At Cornerstone Foundation Repair, our team understands homeowners’ concerns and questions about foundation repairs. We’ll take a closer look at some of the more common questions we get about foundation repair and types of foundation damage in the Triangle.
Cracks around doors and windows. Cracks in concrete slabs or brick walls. A hump or a dip in a floor. Doors working and not working during the year. Mold or mildew smells throughout the home. Cupping hardwood floors.
Cornerstone takes the best steps to preserve the grounds and landscaping but sometimes bushes need to be removed to install a pile in the correct location. Heavy rubber ground protection mats will be used to avoid turf or flatwork damage when applicable. Some more established root systems will die from shock depending on the time of year the repair takes place.
If the repairs are not done, the home will continue to deteriorate to the point where it cant be repaired. Every season cycle that a damaged footing is left alone the foundation walls actually rotate in/out which cant be repaired without replacement. An experienced real estate agent will be able to answer any potential questions prior to the repair becoming an issue.
When the home is repaired by Cornerstone it will typically carry a full transferrable life of structure warranty which should be seen as a plus. Most homes will experience a failure at some point so having yours repaired will save the buyer money in the long run.
The typical 3-6 pile job will last 1-2 days. The typical drainage job will last 2 days for a crawlspace and 4-5 days for a basement. Any jobs with footings will require 2 partial days for inspections and set up time then another 1-2 days to complete the repair. We do as much commercial work as we do residential. Many jobs are in the medical industry which sometimes require certain quiet times and odd work hours. We do our best to accommodate the schedules of the client.
Absolutely. We are licensed realtors so we can make appointments through the call center to save time and extra trips. Being realtors we know how to keep deals alive and how to communicate with buyers/sellers to ease nerves.
Chances are, if you live in the Triangle, you or someone you know has dealt with foundation issues. This is due to a variety of factors, including the clay-rich soil in the Triangle & Piedmont that absorbs water during heavy rainfall and contracts during dry periods. This cycle of expansion and contraction in our clay-rich soil is one of the most common causes of foundation damage and can be controlled with professional water mitigation and waterproofing strategies.
The majority of homes in the Triangle are built with crawl spaces instead of basements. We build homes with crawl spaces instead of basements because our climate doesn’t require deeper foundations to reach below the frost line. Our area’s soil is also clay-rich, which can make excavating for a basement more expensive and challenging.
Older homes in the Raleigh and Durham area can be more susceptible to certain types of foundation problems. Depending on when your home was built, its foundation may be made from:
If your home is several decades old, it has been exposed to several wet and dry cycles that can put immense strain on the foundation, especially those built with older materials like brick or stone, making foundation problems much more common.
Large trees planted too close to a foundation can easily cause foundation damage. Tree roots are one of the more common causes of foundation damage, making direct contact with a home’s foundation and changing water and moisture levels around a foundation. We recommend planting trees at least as far away from your home’s foundation as the tree’s expected mature canopy or:
While foundation problems become more common with older homes, new homes, unfortunately, are not immune. If your home is less than five years old and you’re starting to notice foundation problems, the likely culprit is improperly compacted fill soil or underlying drainage issues. Building a home involves removing large amounts of soil and adding new fill soil that, if not properly compacted and graded, greatly increases the risk of foundation problems. Our team can inspect newly built foundations and provide guidance and repair solutions to protect a newly built home’s foundation.
Yes, it is very common for foundations built in the Triangle to experience uneven settling during extended dry periods or droughts. Since our clay-rich soil expands during wet seasons and contracts during dry spells, droughts can cause soil shrinkage and uneven foundation settling.
Settling is normal in a new home, leading to minor hairline cracks as the concrete cures and the home settles into the soil beneath it. Foundation failure damage will be much more apparent and can include:
If you’re noticing cracks in your foundation and aren’t sure if they are part of the normal settling process of your home, give our team a call or check out our article on the different types of foundation cracks.
Sloping or uneven floors are one of the more common warning signs that a foundation issue is developing with your home, particularly in crawl space homes. Sloping floors can be caused by a variety of issues, including:
Our team highly recommends a foundation inspection if you notice sloping floors, especially when accompanied by windows and doors that are starting to stick.
As we mentioned above, windows and doors that are starting to stick are another common sign of uneven settling and foundation damage. When a home settles unevenly, it can cause the framing to shift, bringing windows and doors out of alignment. While this is an annoying problem on its own, the more serious issue your home could face is foundation failure.
Water in your crawl space doesn’t necessarily mean your foundation is failing, but if left unchecked, moisture can lead to more serious foundation problems over time. Our team can help you address water problems in your crawl space to protect the lifespan of your home’s foundation.
When it comes to foundation cracks, determining what is causing the crack is just as important as addressing cracks that are allowing water into your foundation. Foundation cracks can be harmless curing cracks or indicate a more serious issue like:
Our team can inspect all types of foundation cracks and recommend the right repairs.
While some homeowners’ insurance policies will cover foundation repairs, it depends on the cause of your foundation damage and the specifics of your policy. Many homeowners’ insurance policies will cover foundation damage that is caused by specific events like:
Typically, most homeowners’ insurance policies do not cover foundation damage associated with soil movement, long-term water damage, or natural wear and tear.
We highly recommend getting a dedicated foundation inspection before you buy or sell a home in the Triangle area. While general home inspections can identify some of the warning signs associated with foundation issues, dedicated foundation inspections will give you the whole picture of what repairs are needed and what they will cost.
No, for the vast majority of foundation repairs, you won’t need to leave or move out of your home for an extended period of time. Cornerstone Foundation Repair understands homeowners’ concerns about the headaches major repairs can bring, and we do our part to limit that stress by making the repair process as affordable and convenient as possible for our clients.
Yes, all of our foundation repair projects come with a lifetime warranty on the work that was performed. This warranty is transferable to a new owner as well. This does not cover new cracks that may form in other areas of the home, but existing foundation work is warrantied for life.
Yes, Cornerstone Foundation Repair is fully licensed and insured to carry out foundation repairs, wood repairs, waterproofing, and concrete flatwork repair. Our team brings decades of combined experience in foundation repair and inspection, giving customers the experience and expertise they need at an affordable price. We are also licensed general contractors so you know the work we’re completing is done to code and is backed by a robust transferrable lifetime warranty.
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(844) 926-7637
office@cfr-NC.com
www.cfr-nc.com