/ By adminrm / Drainage Issues/ • / 0 Comments

How Expansive Clay Soil Affects Your Foundation

It may not be the first thing you think about as a homeowner, but understanding the type of soil your home is built on can help you protect it from foundation damage. If your house is built on soil notorious for causing foundation issues, such as expansive clay soil, you can be proactive in addressing potential issues before they cause additional, costlier problems.

What is expansive soil?

Expansive clay soil contains high contents of absorbent clay, meaning it swells when wet. This swelling results in pressure that can be enough to crack your foundation walls and floor slabs, resulting in foundation movement that can cause damage to the stability of your home.

Clay soil can expand up to 10 percent in size if it experiences prolonged exposure to moisture.

In addition to the swelling, expansive soil can also shrink when it dries out. This constant change can lead to ongoing issues for your home, putting additional stress on your concrete foundation.

What to look out for with soil expansion and shrinkage

The most common signs that can indicate expansive clay soil is causing issues with your property include:

  • Signs of cracking in your concrete foundation
  • Doors or windows that are sticking
  • Cracking in your plaster wall
  • Cracks affecting your driveway or garage
  • Cracking or separating on brick veneer surfaces of your home

How can you help to reduce the damage to your home?

Expansive soils cause the greatest damage when significant or repeated moisture content changes occur. Therefore, maintaining a constant moisture level can be one of the best ways to help reduce damage to your foundation. You can do this by watering the soil regularly. Keeping the moisture levels consistent helps ensure the ground doesn’t become extremely wet or extremely dry, helping to reduce any impact it has on the foundation.

It’s also a good idea to seek advice from foundation repair experts who can advise whether there are other strategies to consider for your home, such as a new water drainage system. If you already have a drainage system, it can be worth checking to make sure it’s working properly, as well as contacting Align Foundation Repair about installing a new drainage system if you’re experiencing issues. If you’re building a new property, it can be worth investigating the options for creating a sloping site to help with water runoff if you experience a lot of rain where you live.

At Align Foundation Repair, we offer a free inspection to understand your property and make the best recommendations for your home’s foundation.

Want to find out more?

Depending on the weather in your area, you may experience minimal problems with expansive clay, or it could end up causing you a lot of headaches. Taking good care of your home’s structure by watching for signs of foundation issues and seeking advice from professionals at Align Foundation Repair can help you catch and repair problems early on.

Our expert team can spot foundation problems and recommend the right solutions for your home. Get in touch with us today to schedule your free estimate.

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

Spring Home Improvement Checks That Will Benefit Your Foundation

Spring is the perfect season for home improvement projects. The days are longer, the temperatures are warming up, and it’s a great time to get outdoors and tackle those much-needed chores around the house. This checklist will help keep your property in tip-top shape while also benefitting your foundation.

Spring Home Improvement Projects to Preserve Your Foundation

If you notice exterior cracks, foundation settling, or doors that won’t open or close properly during your Spring overhaul, call Align Foundation Repair for all of your Richardson foundation repair needs. Our professional contractors can determine what measures are necessary – if any – and recommend foundation repair services that will work within your budget.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters and downspouts play a vital role in keeping water damage and leaks at bay. For this reason, a thorough gutter examination and cleaning should be performed every spring. Remove fallen leaves, branches, and debris to ensure that water is draining away from your home’s foundation. Pooling water near the foundation can lead to extensive damage over time, causing the home to sink and settle.

Test the Irrigation System

Sprinklers have a definite lifespan, so it’s worth checking each unit to ensure it’s working properly when spring rolls around. Look for cracked or broken heads, and also directional sprays. Run each irrigation zone separately, and walk the garden to look for problems. Adjust sprinklers that are spraying the side of the house or patio, as this can create moisture problems in the foundation, and also waste water.

Check Exterior Walls

Number three on your spring home improvement checklist is inspecting exterior walls. Look for mildew, pest damage, and cracks. Cracks found in walls over windows and doorways could indicate that the house is settling more dramatically than normal. While it’s not cause for panic, it’s best to address problems promptly before they get any worse, and more expensive to fix.

