Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Elmhurst
A few factors can lead to foundation issues. These are the most widespread ones for Elmhurst residents:
- Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't performed to standard could result in your foundation settling.
- Aging plumbing: Elmhurst has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1960. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Standing water: Standing water around your home can be menacing to your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't protect.
- Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plunge, topsoil freezes rapidly and lower layers can't expand, pushing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can intrude into a home's foundation through crevices, and may apply force that leads to your foundation breaking, pipes leaking, and overall structural weakening.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
When choosing a foundation contractor, you should consider your personal priorities. Ask each provider on your list about the following qualities.
Licensing and Experience
Illinois doesn't issue contractor licenses at the state level, but larger cities in the Land of Lincoln will usually have their own licensing requirements and exams. We recommend contacting your local government office for more information before you begin your company search. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about what local codes apply to your project, how its team will draft plans and pull permits, and how the company inspects foundations.
Contractor websites are excellent places to do your research. Typically, a foundation company will disclose how long it's been operating. It might also publish other content to help interested parties.
Customer Reviews
We advise examining the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to find out whether it's accredited and has a good customer review score. You can see whether other homeowners have shared satisfaction or filed complaints. Pay special attention to what customers say about company warranties. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. You want to discover how a company responds to them. If the management team consistently and proactively resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, has more negative reviews, and doesn't communicate well, you should avoid working with it.
Lastly, we encourage you to search additional sites, including Trustpilot and Google, for other reviews.
Foundation Repair Cost in Elmhurst
The price of foundation repair can differ quite significantly depending on the scale of the issues and what's needed to resolve them. For minor foundation cracking and settling concerns, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is considerable deterioration, the average cost falls at about $3,000. More complex projects involving digging, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost upwards of $6,900. Below are the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $357 |
Leak Repair | $2,881 |
Stabilization | $4,999 |
Underpinning | $1,368 |
Waterproofing | $3,184 |
Ready to Get a Quote on Your Foundation Repair Project?
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Elmhurst
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Elmhurst?
When would I need a foundation replacement, and when could I just get a repair?
What's the most popular foundation type in Elmhurst?
What's the time to complete a typical foundation repair job?
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviewsteam@thisoldhousereviews.com.
More Foundation Resources
National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau (American Communities Survey)