Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Burien
A few factors can contribute to foundation issues. Here are the most widespread ones for Burien residents:
- Soil composition: Soil with large sand or clay concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Burien 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.
- Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't completed to standard could lead to your foundation settling.
- Standing water: Water accumulation around your home can be menacing to your foundation's integrity, especially when it gathers in areas your gutters don't reach.
- Aging plumbing: Burien has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1964. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
- Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through crevices, and may exert pressure that leads to your foundation fracturing, pipes rupturing, and overall structural destabilization.
How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company
When choosing a foundation contractor, you should consider your personal priorities. Ask each company on your list about the following qualities.
Licensing and Experience
Washington foundation repair companies can be either general or specialty contractors. Look for companies with a concrete certification, showing that they follow best practices in the foundation field. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through the details its representatives share. Ask about its inspection methods, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.
One of the most effective ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to find its website. Look for the company's years in business and what credentials its team holds. Many well-known companies publish educational content for potential customers.
Customer Reviews
Before signing a contract with a company, examine its online profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can examine both complaints and positive reviews. Complaints don't mean a contractor is unreliable. BBB reviews show how the company addressed complaints. It's a positive sign if the company has fixed issues proactively and favorably. You should stay away from a company with numerous negative reviews, no licensure, and no communication regarding issues.
Foundation Repair Cost in Burien
The cost of foundation repair can vary quite a bit depending on the scale of the issues and what needs to be done to fix them. For minor foundation fractures and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is substantial damage, the average cost will likely fall around $3,000. More complex jobs involving excavation, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $6,900 or more. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.
Common Foundation Repair Services | Average Cost |
---|---|
Crack Repair | $358 |
Leak Repair | $2,889 |
Stabilization | $5,014 |
Underpinning | $1,371 |
Waterproofing | $3,193 |
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Frequently Asked Questions About Foundation Repair in Burien
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More Foundation Resources
National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology
Sources
U.S. Census Bureau (American Communities Survey)