrounding wall
  4. Weak, slanted, or creaking floors.
  5. Cracked flooring tiles.
  6. Loose or missing nails.

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

Cracked Drywall

Drywall, also known as gypsum board or Sheetrock™, can develop long, zigzagging cracks as a result of foundation damage. If you notice this problem, then we urge you to contact an interior foundation repair contractor right away.

Doors or Corners That Are Out of Square

A failing foundation can cause your home’s frame to bend, bow, or buckle. When this happens, you may notice doors that no longer fit their frames or interior corners that are out of square. These problems will only grow worse if left uncorrected.

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Don’t dismiss stuck doors as harmless. Contact Align Foundation Repair at the first sign of a problem.

Door or Window Frames Separating from the Surrounding Wall

In extreme cases, your home’s door or window frames may begin to separate from the surrounding wall. The first sign of this problem is usually a small gap that grows wider over time. Eventually, this can seriously diminish your property values or even make your home unlivable.

Weak, Slanted, or Creaking Floors

The floors of your home need a strong foundation to stay level and stable. As a foundation deteriorates, the floors themselves can begin to creak or shift out of place. This is one of the most common warning signs of a distressed foundation.

Cracked Floor Tiles

This problem can show up in your kitchen, bathroom, or throughout your home. Simply replacing the tiles will do little good unless you address the underlying cause.

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If your floor tiles are cracking, it may be more than just cosmetic damage. Contact Align Foundation Repair for an inspection.

Loose or Missing Nails

Sometimes a failing foundation can cause the nails in your floors or walls to loosen or even pop out entirely. This is a serious problem that requires immediate attention.

Texas Interior Foundation Repair Services

As a leading Dallas-Fort Worth interior foundation repair company, we have the equipment and training needed to put your home back in top shape. Our rates are reasonable, and we’re happy to provide references from past customers.

The sooner you act, the sooner your foundation problems will be in the past. Contact us today to put our North Texas foundation repair experts to work for you.

Foundation Repair Inspection Free Estimate
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4 Advantages of Hiring a Contractor for Foundation Repair

Plenty of home improvement tasks are within the reach of the average DIYer. But, when it comes to foundation repair, it’s best to leave the work to a professional. Otherwise, you endanger your home, your budget, and even your health. Here are four advantages of trusting the work to a skilled contractor.

Advantage Number One: A Foundation Repair Contractor Has the Proper Tools for the Job

To see why having the right equipment is important, let’s do a little math. Concrete weighs an average of 150 pounds per cubic foot. Assuming that you live in a single-story home with 1500 square feet, this means that your foundation can weigh as much as 225,000 pounds!

Lifting this kind of heavy-duty weight requires the professional equipment used by qualified foundation repair contractors. Trying to do the job with automotive jacks or other household tools is a recipe for disaster.

Advantage Number Two: Foundation Repair Services Have the Expertise

Repairing a foundation requires in-depth knowledge and expertise. A residential home is a complex structure designed by an architect to meet strict building codes. It has thousands of interdependent parts made of wood, glass, metal, and dozens of other materials. Altogether it can weigh over 400,000 pounds. Why safeguard such a complex structure to anything other than a fully qualified professional?

Advantage Number Three: Foundation Repair Companies Have the Coverage

Foundation repair experts are insured and crucial safeguards to have in place in case something goes wrong. This is another reason why tackling the job on your own is a risk that’s too great to take.

Advantage Number Four: A Foundation Repair Company Has the Muscle Power

Not only do you need the proper equipment and expertise to handle foundation repair properly, you also need the labor. Doing the job right includes:

  • Digging up and removing flowers, plants, shrubs, small trees, and other landscaping features.
  • Excavating the earth around the foundation.
  • Inserting the piers.
  • Putting all those flowers, plants, shrubs, small trees, and other landscaping features back in place once the job is over.

Once you consider the amount of time and effort it will take to complete these tasks, it’s easy to see why leaving the job to a professional makes a lot of sense.

Call Align Foundation Repair Today

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we specialize in providing quality foundation repair services to homeowners in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Our work is backed by industry-leading warranties. See the difference that working with a professional foundation repair company in Dallas makes. Get in touch with us today to schedule your free inspection and estimate.

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What Are the Common Foundation Repair Tasks?

Residential foundations are designed to last for decades. But any number of threats can cause them to suffer early failure, endangering not only the home but also its occupants. When that happens, it’s important to complete the necessary foundation repair tasks as soon as possible.

