Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Martinez
A few frequent reasons why Martinez homeowners suffer from foundation woes include:
- Standing water: Standing water around your home can be menacing to your foundation's integrity, especially when it gathers in areas your drainage system doesn't protect.
- Aging plumbing: The average Martinez home construction year is 1974. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't completed properly could lead to your foundation settling.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through cracks, and may create stress that results in your foundation breaking, pipes leaking, and overall structural weakening.
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 reliable foundation repair company. Assess each contractor using the following criteria:
Licensing and Experience
The Golden State issues many different kinds of contracting licenses, and foundation companies often have more than one. You can verify a company's licensing information through the Contractors State License Board, a division of the California Department of Consumer Affairs. Look for a company with a General Building Contractor, General Engineering Contractor, C-8 Concrete, or C-61 Pile Driving credential. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through the information its team gives you. Ask about its inspection methods, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
Contractor websites are excellent places to do your research. Typically, a business will mention how long it's been operating. It might also share articles to help interested parties.
Customer Reviews
We recommend checking the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to determine 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 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 well, you should think twice about working with it.
Finally, we encourage you to search additional sites, like Trustpilot and Google, for more opinions.
Foundation Repair Cost in Martinez
Foundation repair costs can range quite widely based on the degree of the problems and what must be done to fix them. For minor foundation fracturing and settling concerns, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is significant damage, the average cost will be around $3,200. More involved jobs involving excavation, helical piers, or major concrete leveling could run you $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 Martinez
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Martinez?
What are the different types of foundations in Martinez?
When do I need to waterproof my foundation?
Note that there are two kinds of waterproofing. Interior waterproofing involves installing sump pumps and drains or using sealants around a cellar. Exterior waterproofing is usually less expensive. It involves installing exterior drains and creating physical barriers between your foundation and yard.
Do I need to leave my home for foundation repair work?
That said, foundation repair crews use heavy machinery, and you'll occasionally experience loud noises or tremors. If either of these will disturb you, you might prefer to leave and return when the crew is finished.
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)