Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Cherry Hill
A few factors can contribute to foundation issues. Here are the most widespread ones for Cherry Hill residents:
- Standing water: Standing water around your home can threaten your foundation's integrity, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't cover.
- Soil composition: Soil with large sand or clay concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Cherry Hill gets, the soil absorbs moisture like a sponge, then releases it in dry seasons. The constant expansion and contraction stresses nearby foundations, even if the foundations stay dry.
- Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't completed properly could lead to your foundation settling.
- Aging plumbing: Cherry Hill has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1965. 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 encroach on a home's foundation through cracks, and may exert pressure that results in your foundation fracturing, pipes being damaged, and overall structural destabilization.
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 contractor. Assess each firm using the following factors:
Licensing and Experience
New Jersey requires home improvement contractors, including foundation companies, to register with the state's Division of Consumer Affairs. They're also required to apply for a home repair contractor license with the Department of Banking and Insurance, which regulates the financial business of construction work. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about how its team will draft plans and pull permits, how the company inspects foundations, and what local codes apply to your project.
One of the best ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to visit 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
When you're researching a company's reputation, head to its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. There, you can find its "letter grade" rating and a list of customer reviews, both positive experiences and complaints. Negative feedback doesn't mean a contractor is unreliable. BBB reviews show how the company handled complaints. It's a good sign if the company has fixed issues favorably and proactively. You should steer clear of a company with more negative reviews, no licensure, and no communication regarding issues.
Foundation Repair Cost in Cherry Hill
Foundation repair costs can range quite widely based on the extent of the problems and what needs to be done to fix them. For minor foundation fissuring and settling problems, you may pay as little as $1,900. However, if there is considerable deterioration, the average cost will be around $3,500. More intricate jobs involving tunneling, helical piers, or major concrete leveling could run you $7,100. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $406 |
Leak Repair | $3,356 |
Stabilization | $5,879 |
Underpinning | $1,553 |
Waterproofing | $3,716 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Cherry Hill
How much does foundation repair cost in Cherry Hill?
What are some signs I need foundation waterproofing?
Note that there are two kinds of waterproofing. Interior waterproofing involves installing drains and sump pumps or using sealants around a crawlspace. Outdoor waterproofing is generally less expensive. It involves installing exterior drains and establishing physical barriers between your foundation and yard.
What's the time to complete a typical foundation repair job?
Do Cherry Hill foundation repair companies offer warranties or guarantees?
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More Foundation Resources
National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau (American Communities Survey)