Sidewalks and Foundation Repair

Can your sidewalks give you a hint?

Expansive soil is #1 foundation repairs causes in Texas. Sidewalk heaving is very often an indicator of the ground near your house shifting, swelling and shrinking. In some cases large trees and their root system can also lift and destroy sidewalks and foundations but the signs of roots protruding thru the concrete are evident. If you think a root system is causing the lifting, have a landscape expert look at your situation.

Sidewalks and Foundation Problems

Watering, ground sloping and possible leaks in irrigation system only make things worse. If you need help figuring out the condition of your foundation, give us a call.

Premier Foundation Repair Inc.

Expansive Soil

Expansive Soils

This great and very informative presentation covers many aspect of our soil in North Texas and all around DFW. This presentation was created by Dr. J David Rogers At Missouri University of Science and Technology. It is shown here with Dr. Rogers consent.

We are sure any homeowner will find all this information very compelling and eye opening in understanding the issue of foundation repairs. We believe an educated consumer will always be a better consumer. Thank you Dr. Rogers from all of us at http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com

Dallas-area housing market hits an all-time high in first half of 2013 - Dallas Morning News

See on Scoop.it - dallas home news

Dallas Morning News Dallas-area housing market hits an all-time high in first half of 2013 Dallas Morning News At midyear, some neighborhoods including Far North Dallas, Coppell, Richardson and Grapevine had less than a 11/2-month supply of homes...

Premier Foundation Repair Dallas's insight:

Should you buy a house now? Maybe.... http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com/foundation/should-you-buy-a-house-with-foundation-repairs/

See on www.dallasnews.com

Great job showing soaker hoses benefits

This is a nice .pdf with good visuals on why your garden will benefit from soaker hoses...and so will your residence's foundation.  

http://www.savingwater.org/docs/successwithsoakerhoses.pdf

Happy Father's Day with long lasting gift ideas.

Need a father’s day gift that he surely will appreciate?

How many times can you buy ‘best dad ever’ mugs and t-shirts, really? This year, give him a gift that will save money and free up his time to spend with his loved ones. Here are a few great ideas:

1. Install soaker hoses around the foundation of the family residence. Have a game plan by tracing where the hoses should go before you start digging. Always start the project before the day gets hot and take frequent breaks to hydrate. If you need help with how-to make this project happen, visit our blog article on how to prevent foundation repairs with the proper use of soaker hoses here.
2. Install root barriers in the garden between the large trees and the residence foundation. Large trees can have massive root systems that can damage the foundation of your house by absorbing all the moisture out of the ground.
3. Clean out the gutters and down spouts. Have someone else in the family with you since you will be up on a latter most of the time. Afterwards, install gutter guards to help with the maintenance in the future.
4. Check and adjust the sprinkler’s head and make sure the ground around the house is getting the right amount of water and there are no wasteful leaks and broken heads. Dallas is already in a perennial drought and we need to help conserve as much water as possible.
5. Least but not last, clean out that garage! You know he see it every day when he comes home from work.

Those gifts idea are fairly inexpensive. The biggest investment will be your time and sweat. They will save your family money and free up Dad’s time to go out to dinner with the family or fire up the charcoal for some outdoor cooking. Furthermore, these are gifts that keep-on-giving long after Father’s Day is over and will surely put a smile on your proudest, greatest Dad on earth.

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Premier Foundation Repair Inc.

3767 Forest Ln, Dallas, TX 75244(972) 417-0823 (800) 705-7370 ‎

French Drains and Foundation Repairs

Water standing around your foundation can cause foundation repairs.

Do a quick check around your house after these spring showers we have had in Dallas. If you see water standing around your foundation, you may need to install a French drain. A French drain is a drainage system that allows water to filter down through several inches of gravel, into a pipe and flow away from your property. Building a French drain will make you remember of muscles you forgot you had, but is well worth your pain and suffering.

Step#1 -Find out where your water stands for long periods of time. This is easier to do and much more evident after a long storm has passed. Look for soggy, swampy lawns and decide which way is best to drain the water out of your yard. Aim for the natural low point going out of your yard and mark the path with spray paint.