Look for Foundation Cracks

While it’s perfectly normal for foundations to settle and develop tiny fissures in the early years following construction, larger gaps and cracks can be cause for concern. Foundation damage can be caused by poor drainage, as well as weather and soil conditions. If you suspect warning signs of structural damage, always get a professional opinion.

Expert Foundation Repair Richardson TX

These tips can help prepare your home for the coming season, and potentially ward off problems that could undermine the integrity of your foundation. If you’re looking for foundation repair contractors Richardson TX property owners rely on, you’ve come to the right place.

Schedule a free estimate today anywhere in our Richardson foundation repair service area. Align Foundation Repair is dedicated to providing our customers the highest quality service, and our work is backed by an industry-leading warranty.

Concrete cover spalling - Steel rebars
/ By adminrm / Signs of Foundation Issues/ • • • / 0 Comments

Is Concrete Spalling a Sign of a Foundation Problem?

Concrete spalling is often caused by a failing foundation. To know for sure, you’ll need an inspection performed by one of our trained technicians at Align Foundation Repair. Contact our office today to schedule your free inspection and estimate.

What Does Concrete Spalling Mean?

“Concrete spalling” refers to loose, flaking, or crumbling concrete on your slab foundation and/or perimeter walls. It’s one of the early signs of foundation problems.

Spalling is fairly easy to spot. Pick a day with nice weather to give your foundation a close check. As you do, keep an eye out for the following warning signs:

  • Cracked masonry (in the case of a brick foundation).
  • Flakes or specks of concrete in the soil surrounding your home.
  • Pieces of concrete that brush away easily when you touch them.
  • A grayish coating that seems to be spreading across your foundation.
  • Exposed rebar (rebar is the metal reinforcing rods inside a concrete foundation; normally, it should not be visible to the naked eye).

Get in touch with us right away if you notice any of these signs of unstable or crumbling foundation elements. We’ll complete a thorough, cost-free inspection to determine the root cause of the problem. If your foundation is in trouble, then the inspection will include a price estimate for your review.

Other Signs of Foundation Issues

Spalling is just one of the early warning signs of a failing foundation. Others include:

  • Windows or doors that are hard to open or close – this problem may be accompanied by cracks in the surrounding frames.
  • Slanting or uneven floors – caused by the foundation beginning to break apart and sink into the earth.
  • Interior corners that are no longer square – to detect this problem, just take a carpenter’s square and see if the walls in your rooms align at a 90-degree angle. If they don’t, then your foundation might be in trouble.

Richardson Foundation Repair Experts You Can Trust

Here at Align Foundation Repair, our technicians receive thorough and ongoing training to detect and diagnose all sorts of foundation problems. We’re highly respected members of the local business community with more than 20 years of experience under our belts.

We’re happy to provide references from others who have used our foundation repair services. Our Richardson foundation repair service area covers a substantial portion of the Lone Star State, including Dallas-Fort Worth.

Give us a call or send a message using our online contact form today. You’ll soon have the facts you need to decide which next step is right for your home.

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

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Settling Sounds in Your Richardson Home

The creaks, groans, and pops made by a home are sometimes caused by normal aging as the house settles. Other times, however, they’re an early warning sign that your foundation is in serious trouble. That’s why it’s a good idea to contact Align Foundation Repair if you’ve noticed any unusual sounds inside your residence. We can provide a prompt, free inspection to let you know if there are any serious problems with your foundation and give you a fair price quote if we think any repairs are necessary.

When “Normal” Settling Sounds Are Anything but Normal

Most strange house noises are caused by typical changes in humidity or temperature levels. For example, a drought can cause a cracking sound as the studs dry out and contract. On the other hand, a prolonged downpour can cause your home to creak or groan as it takes on moisture and expands.

Sometimes, however, those odd sounds are your home’s way of telling you that you need foundation repair services. Here’s how this can happen:

  • Your foundation is under constant threat – When it rains, the earth around your home expands and puts harmful pressure on your foundation. When the weather turns dry, the dirt contracts and your foundation loses much-needed support.
  • Your entire home depends upon your foundation – when it starts to fail, the frame itself is subjected to extreme stress.
  • These problems create unusual noises – from squeaking floors to creaking doors and windows. You may even notice loud popping sounds from within the walls themselves.
  • Left uncorrected, these problems will only grow worse – making the inevitable repair bill ever more costly. In some cases, the home itself may become unlivable.

