Raise your hand if the thought of foundation repair makes you want to do a little happy dance!
…no one? Hmph. Tough crowd.
We get it, though. For most homeowners, a damaged foundation is more likely to bring on stress dreams about exorbitantly high bills and collapsing walls than an urge to get your groove on. And it’s true: foundation repairs can be expensive. Especially if the solution involves house lifting.
However, there’s no better way to combat those fears that to arm yourself with knowledge. That way, you’ll be able to plan ahead with no surprises. That’s where we come in.
At Perma Pier Foundation Repair of Texas, we are the exact type of people to start tapping our toes when a challenging foundation problem comes our way. With our years of experience, we have the perfect knowledge base to help you answer questions such as:
- How much does lifting a house cost?
- How does house raising work?
- What are the early signs of foundation damage?
Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and more!
What Does It Mean to Lift a House?
Have you ever seen someone repair their existing foundation? If you have, you know that it isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
In most cases, repairing a severely damaged foundation will require your foundation repair specialists to raise your house off of the ground in order to make the necessary repairs. But how exactly does one raise a house?
Your foundation specialist will carefully assess your home before using hydraulic jacks that will slowly lift your home away from the ground, separating it from the foundation.
Once the house lifting process has been completed, your contractor will be able to properly examine your foundation and come up with a repair solution that works for you.
How Much Does It Cost to Lift a House?
If that sounds like a big project to you, you are right. And, unfortunately, big projects often come with big price tags.
It is difficult to estimate how much house lifting will cost when the final prices usually include the foundation repairs. Different elements will cause the price to change. The square footage of your home is a huge factor, as is the area you live in and the extent of the foundation damage. All of these factors affect the costs involved in fixing your home.
The national average for house raising sits somewhere around $25,000. That being said, total costs can range between $15,000-$50,000. While those numbers may sound scary, keep in mind that most reputable contractors will be able to provide you with financing packages that allow you to pay over time. We always recommend reaching out to your local contractors and seeing if any of them offers free estimates. This will help you make a solid financial plan for your home.
5 Signs Your Foundation Needs Repairs
Now that you know the solution, it’s a good idea to make sure that you can identify the problem. The key to saving money on a foundation repair is to catch the damage early on. Here are some signs to look for if you suspect your foundation needs repair or replacement.
1) Vertical Wall Cracks
Wall cracks are something of an inevitability as your home ages. However, not all wall cracks are created equal. Vertical wall cracks, particularly ones with a diagonal bent to them, often indicate that your house is shifting.
2) Warped Floors
Are your floorboards looking warped and bent out of shape? If your floors – or your ceiling, for that matter – is bowed or sinking, it’s a good sign that your foundation is settling. If the damage is this noticeable, you’ll want to get in contact with a foundation expert right away, as this is a sign that the damage is fairly widespread.
3) Bowed Walls
When your walls start bowing either inward or outward, you’re likely dealing with a foundation that has moved. A house-lifting project is likely necessary in this case. If the walls are bowing outward, it is likely a sign that the walls are pulling away from the house, which puts you and your family in serious danger of collapse.
4) Shifting Cabinets
Have you noticed that your cabinets and countertops have ever so slightly pulled away from the wall, leaving a gap where there was once none? This could be a result of your house’s walls being pulled away by a shifting foundation. In order to avoid further structural damage, you’ll want to consult with a foundation company ASAP.
5) Tilting Rooms
Have you ever dropped a coin only to have it roll all the way to the other side of the room? Only then do you notice that your floors are no longer level. If you get the sense that your rooms have shifted and are no longer tilted, you may be looking at a house-raising project in the future.
Dangers of Damaged Foundation
Okay, so sure, the foundation has shifted a bit. But what’s the harm? Life goes on, right?
The truth is that there is plenty of harm in an unstable foundation, including:
- Flood Risk – As your foundation cracks, it leaves space for moisture to get in, which could lead to flooding during the rainy season.
- Mold Growth – As we’ve mentioned above, moisture is a huge concern when it comes to foundation problems. In any moist environment, you run the risk of mold and mildew growth.
- Door and Window Problems – Do you struggle to open and close your doors and windows? That will only get worse if you leave your structural problems untreated.
- Collapse – Of course, the worst nightmare of every homeowner is that their home will become structurally unsound and collapse. But that is exactly what you are potentially dealing with if you do not correct your foundation damage.
Work With a Foundation Expert
Have questions? We understand. Our team at Perma Pier Foundation Repair of Texas is ready to help ease your worries by making a complicated project feel doable. Contact us today to set up an evaluation for your home!
