Expert Foundation Repair Services In Bend, OR

To say that one thing or another is the single cause of foundation movement in Bend is not correct. It is a combination of the most things that a foundation can be subject to. For this reason alone makes all the more sense to hire our foundation professionals who are familiar with this area and the soils that cause the foundation issues. Yes, foundations in Bend do move unintentionally. Foundation issues from excessive movement beyond the designed tolerances make up most of the foundation repair issues in Bend, Oregon.

Geographically speaking, Bend, Oregon, is located within the cross-hairs for potential foundation problems. Bend lies pretty much right in the middle of the state with the Pacific Coast to its west, the Mt. Hood National Forest to the northwest, the Deschutes National Forest to the southwest, and the Ochoco National Forest to the east. Pine trees, as well as other evergreens, make up these national forests. Saying the soil in Bend is acidic is being very mild about it. The fact is that Bend’s soil is so acidic from a high pH content that its corrosive capabilities eat away at the footings that certain foundations have moved.

The drainage capability of the soil in Bend is also a contributing factor to foundation movement. Poor drainage and a high pH content mean that the standing water around your foundation is eating it away 24/7. Foundation designs in Bend have specific parameters for buffering the effects of earthquakes that funnel upwards to this area from Southern California. The outcome for this is standing or pooling water. Improperly compacted soil before construction also plagues this area. The ground contains high amounts of water and clays that give heed to the expansive soil condition that destroys and causes so much foundation damage throughout the nation.

You could essentially close your eyes and put a finger at random on a list of foundation problem causes. Bend has foundation problems caused by several issues in the infrastructure of the older homes in the area and the naturally occurring soil phenomena. Most Bend foundations have issues due to the corrosive soil conditions, poor drainage, and poor soil compaction issues. These are the types of situations that will appear in the home as cracks and splits in walls and floors. These are the issues that we will cover in the next section of our guide.

With the types of ground conditions that you will find in the greater Bend, Oregon area, one might think that the kinds of foundation damage to be unique. But, that simply is not the case. Bend foundations show pretty much the same tell-tale signs that you would find anywhere regardless of the surrounding conditions. The symptoms may be subtle at first, and that is when you need to get our foundation repair experts involved. Only trained foundation professional like ours can tell you what is expected and what shouldn’t occur.

The walls of your full or half-basement are the walls of your foundation. If your basement begins showing any of the following signs, do not hesitate to call Regional Foundation Repair. We have the trained technicians who can tell you if you need not worry or need our expert foundation repair services. Be on the look-out for these conditions;

• Horizontal cracks in walls
• Vertical cracks in walls
• Stair stepped cracks in walls
• Widening crack in a concrete slab floor
• Uneven door frames causing doors not to close properly
• Window frames that won’t facilitate window movement
• Walls pulling away from ceilings
• Walls pulling away from floors
• Concrete floor slabs uneven (buckling)

Again, we expect that some cracks in the concrete slab floor and the concrete block walls appear as part of your home settling. The cracks that go beyond normal settling are the ones that further cause severe foundation damage. One item not mentioned above is damage caused when you find standing water on your basement floor. This standing water is the basement’s way of telling you that the waterproofing has failed, and significant foundation damage is right around the corner. When these signs become evident, reach out to our foundation repair experts before it’s too late.

When foundation problems reach a certain degree of failure, it is wise on your part to seek the services of our structural engineers to formulate a plan for the repairs needed to make the foundation whole again.

Also, keep in mind that should you either be buying or possibly selling your Bend, Oregon home, making the report of our structural engineers part of the closing process can benefit all parties involved. If you are the buyer, you know you are getting a safe, sound, and certified foundation or getting the information you need to make the foundation safe and sound. Structural engineer’s reports are worth their weight in gold, and the fee that they charge for their services are far less than what you would have to pay for a complete foundation restoration. Perhaps you are selling your home, and you made repairs to the foundation within the past five years. The certification from our structural engineers can put the mind of your prospective buyer at ease about the quality of the foundation they are getting in their new home. Either way, you should secure the services of our structural engineer who have absolutely nothing to gain from the sale of the house.

When foundation repairs are needed, so too is the associated money required to pay for it. Foundation repairs are anything but cheap. Foundation repairs also are the type of repairs where no two are exactly alike. Every foundation is different; therefore, every foundation repair cost will differ. That is why we have posted the averages of foundation repair costs here. These standard costs will give you an idea of where the starting point will be according to the almighty dollar sign. So, let’s take a look at the average low, high, and overall average cost of a foundation repair in Bend, Oregon;

• Average low cost for a foundation repair in Bend, OR: $340
• Average high cost for a foundation repair in Bend, OR: $25,430
• Average total cost paid for a foundation repair in Bend, OR: $4,296

These will give you an idea of what your foundation repair could be. These averages also include such items as;

• $5 to $9 per square foot for materials
• Average labor costs to repair a foundation in Bend, OR
• Associated project costs (components, machinery, and clean-up fees)

These averages do not include such items as;

• Permit costs for a foundation repair in Bend, OR
• Inspection of a foundation repair in Bend, OR
• Material and supplies local sales tax
• Materials and supplies state sales tax

There is one scenario that would be worse than the numbers that are quoted as averages here. That would be the foundation that goes unnoticed and left to its demise. Be proactive in your foundation’s overall health. Keep a sharp eye on its condition, and contact us to intervene when anything out of the ordinary begins to crop up.

We have discussed Bend’s soil quality in each section of this guide to some extent. The reason behind that is the contents that are not healthy for a home’s foundation to thrive affects the soil quality in and around the greater Bend, Oregon area. There has to be a certain level of each of the items to facilitate a healthy footing for a foundation, and the soil in Bend is not that good.

Some experts argue that when Mt. Saint Helens erupted, the soil in the northwestern states as a whole became useless for generations to come due to the thick layer of life-choking ash the eruption left. These assumptions are correct to a point. There is a five-year plan to make the soil in this area better. According to The University of Oregon, conservation measures are being taken to restore the condition of the ground. Implementation is done every five years to not put the soil in shock with too much sudden change at one time.

That is all fine and good for the soil’s overall health for our future generations. But what about here and now? According to the trusty USDA soil analysis for Bend, Oregon, the soil that is present in its condition today is expansive soil type with large volumes of clay that will retain water and form voids under foundations causing them to fail. Then, the soil’s pH level and the same expansive soil are also corrosive due to a high pH volume. The soil in Bend can and does affect your foundation, and the best plan of attack is to get our foundation professionals involved as quickly as humanly possible. Time is of the essence when concerned with soil quality and foundations of dwellings in Bend, Oregon.