Of course, not every unexplained sound in your home requires Richardson foundation repair. But, given the potential consequences, why not schedule a free inspection just in case? If nothing else, you’ll enjoy added peace of mind.

Why You Should Trust the Job to Us

Diagnosing and repairing a bad foundation requires advanced skills and years of experience. Here at Align Foundation Repair, our North Texas foundation repair experts have decades of combined training and extensive experience using the latest techniques and tools.

Our company has been a respected part of the local community for over 20 years. We’re members of the Better Business Bureau and hold an A+ rating with the agency. Plus, we’re always happy to provide references from past customers. So you can feel good about entrusting the job to us.

Now is the time to put your worries about those strange noises to rest. Contact our office today to schedule your free inspection.

Home foundation repair inspection contractor
/ By adminrm / Foundation Maintenance/ • • • / 0 Comments

3 Reasons Why You Should Get a Foundation Inspection

Checking your foundation may not necessarily be the first thing you think about when maintaining your home, but it’s an essential item on the checklist if you want to maintain your home’s integrity and avoid severe, costly damage.

Scheduling regular foundation inspections or reaching out to a professional at the first sign of damage for foundation repair services can help you identify and correct issues early before they become much larger problems for your home.

If you haven’t scheduled an appointment with foundation repair contractors in Richardson, TX yet, here are three reasons why you should:

#1 – Keep your family safe

An unstable foundation can be harmful to anyone living in the home. If the soil underneath your foundation has shifted or settled, then your home is no longer sitting on a secure and firm base. This can compromise the structural integrity of your home, which can impact your family’s safety. A foundation inspection can identify the extent of the issues and determine the best approach for fixing any problems. We specialize in Richardson foundation repair. We can identify what needs to be fixed so you and your family can continue to feel safe and secure in your home.

#2 – Preventing further damage

Being proactive and looking for any cracks or damage that may result from foundation issues can help prevent further damage. Small cracks can signify a minor problem with your foundation, or they could be the beginning of a more significant issue. At Align Foundation Repair, we can help resolve the situation as quickly as possible. Being proactive and detecting problems early can help to save you money in the long run by preventing more extensive damage that can occur if left untreated.

#3 – To help you make a sound investment

When buying a home, it’s vital to organize a foundation inspection as part of your due diligence. This can help identify if the house has any foundation issues that could end up costing you thousands. An inspection will enable you to determine the extent of any problems and whether it’s worthwhile to proceed with the purchase. As part of the inspection, we can detail the costs associated with foundation repair in Richardson, TX, so you can determine if you want to move ahead with the sale or amend your offer

When to arrange an inspection

An inspection is a good idea if you notice any of the following signs of foundation damage to your property.

  • Large cracks on your wall (usually about ⅛ inch or more)
  • Unevenness, sloping, or other changes to your floor
  • Doors or windows getting stuck or not closing properly
  • Neighboring homes are experiencing foundation problems

You should also consider scheduling an inspection if:

  • You haven’t yet had your foundation checked by a professional
  • You’re buying or selling your home

Who to contact for foundation repair, Richardson, TX

Align Foundation Repair is a family-owned business that proudly provides Richardson foundation repair services. In addition to the Richardson foundation repair service area, we also service the entire Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Give yourself the gift of peace of mind and contact our team today to schedule your free inspection and quote.

Foundation Repair Inspection Free Estimate
/ By adminrm / Richardson Foundation Tips/ • / 0 Comments

How to Handle Foundation Repair in Richardson TX

If you suspect that your home in Richardson, TX, has sustained foundation damage, here are steps you can take to address the issue in the most timely and cost-efficient way possible:

  • Identify the tell-tale signs of foundation damage
  • Schedule a free foundation inspection with a qualified contractor
  • Get any necessary repair work done NOW before problems get worse and cost much more money to fix down the line
  • Once the repair work is finished, enjoy peace of mind knowing that your home’s value is protected well into the future

Contact Align Foundation Repair today if you’re ready to schedule your free inspection and price quote!

