Below are partial images of emails from Houston homeowners that illustrate the most Common Foundation Problems in Houston. We have added our comments where we thought it might be beneficial. The point we wish to make is that many homeowners in your area are experiencing foundation issues.
FAILED Foundation Repair – Another failed foundation repair job using the low cost, low quality “Pushed Piles” repair method. For a lower value home we would recommend a more economical solution – the Dawson Driven Pile System. Higher value homes should consider Bell Bottom Piers installed because they are Permanent and Proven.
We recommend inspections by structural engineers and home inspectors BEFORE the house is purchased. This will give the buyer a better indication of the repairs needed and the true value of the home. Any low cost, low quality foundation repair work done on the home is virtually worthless and the buyer should assume that he / she will have to install permanent Bell Bottom Piers in the future.
This is the most common foundation complaint and usually it is the result of “settlement” around the foundation perimeter.
We keep all estimates and documents on file. But if several years have passed then we will have to conduct a new foundation inspection.
Excellent idea – level the foundation before doing any repair or remodeling work.
FAILED Foundation Repair – We see this almost every day – a low cost, low quality “Pushed Piles” repair job that has failed. Once it begins to fail there is no fix – it is a permanent failure. We recommend permanent Bell Bottom Piers or the Dawson Driven Pile System.
This is a common process – the clay soils in the Houston area shrink and swell with the seasons and every year the foundation damage becomes worse. We recommend permanent Bell Bottom Piers or the Dawson Driven Pile System.
The 30 year old slab foundation probably has multiple cracks and this house will require the installation of many support structures. A more affordable alternative for this lower value house is the Dawson Driven Pile System.
Ouch ! Leaning on one side is bad indication of a foundation issue. We should inspect it ASAP.
FAILED Foundation Repair – Another failed foundation repair job using the low cost, low quality “Pushed Piles” repair method. And the warranty is worthless because the company is out-of-business. This is a lower value home and a more economical solution would be the Dawson Driven Pile System.
Lip of drainage creek? We will have to look closely at this house.
Call us for a FREE Foundation Inspection.
Thank you for the feedback about Dawson being “highly recommended.” We work hard to educate the customer so he or she can make the best possible decision. About 50% of our new clients are referrals. This is the result of 30+ years of installing the Highest Quality Foundation Repair possible – Bell Bottom Piers.
This homeowner has listed 5 separate problems that have been noticed with his/her home. The fact that it is a 2 story home means that any problem at the foundation will be “magnified” on the upper floor (rotational movement). We will have to inspect this home first, but it appears very likely that it will need permanent support columns (Bell Bottom Piers) to support and level the foundation and to resist the soil movement of uplift and settlement.
We install Bell Bottom Piers under two story homes because they can support far more weight (Load Capacity) than the stacked concrete cylinders (pushed piles) method. In addition, the support area or foot of a Bell Bottom Pier has 13 times the surface area of a standard concrete cylinder.
This homeowner sounds a little stressed but it appears the problem is not severe.
When the floor is “slooping” (sloping) it is time for a FREE Foundation Inspection and Estimate.
This “belly” is almost certainly caused by a broken sewer / waste water pipe that is saturating the clay soil underneath a portion of the slab foundation. When saturated the clay soil will expand in volume dramatically and the “upheaval” can and will create a “belly” in the foundation.
Wow – This home is only 2 years old and has multiple foundation problems. Most home builders in Texas build Minimally Functional Foundations. However, they are required to warranty some aspects of the home for 10 years. This homeowner should probably get some legal advice and document every communication with the home builder.
Don’t do this – “My foundation is a mess.” This homeowner should have called us much sooner. Foundation problems almost never get better by themselves and they almost always get worse.
Thanks to your neighbors. We work hard to educate our customers and deliver the Highest Quality Foundation Repair available in Texas.