Resources
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Education
Understand how foundation repair works
Explainer articles for homeowners researching what foundation repair actually involves — before deciding to hire anyone.
Education
DIY vs Professional Foundation Repair
Some foundation-related work is reasonable DIY: drainage corrections (downspouts, regrading), hairline crack sealing on stable vertical cracks under 1/16 inch, and exterior caulking. Structural work (pier installation, waterproofing systems, slab lifting, crawl space structural repair) should never be DIY. The biggest non-obvious DIY risks are insurance voidance and resale-disclosure complications on undocumented structural work.
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Education · How-to
Foundation Inspection Checklist
A complete foundation inspection covers four areas: exterior (brick cracks, downspout discharge, drainage), interior (door function, floor slope, drywall cracks), basement (wall cracks, water staining, bowing measurement), and crawl space (pier conditions, beam rot, joist sag). Most points are DIY-checkable; precise elevation survey and engineering judgment require a professional. Most foundation contractors offer free initial inspections; paid engineer reports run $400 to $1,200.
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Education · How-to
Foundation Repair Process
Foundation repair runs through six steps from first call to completion: inspection, engineering letter (where required), building permit, installation, backfill and restoration, final inspection and warranty documentation. Total elapsed time is typically 4 to 8 weeks, with installation itself taking 2 to 7 days on-site. The permit and engineering steps account for most of the elapsed time. Most homeowners remain in the home during work.
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Education
Foundation Warranty Guide
A foundation repair warranty is a written guarantee that the repair will hold for a specified period. Most pier-installation warranties run 25 years on both materials and workmanship. Transferable warranties carry to subsequent homeowners with notification (often 30 to 90 days) and a transfer fee ($50 to $300). Common exclusions: acts of God, neglect, post-install modifications, and consequential damage. Confirm transferability and exclusions in writing before signing.
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Education
Selling a House with Foundation Issues
You can sell a house with foundation problems but must disclose them under state property-disclosure laws (both Tennessee and Alabama require disclosure). Two paths exist: repair before listing (typically recovers most of the repair cost and unlocks conventional financing for buyers) or sell as-is at a discount (faster but limits the buyer pool). For most sellers, repair-before-listing nets more value than the cost of repair itself.
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Education
Signs You Need Foundation Repair
Seven signs indicate possible foundation problems, ranked by severity from least to most urgent: hairline vertical cracks in basement walls (often cosmetic), sticking doors and windows, stair-step cracks in exterior brick, sloping floors, gaps around window trim, water entering the basement after rain, and visibly bowing basement walls. The last three are emergencies. Most homes show one or two minor signs over a lifetime without requiring major repair.
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