Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Dover
Foundation issues have a few possible causes. Here are the top ones for Dover residents:
- Soil composition: Soil with large clay or sand concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Dover gets, the soil absorbs moisture like a sponge, then releases it in dry seasons. The constant expansion and contraction presses against nearby foundations, even if the foundations keep dry.
- Standing water: Standing water around your home can harm your foundation's integrity, especially when it collects in areas your gutters don't protect.
- Aging plumbing: While many Dover homes are fairly new, some still use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't performed properly could result in your foundation settling.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can enter a home's foundation through crevices, and may exert pressure that leads to your foundation breaking, pipes leaking, and overall structural deterioration.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
To pick a foundation repair company, you should determine what's most important to you. Use this guide to help you navigate the process.
Licensing and Experience
In Delaware, foundation companies don't have to get a state license, but they must still register with the Delaware Department of Labor. Once a company is registered, it must follow licensing requirements in each city in its service area. We recommend consulting your local government for more information on licensing, registration, and permit requirements. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through what its representatives say. Inquire about its inspection methods, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
Contractor websites are among the best places to do your research. Usually, a foundation company will display how long it's been operating. It might also upload blog posts to help interested parties.
Customer Reviews
We suggest checking the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to determine whether it's accredited and has a high customer review score. You can check 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. Instead, discover how a company responds to them. If the management team proactively and consistently resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, has more negative reviews, and doesn't communicate well, you should think twice about working with it.
Finally, we encourage you to search different websites, like Trustpilot and Google, for more opinions.
Foundation Repair Cost in Dover
The price of your foundation repair project can differ quite significantly depending on the severity of the issues and what needs to be fixed. For minor foundation fracturing and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is significant damage, the normal cost falls at about $2,900. More involved projects requiring excavating, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $6,900+. See below the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $348 |
Leak Repair | $2,795 |
Stabilization | $4,840 |
Underpinning | $1,335 |
Waterproofing | $3,088 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Dover
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Dover?
How long does foundation repair usually take?
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Are there telltale signs I should avoid a particular foundation company?
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)