Foundation damage can seriously affect the value of a home, after all, who wants a house that is “falling down”? If you are considering buying a house with foundation issues you need to be VERY careful. If you have an older home or if your property has experienced severe weather that has damaged your home’s foundation, you are probably trying to figure out how to get the repairs done without paying a huge amount of money. Foundation work can be expensive, so it helps to find ways to save money when planning this type of restoration or repair project. Here are a few tips that can help.
Consult Experts
Even if you have experience working with concrete or basements, it is a good idea to get an official report from a structural engineer before trying to get job quotes. They can provide professional information and an informed opinion about how to tackle your foundation project. Once you have the report in hand, you can talk to several house foundation repair specialists and get competing quotes on exactly the same work. You can also get an estimate of the cost and a timeframe for when the work could be done.
One interesting way of shoring up a foundation is called “polyurethane injection” and it is a pretty neat process that requires much less digging than traditional foundation repairs.
If it Isn’t Too Major
If you find that the problem isn’t serious enough to require a structural engineer you can attempt to repair it yourself. in the following video, they discovered that the problem wasn’t actually the foundation but a much more common problem of sagging timbers. Often in this type of situation, it only requires some “bottle jacks” and some timbers to shore up and support the existing joists.
If you need to purchase tools or equipment for the job and don’t want to rent them, shop at surplus outlets, Harbor Freight has good deals on things like bottle jacks. These types of stores offer great deals on tools and supplies.
Work in Stages
Restoring a foundation is a sizable job that requires hard work and a fair amount of time. If you are unable to do the work all at once because of your job schedule or the cost, organize the project in stages based on weather and your availability. The outdoor work like digging, placing footers, and pouring concrete should be done in good weather before winter arrives. The interior work can be done when the weather turns cold or harsh. Finishing tasks like waterproofing can likewise be done later. Breaking up the job as a process means you can buy supplies and rent tools when needed, not all at once.
Hire a Helper
If you would like to do the project yourself but lack the skill or time, hire someone help for part of the work. For example, you can pay a professional foundation company to place the footers and pour concrete while you take over after that. Or you can hire someone with knowledge or equipment to help you do the job.
Restoring a foundation is a major endeavor. But with planning and budgeting, you will be better able to get the project done in a timely, affordable way.
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- How Real Estate Helps You Leapfrog To Wealth
- How Much House Can You Afford?
About the Author:
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