Get your repair work from us!
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Step 1: Know the Warning Signs of Foundation Damage

Warning signs of foundation damage to your home include:

  • Doors and windows that don’t fit their frames – this problem is often caused by the foundation shifting and sinking into the earth.
  • Floors that are no longer level and corners that are no longer square – as a foundation degenerates, it literally bends flooring materials and other parts of your home out of shape.
  • Cracks in the slab and/or perimeter walls – tiny hairline fractures may be nothing to worry about. But, when they grow wider and larger over time, it’s time to think about foundation repair.

Step 2: Schedule a Foundation Inspection

The conditions outlined above can have many causes other than foundation damage. That’s why you should have a professional give your home a thorough inspection to uncover the root problem.

Our experienced technicians receive thorough and ongoing training in all aspects of their profession. They also use modern high-tech tools to detect problems that others may overlook.

Schedule your inspection today!
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Step 3: Schedule the Work

If your foundation is in trouble, then the next step is to schedule the necessary repairs. Here at Align Foundation Repair, we make every effort to complete the job in a timely manner. Of course, a number of factors can affect the final timeframe, including the type of work that’s needed.

Step 4: Exploring Financing Options

Some homeowners let worries about costs prevent them from seeking slab foundation repair. Here’s why this is generally not a good idea:

  • The damage will only get worse over time – a bad foundation can quickly lead to problems like a failing roof, mold infestation, and plumbing issues.
  • The work is more affordable than you may think – only a small number of cases require complete foundation replacement. Usually, the problem can be resolved with more affordable methods such as steel pilings or drilled piers.
  • Financing options are available – our office staff can give you the details when you get in touch with us.
Take advantage of Align’s finance options today.
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Step 5: Relax and Enjoy Your Repaired Foundation

One of the biggest benefits of our foundation repair services is the peace of mind they provide. After the job is complete, you can pat yourself on the back, knowing that you’ve taken a positive step to protect your home’s value and your personal well-being.

Foundation Repair Richardson TX Residents Trust

Our Richardson foundation repair service area covers Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding communities. Contact us today to schedule your free inspection and estimate. You’ll soon have the facts you need to decide which next step is right for you.

Home foundation repair inspection contractor
/ By adminrm / Foundation Maintenance/ / 0 Comments

How Often Should I Have an Inspection Performed on My Home Foundation?

You should have your foundation inspected whenever you notice problems such as gaps, unlevel floors, or doors that no longer fit their frame. Ignoring these warning signs will put your home at serious risk of instability and damage over time.

Signs That Your Home Needs a Foundation Inspection

Over time even the best-built foundations can begin to fail. When they do, it’s common to see warning signs like these:

  • Cracks or gaps in the foundation wall – while tiny vertical cracks may be nothing to worry about, horizontal or diagonal gaps are serious cause for concern.
  • Spaces between walls and the ceiling or floor – this is often a sign that the foundation is sinking or starting to come apart.
  • Doors or windows that are hard to open or close – especially if they no longer fit easily into the surrounding frame. Cracked window panes are another potential sign of foundation damage.
  • A musty or moldy odor – a failing foundation can allow water to enter the crawl space beneath your home, creating unpleasant smells and promoting the spread of disease-causing germs.
  • Floors that are no longer level – sometimes this issue is a result of normal settling. Other times, however, a damaged foundation is at fault.

Schedule a professional foundation inspection right away if you notice any of these problems. The consequences of ignoring them are too great to risk.

Foundation Inspection Dallas

Here’s what you can expect when you contact our office:

  • A convenient appointment set by one of our customer service experts – we know that homeowners are busy people with lots of demands on their time. We’re happy to work around your schedule.
  • A thorough inspection of your home’s foundation – our experts know how to spot serious problems that require immediate attention.
  • A free, no-obligation estimate – at the end of our visit, you’ll know exactly what’s going on with your foundation, giving you the facts you need to make an informed decision.

