Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Cape Girardeau
Some typical reasons why Cape Girardeau homeowners experience foundation problems include:
- Aging plumbing: The average Cape Girardeau home construction year is 1976. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't done to standard could result in your foundation settling.
- Soil composition: Soil with large sand or clay concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Cape Girardeau experiences, the soil absorbs moisture like a sponge, then releases it in dry seasons. The constant expansion and contraction presses against nearby foundations, even if the foundations stay dry.
- Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be menacing to your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your drainage system doesn't protect.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through crevices, and may exert pressure that results in your foundation fracturing, pipes rupturing, and overall structural deterioration.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
Your home's foundation is crucial to its stability, so it's important to work with a quality foundation repair firm. Assess each firm using the following criteria:
Licensing and Experience
Missouri doesn't issue contractor licenses, but foundation repair companies must still register with the Secretary of State. Local governments often have their own licensing requirements for contractors. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about what local codes apply to your project, how the company inspects foundations, and how its team will draft plans and pull permits.
One of the easiest ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to find its website. Look for the company's years in business and the qualifications its team holds. Many prominent companies publish educational content for prospective customers.
Customer Reviews
We suggest looking into the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to determine whether it's accredited and has a good customer review score. You can check whether other homeowners have reported satisfaction or filed complaints. Pay special attention to what customers say about company warranties. Negative feedback doesn't mean a contractor is unreliable. BBB reviews show how the company dealt with complaints. It's a positive sign if the company has settled 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 Cape Girardeau
The price of foundation repair can vary substantially depending on the scale of the issues and what needs to be fixed. For minor foundation cracking and settling concerns, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is significant deterioration, the normal cost is about $2,500. More involved projects requiring digging, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $6,700+. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $300 |
Leak Repair | $2,333 |
Stabilization | $3,983 |
Underpinning | $1,154 |
Waterproofing | $2,568 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Cape Girardeau
How much does foundation repair cost in Cape Girardeau?
Is foundation repair covered under my homeowners insurance?
What preventive measures can I take to avoid foundation issues?
- Ensure your home's gutters and downspouts are in good condition and direct water away from your foundation to prevent water accumulation.
- Irrigate the soil around your foundation evenly, especially during dry spells, to prevent shrinking and expansion.
- If possible, grade the soil around your home to slope away from your foundation, promoting water drainage and minimizing the risk of foundation issues.
- Inspect your foundation for signs of damage, and repair any issues promptly.
What are some "red flags" indicating a foundation company to avoid?
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More Foundation Resources
National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau (American Communities Survey)