Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Petaluma
Foundation issues have some possible causes. Here are the most prevalent ones for Petaluma residents:
- Drought conditions: Petaluma is prone to drought. The absence of rainfall and fluctuating humidity levels each season lead to ever-shifting soil. The resulting soil settlement can move and damage your foundation.
- Standing water: Water accumulation around your home can harm your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your drainage system doesn't reach.
- Aging plumbing: The average Petaluma home construction year is 1976. 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.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can enter a home's foundation through cracks, and may exert pressure that leads to your foundation fracturing, pipes being damaged, and overall structural weakening.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
When choosing a foundation repair company, you should consider your personal priorities. Ask each company on your list about the following qualities.
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 building regulations, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
One of the easiest ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to go to its website. Look for the company's years in business and the qualifications its team holds. Many top companies provide educational content for potential customers.
Customer Reviews
We recommend 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 expressed satisfaction or filed complaints. Pay special attention to what customers say about company warranties. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. Instead, discover how a company handles them. If the management team proactively and consistently resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, shows more negative reviews than positive ones, and doesn't communicate effectively, you should avoid working with it.
Lastly, we encourage you to search different websites, like Trustpilot and Google, for other reviews.
Foundation Repair Cost in Petaluma
The price of your foundation repair project can range widely based on the extent of the issues and what must be fixed. For minor foundation cracking and settling problems, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is substantial damage, the normal cost falls at about $3,400. 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 | $390 |
Leak Repair | $3,196 |
Stabilization | $5,583 |
Underpinning | $1,491 |
Waterproofing | $3,537 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Petaluma
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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)