Here are some of the ways we repair damaged foundations:

  • By installing steel supports in the bedrock beneath the home – we connect these components to the foundation itself, greatly increasing its strength and putting the home back on a level footing.
  • By repairing and/or replacing the existing piers in your crawlspace – pier and beam foundations are a common form of construction here in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Over time the piers can begin to bow or collapse, requiring attention from a skilled DFW foundation repair company.
  • By correcting the cause of the problem itself – for example, foundation damage is often caused by rainwater flowing into the crawlspace. If this is the situation with your home, then we may install a sump pump or French drain system to prevent the trouble from recurring.

DFW Foundation Repair Company

The sooner you act, the sooner your foundation worries will be in the past. At Align Foundation Repair, we lead the Dallas-Fort Worth area when it comes to foundation repair services.

Contact us today to schedule your free inspection.

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

4 Things to Remember When Fixing a Foundation

Whether you are attempting some minor DIY fixes for the foundation of your home or business (please make sure you have the proper tools and experience!) or are having foundation repair work professionally done, safety and preparation always come first. With that in mind, here are four important things to keep in mind when fixing a foundation. Remember, a foundation repair company serving the Garland area and other communities in Dallas-Fort Worth is always your best bet for fixing serious foundational problems.

Make sure the foundation actually needs repair

Homeowners may think their foundation is in trouble when, in reality, it’s still quite solid.

This usually occurs when someone notices hairline cracks around the home’s perimeter. In many cases, this is due to nothing more than normal foundation settling.

Use the right equipment for the job

Though there is lots of really useful home repair information on the internet, some of the ideas you’ll find online are dubious, if not downright dangerous.

This includes, for example, articles and videos that recommend using a standard automotive bottle jack for raising a building’s foundation. Not only can this put your home at risk, it may also put you in the hospital.

The only safe way to raise a home or large building off the ground is with industrial-capacity hydraulic jacks. If you don’t have access to this kind of equipment, or lots of experience using it, then it’s best to call a qualified foundation repair company in your area.

Don’t forget the landscaping

Trees, shrubs, and flowers add immeasurably to a home’s appeal. But they’re more fragile than you may think. That’s why a professional foundation repair service will typically take the time to remove landscaping features and replant them later.

While you’re going about this task, keep in mind that you may also need to disassemble man-made structures such as decks, porches, and patios.

If in doubt, call the professionals

When it comes to the stability and structural safety of your home or business, there is too much at stake for unnecessary risks. If you have any doubts at all about the safety of your home’s foundation, you have nothing whatsoever to lose by calling in a foundation repair professional to perform a no-cost inspection of your property.

If you live in any of our DFW foundation repair service areas, please call Align Foundation Repair to schedule your free inspection and quote.

/ By Chase Gohl / Home Values/ / 0 Comments

Should I Buy a House with Foundation Repair?

People often ask us, “Should I buy a house that has had foundation repair work?” The short answer is “yes.” However, the buyer should:

  • Know specifically what was done
  • Examine the warranty
  • Have the foundation inspected again before closing to make sure it is still in good shape

When buying a used car, it’s good to know about the vehicle’s history. Was it involved in a collision that required extensive frame repair? You should have the same attitude when buying a house. What repairs were done on it over the years? Remember, that just because recent repair work has been done on the foundation doesn’t mean that no problems currently exist.

214-463-2974
Contact Align Foundation Repair to check the repair history.

What You Need to Know about the Repairs

If foundation repair was done, that means that there were significant foundation problems in the past. If the workmanship was less than stellar, or if the soil conditions around the house are extremely poor, the foundation may run into serious issues again in the future. As a buyer, you can make an informed decision by learning as much as you can about the history of the repair work. Here are some questions to ask:

Who Performed the Repairs?

Look at the home seller’s repair report; what company is listed? Is it even a company or a freelance contractor? If a company, look up the service online. What are some reviews from prior customers? Be wary if the company has zero online presence. Even if the company doesn’t have a website, it should at least have one or two social media pages and a small handful of Google reviews.

