Foundation repair is a major home improvement and knowing how to manage your project is key for its completion. After discovering that your home may require foundation repair, preparations are necessary before any construction work commences.
Foundation repair works can be risky as they can trigger further external and internal structural damage. This type of repair can also be costly as it requires the proper skills and equipment to complete the job. Instead of doing it on your own, it is best to reach out to a foundation repair expert who has fixed several structures without tearing out other parts of your home. Hiring a professional will significantly lower repair costs and guarantee you that those foundation problems are addressed properly.
Read on to learn some tips on how to prepare your house for foundation repair works.
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Schedule An Inspection
Before starting your repair work, first assess the extent of your home’s foundation damage. You may want to check for door jams, windows failing to open correctly, moisture in the walls, pooling water around your house after the rain, drywall cracks, warped flooring, and crawlspace issues.
Performing a quick assessment helps you get a rough idea of how much money and work needs to be done in your foundation. Additionally, the foundation repair contractor can do the inspection so they can thoroughly assess the situation and come up with the best strategy to solve those problems. Because they have the knowledge, tools, and experience, it makes them a ‘one-stop shop’ in terms of foundation repair.
During the inspection, ask questions and explore various solutions that are cost-effective and will not cause further damage to other areas of your home. Moreover, discuss the workflow as well as necessary permits and other paperwork that need to be accomplished beforehand.
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Come Up With A Temporary Relocation Plan
Foundation repair is usually noisy because of the construction equipment, such as hydraulic machines and jackhammers. The whole process is intrusive, affecting both your family’s comfort and safety. In this case, you may need to temporarily relocate your family until all the work is finished.
However, a temporary relocation plan only applies when your home needs extensive work, such as replacing the entire concrete wall. Your foundation repair contractor will be able to tell you if this is necessary.
Nevertheless, it is good to have this prepared in case the need arises in the middle of the project. Temporary relocation will also give your contractor the space and time they need to work without any distraction.
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Prep Your Landscaping
For homeowners, nothing can be more satisfying than well-maintained landscaping. A well-maintained lawn brings beauty to your backyard and can increase the value of your property.
Suppose it’s likely for excavation to disrupt or destroy your landscaping, flowers, shrubs, and new plants. Thus, you will want to clear your landscaping before the foundation repair begins. The foundation repair crew may accidentally step on flowers and damage your landscaping or anything near the perimeter of the job.
Hence, it’s advisable to put up fences to protect your plants, especially if they cannot be temporarily repotted.
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Protect The Interior Of Your Home
Foundation repairs can be extensive and may affect the interiors of your home. Of course, your contractor will try their best not to cause additional scrapes and scratches. Help out your contractor and ensure that their working areas don’t have barriers that may cause delays.
Take for example your furniture. If moving them to a different room is not feasible, you may need to wrap them with polythene covers or cover them with drop cloths.
As for your electronics, you may want to protect them with an old blanket to prevent dust build-up or put them back to their original packaging if you haven’t thrown them out yet.
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Plan For Possible Lawn Regrading
After the contractor and the team have completed the work, the excavated area must be filled to the standard size. Consult with a gardening or landscaping company in advance about possible works.
You may want to inform them as to when the foundation repair will be completed so they know when to work on your lawn.
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Have Spare Materials
It’s always a good idea to keep a few extra materials in case of damage while repair works are being done. Often, these damages affect the floors due to settling and moving things inside your home.
Thus, you may want to purchase spare materials such as paint, HVAC filters, glue, and tiles. Once the renovation is done, you can immediately start working on areas that were affected.
Conclusion
Finding out your home needs a foundation repair is never exciting. Foundation repairs and replacement are generally costly and more invasive than a broken sink or leaky pipes. If your home is facing structural problems, you could be compromising your family’s safety. That is why it’s necessary to take note of signs of damage before it’s too late.
Having a professional team come in and work on your foundation can be stressful as it sounds, but it doesn’t have to be stressful anymore. The above tips can help you prepare before the foundation crew arrives. This ensures the process goes smoothly and efficiently.
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