Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Rochester
A few factors can contribute to foundation issues. Here are the most widespread ones for Rochester residents:
- Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be a menace to your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your gutters don't protect.
- Aging plumbing: Rochester has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1962. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plummet, topsoil freezes rapidly and lower layers can't expand, pushing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
- Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't completed properly could lead to your foundation settling.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through crevices, and may create stress that results in your foundation breaking, pipes leaking, and overall structural destabilization.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
Your home's foundation is vital to its structural integrity, so it's important to work with a quality foundation repair firm. Assess each company using the following factors:
Licensing and Experience
New York's state government doesn't issue contracting licenses, but cities often choose to require them of foundation companies and other builders. For example, New York City requires foundation and excavating contractors to obtain a "Safety Registration Number" with a concrete work endorsement. They also need to register as a general contractor or home improvement contractor. Talk to representatives to gain further insight into a company's experience. You should ask about local permit ordinances, inspection processes and building codes.
Contractor websites are among the best places to do your research. Usually, a company will display how long it's been in the industry. It might also publish other content to assist potential clients.
Customer Reviews
Before signing a contract with a company, examine its online profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can examine both complaints and positive reviews. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. Instead, discover how a company manages them. If the management team consistently and proactively resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, has an abundance of negative feedback, and doesn't communicate effectively, you should think twice about working with it.
Finally, we recommend you search different websites, including Trustpilot and Google, for more opinions.
Foundation Repair Cost in Rochester
The price of foundation repair can vary substantially based on the scale of the issues and what needs to be fixed. For minor foundation fracturing and settling concerns, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is significant deterioration, the average cost falls at about $3,200. More involved projects requiring excavating, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $7,000+. Below are the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $370 |
Leak Repair | $3,009 |
Stabilization | $5,236 |
Underpinning | $1,418 |
Waterproofing | $3,327 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Rochester
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Rochester?
Can a foundation always be fixed?
Is foundation repair covered under my homeowners insurance?
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)