Step#2 - Before you start digging, always check with your municipality and call 1-800-DIG-TESS to make sure you are safe and not digging into gas lines, power lines and so forth.

Step#3 - Put a stake at the beginning point of your French drain line and another one at the end. Tie a string on both stakes and hang a line level on it (make sure the string is tight) to make sure you are sloping in the right direction.

Step#4 -The slight downward slope should be 1 inch for every 100 feet. Mark your second stake by lowering the string and mark the spot.

Step#5 - Start digging a trench between the two stakes following the path you marked earlier. Reserve the dirt and turf for later use. Dig a trench 6 inches wide and 2 feet deep. As you dig, periodically measure from the string to the bottom of the trench. To ensure a proper slope, there must be a constant 2 feet.

Step#6 - Shovel 2-3 inches of gravel into the bottom of the trench. The drain pipe needs to be laid on top of the gravel. Re-check the slope and make sure you don’t have any high spots in the line that will prevent draining. Cover the pipe with landscaping fabric to prevent the pipe for clogging.

Step 7 - Cover the fabric with more gravel all the way up to two inches from the surface of the yard. Shovel the saved dirt and turf over the gravel to fill up the trench.  Flatten the new dirt over the trench with a hand tamper.

Foundation Problems Scaring Buyers Away?

Selling a home with foundation problems

As if it wasn't hard enough to sell your home, foundation problems can have a chilling effect on a possible hot buyer.

"If the house goes on the market, signs of foundation problems are most likely a deal breaker." says Julie, owner of Premier Foundation Repair. "Calls from homeowners who have lost a possible buyer due to evidence of foundation problems are not uncommon...in fact, we get calls like that every day"

Foundations repairs can range from $4,000 to $40,000 depending of the severity of the damage. One thing is for sure, delaying and postponing the repairs is not going to make repairs cheaper or easier. Premier Foundation Repair has partnered with great financial institutions to help homeowners with financing for the repairs.

http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com/financing.html

Homeowners can sometime do a quick inspection and notice foundation problems relatively easily. Some foundation problems are:

1. Sticking doors,
2. Cracked tiles
3. Cracked sheetrock around the windows
4. Cracks in the bricks around the perimeter of the house

Premier Foundation Repair has a few typical photos showing the common signs of foundation problems here

http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com/foundation-repairs-Dallas-problems.html

Getting the foundation repairs done will help the selling of the house go through smoother, particularly when the foundation repairs are backed by a transferable warranty issued by a long standing, reputable company.

If you need help with a professional opinion, call Premier Foundation Repair and get the ball rolling...it's just something that can not be ignored. Sometimes things are not as bad as you think and the repairs can be done quickly and not for as much as the homeowner may think.

Should You Buy a House with Foundation Repairs?

Should You Buy a House with Foundation Repairs?

Without a doubt!! If you can verify that the repairs were done by a good, professional repair company and if you can rest assured the work is still under warranty, go ahead!

In fact, it maybe to your advantage and may help in the negotiation of the purchase price.

Make sure a reputable, knowledgable inspector checks out the foundations. It is a great idea to get a second or third opinion. Some of the best foundation inspectors are actually working for foundation repair companies. Have one of the inspector come out and give you an assessment of your situation.

Do also an inspection yourself. Here is a checklist for your to follow

Foundation Repairs Secret

Our little secret? Finding a house that has or has had foundation problems maybe a GOOD thing.

If you find a house that has had foundation repairs already done, do not be afraid of considering its purchase solely based on that fact. If the repairs were done correctly, fully disclosed and with proper transferable warranty, this could actually be an asset. Since the entire DFW metroplex is built on very expansive soil, remember the old saying - “There are two type of homes in Dallas, those with foundation repairs already done and those that still need to have it done”.

Conversely, if the house you ‘must have’ is just beginning to shows signs of foundation troubles make sure your inspector is experienced in assessing distressed properties. If the inspector finds a need to perform foundation repairs, don’t turn your back to the property. Instead, discuss possible solutions, adjust the price you are willing to pay based on the extend of the repairs. Discuss with your real estate agent how to implement the repairs and make sure the following is described in writing:

1. What are the repairs that need to be completed
2. Who is doing the repair. This should be a contractor of YOUR choice.
3. Time of completion for the job.
4. Who does the final inspection and how is it determined that job is completed.
5. Who’s paying for it.
6. How is it going to be handled if the job is NOT completed satisfactorily.