The exact type of repair will depend on the condition of the foundation and the cause of the problem. Here at Align Foundation Repair, we specialize in a variety of solutions. Align Foundation Repair tasks include:

  • Installing concrete/steel pilings.
  • Installing drilled piers.
  • Installing spread footings.
  • Installing state-of-the-art drainage systems.

Let’s take a closer look at these options and see how they can help you to solve your foundation problems.

Installing Concrete/Steel Pilings

In North Texas, when a foundation goes bad, it’s usually caused by expansion and contraction of the soil supporting the home.

One way to correct this type of damage is by installing piers into the bedrock beneath the residence and joining it to the home’s foundation using concrete or steel pilings. This lends the strength of the earth itself to the residence, making it literally “rock-solid.”

Installing Drilled Piers

Sometimes steel or concrete pilings are not the best way to correct a particular foundation problem. In those cases, we may recommend drilled piers instead.

Drilled piers are heavy-duty steel supports encased in concrete and sunk into the ground beneath the residence. When attached to the foundation, they provide much the same strength as pilings. This is a good option for small or lightweight homes.

Installing spread footings

Here in North Texas, many homes are supported by concrete block piers. This type of foundation is highly affordable and provides a crawl space for storage. But it’s also vulnerable to erosion caused by wind and rain.

One way to fix a damaged pier foundation is by installing spread footings. These are reinforced concrete piers that “spread out” in all directions, giving the home added strength while maintaining the advantages of a crawlspace.

Installing drainage solutions

Poor drainage is the leading cause of most foundation damage here in Texas. That’s why our foundation repair services include the following options:

  • Grading and contouring the property – to direct rainwater away from the home and its foundation.
  • Installing surface or sub-surface drains – to siphon rainwater into a stream, sewer system, or other collection point.
  • Cleaning or replacing gutters – to prevent rainwater from pooling around the home’s perimeter and damaging the foundation.
  • French Drains

A Company You Can Trust

At Align Foundation Repair, we invest in continuous training for our technicians so they’re always up-to-date on the latest advances in foundation repair. We’re known and respected across Texas and we’re happy to provide references from past clients. You can trust us to do the job right the first time.

Our Garland foundation repair service area covers all of the communities in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. Our work is backed by an industry-leading warranty and we provide free estimates. Get in touch with us today to learn more.

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/ By Chase Gohl / Foundation Repair Process/ / 0 Comments

5 Tips for Choosing a Foundation Repair Company

Five things you should consider when choosing a foundation repair company are:

  1. The company’s years in business
  2. Customer testimonials
  3. Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating
  4. Knowledge of local climate and geology
  5. The warranty the company offers on its work

Let’s see why these factors are so important.

Experience Matters

Quality foundation repair requires years of hands-on work with all kinds of homes and all types of foundations.

Here at Align Foundation Repair, we have decades of experience providing foundation repair services to homeowners in Plano and the surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth area. In fact, our co-founders Josh and Jason Spector grew up working side-by-side with their father in the trade. Together with the other members of our team, they have the skills and know-how to put your foundation back on a solid footing.

Personal Recommendations Trump Paid Advertising

Good foundation repair companies have a history of prompt, courteous communications, fair estimates, timely service calls, and lasting results. To see what people are saying about Align Foundation Repair, just check our Google reviews. Our customers are our best salespeople.

Why BBB Accreditation Matters

BBB accreditation is considered the gold standard for customer service and ethical practices. Attaining a favorable rating with the bureau takes many years of consistent excellence in all facets of doing business. Make sure that whatever company you choose is in good standing with the BBB.

Texas is Unique – and So Are Its Foundation Problems

Texas is a huge, highly diverse state with four distinct geological regions, each of which poses particular risks to residential foundations.

A good DFW foundation repair company will understand this fact and take it into consideration when recommending a particular course of action. The more the contractor knows about Texas and its unique conditions, the better able it will be to address your concerns.

Good Repairs Stand the Test of Time

A properly restored foundation should stay free of trouble for decades. That’s why Align Foundation Repair offers a transferable lifetime warranty on its work. You can rest easy knowing that we’re on the job.

We hope these tips help you to find the right contractor for your needs. If you live in our Plano foundation repair service area, which includes the entire Dallas-Fort Worth region, get in touch with our office today to discuss your repair needs and receive your free estimate. We provide free inspections and honest assessments of your foundation problems so you’ll have the facts to make an informed decision.