214-463-2974
Work with a foundation repair company you can trust. Contact Align Foundation Repair for a free estimate.

What Repairs Were Done?

What method was used? For a typical residence, this will include concrete or steel piling or drilled piers. How many piers or piling were used? Were they concrete or steel? This should all be listed in the report. Were piers/piling installed in just one section or all over the home? The latter indicates a more serious repair. You should proceed with caution.

Get a Second Opinion

Perhaps the repair company has no online presence, or the repair work indicates significant damage. Is this a deal-breaker? Not necessarily; however, you should get a second professional opinion to err on the side of caution. This doesn’t mean a general home inspector but an actual licensed Dallas home foundation repair company. An evaluator can assess the previous repair work and determine whether it meets industry standards.

214-463-2974
Get your second opinion today. Contact Align Foundation Repair  for a free estimate.

Ask About the Warranty

If the repairs were done relatively recently, then the warranty should still be in effect. Find out what the warranty covers and how many more years it’s good for. Some last a lifetime, while others are good for several decades. Most warranties can be transferred to the new homeowner for a small one-time fee or even for free if transferred within a certain number of days of closing the property sale.

Foundation damage is commonplace in the North Texas region, so foundation repair shouldn’t be a disqualifying factor. However, it does warrant additional research if you’re the buyer. Align Foundation Repair can be a part of that research. Our Dallas foundation repair solutions include pre-home sale inspections. We frequently work with home buyers, sellers, and their respective real estate agents.

/ By Chase Gohl / Home Values/ / 0 Comments

Should I Buy a House with Foundation Problems?

Unless you’re moving into a recently constructed home, buying a house is like buying a used car. You have to actively check for existing issues. Foundation problems in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area are especially commonplace, so getting a thorough inspection of the house foundation is a must for buyers before they commit to an offer. Generally, you shouldn’t buy a house if it has existing foundation issues. Nevertheless, various factors are at play, and buying a house with foundation problems isn’t completely out of the question.

Inspect the Home

First, if any foundation problems are present, the seller is obligated to list them in a disclosure form. You should also perform a visual inspection yourself. Walk around the home interior and exterior and look for cracks along the walls and ceilings. Also, open and shut the doors and windows. Foundation problems may lurk if you can’t do this without muscling it into place.

Want to learn more?
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Get a Professional Assessment

Ask to see the report if the owner already had the foundation professionally inspected. If not, don’t proceed further until the owner agrees to a professional who specializes in foundation problems and not just a general home inspector. As part of our Dallas foundation repair services, Align Foundation Repair provides a free inspection and estimate.

What to Do Next

It’s not an instant deal breaker if the inspection turns up problems; it’s up to you. This is where negotiations really come into play. This is actually a good bargaining chip for getting the seller to lower the asking price. Homes with foundation problems can sell for up to 20% to 25% below the original price. On the other hand, foundation repair costs rarely exceed more than 10% of the property’s value. In other words, this can work out in your favor if you play your cards right. However, if you go this route, don’t just purchase the home and move right in as is. Arranging for repairs should be one of the first steps as the new homeowner.

Get your repairs done right.
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Leaving Repairs to the Seller

Alternatively, you can agree to purchase the house at the asking price on the written stipulation that the owner has the foundation repaired out of their own pocket and have it done before the closing date. Get this agreement in writing or stipulated in the contract. If you proceed this way, make sure you and the seller agree on the repair company. The seller may choose the cheapest contractor. Unrealistically low prices often translate to shoddy workmanship.

Need to find a company to agree on?
Contact Align Foundation Repair at 214-463-2974 or online for a free estimate.

Also, repair agreements should include damages incurred as a result of the foundation damage. This might include any ruptured pipes, cracks/separations along the wall and ceiling, etc. The costs of these also need to be factored in should you decide to buy the home as is.

Know the True Condition of the Property

As the buyer, you should fully understand the foundation’s condition. You can buy a home if foundation problems exist, but proceed with repairs right away. Contact us at Align Foundation Repair for a zero-cost inspection and estimate. The report will give you an idea of how to proceed and negotiate.