With spring fever here, this is the time when the residential market is the most active. If you are in the process of looking for a new house, do your homework and inspections, paying particular attention to the home's foundations.

Keep an open mind and use the house foundation conditions to your advantage.

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PremierFoundationRepair.com

Water Standing Next to Your Foundations

North Texas just had a pretty intense storm come through over the week-end. If after the storm you noticed wafer standing around the foundation of your residence, it is time to address the problem. Standing water causes the North Texas soil to become over saturated and swell up. Once the dryer climate will start, that same soil will shrink incredibly, causing stress to the foundations of your residence.

Remember the a constant (or as constant as it can be) moisture in the ground is the key to your residence foundation's health. Have your drainage issues addressed soon!

Prevent Foundation Repairs

Prevent Foundation Repair.

Here are some ideas

PremierFoundationRepair.com has a new checklist to help preventing foundation repair in Dallas. Similarly to 2012, this year, due to the severe drought conditions, several cities have been forced to mandate watering restrictions even in the middle of winter.

Foundation repairs in Dallas are a common occurrence says Julie from Premier Foundation Repairs Inc. "The foundation of your house in Dallas are unfortunately sitting on very expansive soils. This type of soil is very sensitive to moisture, causing large amount of swelling and shrinking depending on how much water is present".

Premier Foundation Repair Inc. has few suggestions for the homeowners that will help prevent foundation repair

1. Homeowners should check the drainage around their residence by making sure gutters and spouts drain away from the foundations. By far the most important improvement a homeowner can do to the residence is to install gutters and down spouts.

2. Plumbing leaks under the house foundations are not uncommon. The homeowner can have a plumbing pressure test done to make sure there are no leaks under the slab.

3. The ground moisture around the home's perimeter should remain as constant as possible. Premier Foundation Repairs Inc. recommends periodical use of a sprinkler system and soaker hoses. Draining water from the yard away from the house is just as important as watering the yard. Some solutions include sloping the grounds (grading), french drains, in same cases a pit and a sub pump are necessary to evacuate the water.

The condition of the ground around the slab. Too wet, with standing water or cracked and pulled away from the slab are indications of too much or not enough watering.

A slightly more precise method is to use a long screw driver and insert it into the ground. If the screw driver comes out completely dry more water should be applied to the ground. If the screw driver comes out caked with mud, the homeowners should reduce the about of water. The screw driver should come out moist but not completely wet of bone dry.

Also, the vegetation around the the foundations like flower beds, bushes and ground covers also will give you and indication of the moisture in the ground.

Most likely, using all these methods together will give the homeowner the best idea of the conditions and health of the residence's foundations. Over time the homeowner can determine the right amount of watering during the different weather conditions.

If a residence shows signs of foundation problems, the customer needs to remember that the root cause, most likely a moisture level issue, will need to be addressed in order for the foundation repairs to last permanently.

Premier Foundation Repair Inc has performed thousands of foundation repairs in Dallas and can evaluate each customer individual situation and unique needs. Premier Foundation Repair Inc in Dallas can be reached at 3767 Forest Ln Dallas, TX 75244. Telephone (972) 417-0823. Website: http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com

More Foundation Repairs News :) Our super nice customer's reviews

This is the excerpt from the latest one, again from Angie's list. Thank you!

...I has several estimates from foundation companies before deciding on Premier.  I even checked the BBB and Angie's List.  I went with them for 2 reasons: 1.)  They were much less expensive than some of the other companies.  Some estimates I recveived were over $5,000 for pretty much the same work.  2.) I preferred their poured concrete pier method over the pushed pier methods of most of the other companies. Do your research!...

Before you buy a house, check the foundations.

When a new home is put on the market, if the house had prior foundation problems and repairs, it should be disclosed. However, that does not happen all the time. To avoid ugly surprises later, make sure you do an inspection of your future home's foundation. Most foundation repair companies can visit the residence and relate to you their findings, including any possible corrections you can make to the yard, drainage, gutters, landscape to reduce the risk of you every needing foundation repairs. Premier Foundation Repair website at www.premierfoundationrepair.com has tips on what to look for to make the right decision.

