Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Sacramento
Some common reasons why Sacramento homeowners experience foundation troubles include:
- Standing water: Standing water around your home can harm your foundation's integrity, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't cover.
- Aging plumbing: The average Sacramento home construction year is 1972. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Drought conditions: Sacramento is vulnerable to drought. The shortage of rainfall and changing humidity levels each season contribute to ever-shifting soil. The resulting soil settlement can shift and break your foundation.
- Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't done properly could lead to your foundation settling.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can intrude into a home's foundation through cracks, and may exert pressure that leads to your foundation fracturing, pipes being damaged, and overall structural deterioration.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
Your home's foundation is crucial to its structural integrity, so it's important to work with a top-notch foundation repair company. Evaluate each contractor using the following factors:
Licensing and Experience
The Golden State issues many different kinds of contracting licenses, and foundation companies often have more than one. You can verify a company's licensing information through the Contractors State License Board, a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Look for a company with a General Building Contractor, General Engineering Contractor, C-8 Concrete, or C-61 Pile Driving credential. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through the details its representatives share. Inquire about its inspection processes, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
One of the simplest ways to assess a company's reputation is to find its website. Look for the company's history and the accreditations its team holds. Many well-known companies provide educational content for future customers.
Customer Reviews
When you're researching a company's reputation, go to its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. There, you can find its "letter grade" rating and a list of customer reviews, both positive experiences and complaints. Complaints don't mean a contractor is bad news. BBB reviews show how the company addressed complaints. It's a good sign if the company has resolved issues favorably and proactively. You should steer clear of a company with numerous negative reviews, no accreditation, and no communication regarding issues.
Foundation Repair Cost in Sacramento
The cost of foundation repair can range widely depending on the severity of the issues and what needs to be done to resolve them. For minor foundation cracking and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is more significant deterioration, the average cost will likely fall around $3,300. More complex jobs involving digging, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $7,000 or more. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $384 |
Leak Repair | $3,142 |
Stabilization | $5,483 |
Underpinning | $1,470 |
Waterproofing | $3,477 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Sacramento
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More Foundation Resources
National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau (American Communities Survey)