Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Wilmington
A home in Wilmington might experience foundation issues for various reasons. Some are specific to the local environment, while others are common nationwide. They include:
- Standing water: Water accumulation around your home can threaten your foundation's integrity, especially when it collects in areas your gutters don't protect.
- Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't done to standard could result in your foundation settling.
- Soil composition: Soil with large clay or sand concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Wilmington receives, the soil soaks up 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.
- Aging plumbing: Wilmington has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1958. Many of these properties use 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 intrude into a home's foundation through crevices, and may apply force that leads to your foundation fracturing, pipes rupturing, and overall structural weakening.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
Choosing a foundation provider doesn't have to be challenging. We encourage you to write down what you expect most in a contractor, then evaluate each provider on your selection against these characteristics.
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 building regulations, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
One of the most effective ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to browse its website. Look for the company's years in business and what credentials its team holds. Many leading companies offer educational content for future customers.
Customer Reviews
Before choosing a company, review its online profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can examine both positive reviews and complaints. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. Instead, discover how a company handles them. If the management team consistently and proactively 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 recommend you search additional sites, such as Trustpilot and Google, for other reviews.
Foundation Repair Cost in Wilmington
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 fissures and settling problems, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is considerable damage, the average cost lands at about $3,200. More intricate projects involving tunneling, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost upwards of $7,000. See below the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $370 |
Leak Repair | $3,003 |
Stabilization | $5,225 |
Underpinning | $1,416 |
Waterproofing | $3,320 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Wilmington
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Wilmington?
Can a foundation always be fixed?
Will my homeowners insurance cover foundation repair?
What are some "red flags" indicating a foundation company to avoid?
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)