How to choose a foundation repair contractor?
Many of our Los Angeles based clients tell us that the purchase of their home was the biggest financial investment they ever made! And if you’re like most homeowners, you are probably also worried about the condition of your home and want to keep it maintained as well as possible, given your financial resources. What makes home maintenance in the Greater Los Angeles region more complicated, is the clay soil that our homes are built on (which expands and contracts with our seasons) as well as the fact that our homes are subjected to exceptional stresses from periodic seismic activity!
These factors make it more likely than not, that your home’s foundation will require attention, and at least an inspection, to ensure that it is in good shape and safeguarding your home as it is intended to do. It is obligatory for all homeowners in Los Angeles to inspect the condition of their home’s foundation periodically, and failure to do so can really cost the unsuspecting homeowner dearly during the next earthquake!
And if you’ve already had a home foundation inspection, and know that your foundation needs repair or replacement, before you Google, “home foundation repair contractors near me”, here are three key considerations you should keep in prior to hiring any such contractors!
What are the factors to consider when selecting a foundation contractor?
All foundation repair contractors in Los Angeles are not created equal. It has to be acknowledged that some contractors out there are what you might call, “fly-by-night” operations, and by that we mean they are not trustworthy, may not be licensed, and may not even truly know what they are doing. Not every contractor is a foundation “expert” and not every contractor is good at foundation repair! When evaluating whether or not to hire a contractor, you must ask the potential contractor the following questions:
- How long have you been in business? (the longer, the better!)
- How long have you been repairing home foundations, and how many foundations have you repaired? (the longer and more, the better!)
- How long have you had your contractor’s license? (again, the longer the better!)
- Is the license now, and has it always been, under your own name? (it should be!)
- Are you both bonded and have Workmen’s Compensation and Liability insurance? (look for your contractor to be both bonded and insured!)
- Do you use your own work crews, or do you use subcontractors to do the work? (when contractors use their own crews, they are able to supervise and practice quality control!)
- Do you work from the back of your pickup truck, or do you have an office with a street address, staff, receptionist, etc.? (you want to be able to reach your contractor quickly and easily!)
Just in case you were wondering, Weinstein Construction has been in business for over 45 years and we have repaired over 1,000 foundations during that time! Our business license is (and always has been) under Mr. Weinstein’s name. We have always been bonded and we always carry both Workmen’s Compensation and Liability insurance! We certainly have a large office and staff ready to answer any of your questions, and we always use our own work crews!
How to evaluate a contractor’s foundation repair proposal?
There are many factors that go into putting together a cost proposal for repairing a home’s foundation. These include, among others, the extent of the damage, the suggested repair methods, and the cost of materials. As such, if you receive a low-priced bid from a contractor, you must do a thorough comparison between the lower-priced and the higher-priced proposals, to make sure that both proposals discuss:
- The same repair method/s (unqualified contractors may be using the wrong method for repairing the damage!)
- The same number of locations being affected and repaired, including repair dimensions (a lower-priced bid may be cutting corners, using fewer piers, or correcting fewer areas!)
- The same materials used for repair (not all repair materials are created equal!)
Just in case you were wondering, at Weinstein Construction, you will get an honest and thoughtful proposal that takes into consideration the best solution to your foundation issue, at an affordable price to most homeowner budgets!
Are foundation repairs covered by warranty?
Yes! Make sure you get a warranty for the foundation work! If a contractor is not willing to guarantee the quality of their repair work with a warranty, simply walk away. It’s as simple as that! Moreover, you must always remember that a warranty is only as good as the contractor who backs it. In this respect, if your contractor has only been in business for a few years, shows up in a dirty old truck, and has little experience in foundation repair, you must ask yourself, “how long will this company continue in business?” and “Will this company take care of me if things go wrong?”
Just in case you were wondering, at Weinstein Construction, we stand behind our repair work, we guarantee our foundation repair services, and we always go the “extra mile” for our clients! That’s why we have been in the foundation repair business for over 45 years!
If you are searching for “foundation repair cost near me” or “foundation repair specialist near me”, you’ll be pleased to know that Weinstein Construction’s Los Angeles foundation repair crews work all over the region and will absolutely have the right foundation solution for you! Call us today at (818) 855-5752 for a free inspection of your home’s foundation! We also offer complete foundation replacement, as well as basement foundation waterproofing, leaky basement repair, foundation cracks repair, and basement waterproofing. Moreover, our professionals can also design and install French drain and drainage mitigation systems!
