Foundation Repair Pros: DIY Not a Good Idea
With the plethora of DIY shows on TV and articles available on the internet, it’s becoming increasingly common that people try their hand at a project before bringing the professionals in – including foundation repair. While we’re all for people accomplishing tasks that are within their abilities, there are times when a DIY attempt can become a less than ideal situation, fast.
There are countless times when our team has walked into a dirt cellar where a homeowner tried to make a basement where one couldn’t really exist with a DIY solution. Where the dirt was dug out, the house is now, unfortunately, standing on only a limited amount of support. At this point, homeowners will likely notice shifting in the walls and floors. If you notice shifting, it’s definitely time to call the professionals. Thankfully, we’ve only ever seen three full collapses in our many years in this business, but for us, that’s three too many.
The foundation is the most important part of your most expensive investment (for most of us), so it’s not the kind of thing you want to turn to DIY to solve. Foundation work can be expensive, sure, but the price tag of trying to fix it yourself and failing can be much, much higher. Not to mention it can be a risky move for your family’s safety. A good rule of thumb is this: if it seems like it’s going to be a big undertaking, bring in a professional to check it out before you try to tackle it yourself.
By bringing in an engineer or licensed structural contractor, you get the benefit of a professional opinion, an unbiased point of view, and an eye for details you may have missed. One engineer will be able to give you the full scope of what you’re looking at and what it might entail, but if you’re bringing contractors out to take a look we would recommend getting at least three to see the space and give opinions on the matter as this information and quoted pricing will likely differ from contractor to contractor. Need an opinion on something you were considering repairing or undertaking yourself when it comes to the structural components of your home? Give us a call at 720-202-7015 or contact us, we’re always happy to lend our expertise.