Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Fair Lawn
A few factors can lead to foundation issues. These are the most widespread ones for Fair Lawn residents:
- Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be a menace to your foundation's integrity, especially when it gathers in areas your drainage system doesn't cover.
- Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plunge, topsoil abruptly ices over and lower layers can't expand, forcing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
- Soil composition: Soil with large clay or sand concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Fair Lawn 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.
- Aging plumbing: Fair Lawn has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1953. 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 enter a home's foundation through crevices, and may create stress that causes your foundation breaking, pipes being damaged, and overall structural destabilization.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
Choosing a foundation provider doesn't have to be complicated. We encourage you to write down what you want most in a company, then evaluate each contractor on your list against these qualities.
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. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through what its representatives say. Ask about its inspection methods, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
Contractor websites are excellent places to do your research. Usually, a business will disclose how long it's been in the industry. It might also publish blog posts to help prospective customers.
Customer Reviews
We recommend reviewing the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to determine whether it's accredited and has a high 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. Instead, 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 more negative reviews, and doesn't communicate effectively, you should think twice about working with it.
Finally, we encourage you to search other platforms, like Trustpilot and Google, for additional feedback.
Foundation Repair Cost in Fair Lawn
Foundation repair costs can range quite widely based on the degree 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 $1,800. However, if there is significant destruction, the normal cost will be around $2,600. More intricate jobs involving digging, helical piers, or major concrete leveling could run you $6,800. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $317 |
Leak Repair | $2,496 |
Stabilization | $4,286 |
Underpinning | $1,218 |
Waterproofing | $2,752 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Fair Lawn
What will I pay to repair my foundation in Fair Lawn?
Can a foundation always be fixed?
Is foundation repair covered under my homeowners insurance?
What preventive measures can I take to avoid foundation issues?
- Ensure your home's gutters and downspouts are in good condition and direct water away from your foundation to avoid water accumulation.
- Water the soil around your foundation consistently, especially during dry spells, to prevent expansion and shrinking.
- If possible, grade the soil around your home to slope away from your foundation, promoting water drainage and minimizing the risk of foundation issues.
- Check your foundation for cracks, and repair any issues promptly.
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)