This Summer is Almost over...

This is an article that always comes handy once our Texas scorching summer is over. Help your foundations and prevent foundation repairs. http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com/foundation-repairs/index.html

The Olympics are over, the drought is not.

Status of Foundation repairs in Dallas.

The Olympic games are officially over. Can't wait for Rio in four years. While watching the closing ceremony, our area was once again missed by the rain. If you were lucky, last night you may have seen some rain in the Fort Worth areas but for most of the region, the ground is as dry as ever. This is what I saw, from my car, driving around while working. It is amazing how dry things are!

If you need help get in touch with us...don't put it off, it won't get better over time. We have financing option to help you get the the foundation repairs done. www.premierfoundationrepair.com

New Angie's List Report for foundation repairs.

Last report from Angie's list of today...got an "A" again :)Report Date: August 08, 2012

Overall -A Price - A Quality - A Responsiveness - A Punctuality - A Professionalism - A

Member Comments: "We contacted five companies to give us estimates. We honestly thought we were going to hear the same thing. Julie came to our house and explained her company's process for installing piers. She was extremely straightforward and professional. We liked her knowledge and method for pier installation. The next week we contacted her to begin the work. Everything went well."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Premier-Foundation-Repair/150062511691063

http://www.premierfoundationrepair.com/

Foundation Problems and issues around town.

This extreme drought is causing some serious foundation problems. Some of the recent finding from the filed:

This chimney is finally giving up. This is a good example of why over time, foundation problems don't get better but keep getting worst.

The science behind expansive soils.

Want to know more about expansive soils and how it can damage your foundation? Here, without sales pitches, get the science of it. From the University of Missouri and Prof Mr. Rogers. Foundation Repairs and Expansive Soil

Foundation Repairs and Residential Landscape

How foundation repairs relate to residential landscape?

Over the years, homeowners have heard many conflicting stories about how landscaping can cause foundation problem and induce foundation repairs.

Of course the benefit of landscaping are many and easily outweigh the potential negatives, specially if the landscaping is done with a correct plan. When homeowners plan the landscape, they should keep in mind the visible part of the landscape above ground but also what's under the surface, primarily the root systems.

Trees are usually the most significant element in a landscape design. They can greatly affect the residence energy power consumption by providing shade and increase the property value. However, there have been studies where it has been proven that large trees' root system affect the moisture content of the subgrade and can cause foundation damage.

If the residence was build on land where the trees where already established and there was adequate watering after the foundation was put in place, there is a good chance to minimize impact by promoting root growth away from the foundation. When the homeowners water the tree, it should be done on the side of the tree away from the house  so that the new roots will grow in that direction to satisfy the tree's watering requirements.

If the root system extend under the house foundations, it maybe necessary to install a root barrier. When installing a root barrier, homeowners should place it as far away as possible from the tree in order to reduce the damage to the tree. The barrier should at least 4 feet deep and be made of a material capable of blocking the roots, typically reinforced concrete or corrugated hard plastic.

Sufficient watering is essential to the tree and to prevent foundation repairs. Always water the tree one the side away from the house if possible to encourage root growth in that direction. A local reputable nursery should be able to help with estimating watering needs.

Of course this is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to having a healthy and balanced environment around the house to prevent large soil moisture levels and therefore damaging the residence's foundations. Homeowners should inspect the slope of the yard, the gutters and downspouts and they sprinkler system to make sure all the components are working properly.

In a very expansive soil substrate, In the end, it is all about moisture levels and keeping them as constant as possible.

Foundation Repairs Article from Texas A&M

The weather is getting hot, the ground is getting dry and you know what than means with our north Texas expansive clay. We hope you enjoy your Fourth of July! but once the partying is over :) take a read at this Texas A&M article we found (it's a PDF) about maintenance of residential foundation in expansive soil. http://fcs.tamu.edu/housing/construction_maintenance_repair/pdf/maintenance-of-existing-foundations.pdf

You will find some good information about gutters, drain systems, soil slope and landscaping. All the good things we always like to talk about.

Ya'll have a great holiday!