Published August 24, 2019 | By Foundation Repair Expert Arizona - James Belville

Why Do You Need a Foundation Inspection?

Perhaps you’ve owned your home for many years, and you’ve noticed something that causes you to have some concerns over the condition of your home’s foundation, or maybe you’ve just found your dream home and are ready to sign on the dotted line, a foundation inspection is absolutely necessary. Here are some of the top reasons why you should schedule yours today.

Home Purchase

If you’re buying a home, you are about to make what is likely to be the biggest investment of your life. There are a lot of risks that go beyond the money that you are investing. The safety of your family could be at risk as well.

When problems are identified during a foundation inspection, it gives you the opportunity to do one or two things. First, you’re able to notify the seller that you are terminating the purchase agreement on basis of an unsatisfactory inspection result that makes you uncomfortable with the deal. You will no longer be obligated to follow through with the purchase and can look somewhere else for your dream home.

The other option that you’ll have would be to present a copy of the inspection report to the seller, along with a list of repairs and corrections that need to be completed prior to the close of the sale, or ask that the price is adjusted accordingly. Although the inspection shouldn’t be considered an automatic right to renegotiate, it does give you a strong position to ask. The seller can refuse both, and then you’ll be left with option 1.

Home Owners

Foundation issues can develop over the years, and often they go unnoticed until they lead to significant damages to the home. Often sagging floors are the first sign noticed by the home owners that indicate a foundation problem. Other problems that sometimes alert homeowners to foundation problems include windows that become difficult to open, doors sticking shut and cracks in the basement.

James Belville, a concrete and foundation specialist, says that there are some indicators that home owners can look for to determine if they need to have a professional inspection.

Roof Leaks

Although leaky roofs are a problem all on their own, they are also frequently the cause of foundation problems. Problems with the foundation can form because of exposure to water. Even a slow leak can lead to enough water reaching the home’s foundation that it begins to cause it to break down and shift. Some signs that you have a roof problem to look for include: water stains on your walls or ceilings, damaged drywall, and broken or missing shingles.

Cracks in Walls

Bulging or cracked walls, or walls that have an uneven appearance, could be a sign of a foundation problem. When you notice minor cracks forming, it may be tempting to assume that the house is just “settling” and that it isn’t important, but bigger problems could be hidden behind the walls. A foundation inspection will not only give you peace of mind, it could save you big money in the long run because you’ll react before the problem gets even worse.

Utility Problems

Even a minor shift in the foundation can lead to small water leaks that could cause significant damage to your home or electrical issues that could cause a fire. If you’re experiencing electrical issues, you should schedule an inspection right away to determine the cause. Not only will you save yourself from a possible fire or plumbing disaster, you’ll be able to sleep better at night too.

The longer that foundation problems are left undiscovered, the more damage that can result. If you have any reason at all to suspect that your home has foundation problems, schedule a foundation inspection right away. For the small cost of the inspection, you could save thousands in repair costs by catching the problem early.

Posted in Home Foundation Problems | Tagged chandler

Reviews

We are very pleased with James and his guys. We had three companies come out to look at our foundation problem. James explained exactly what was happening and how to fix it. He was the only person who wanted to actually stop the problem from getting worse and fix it properly. The others companies wanted to do a band aid. This was a case of, you get what you pay for. We wanted it done right and not have to revisit the problem in a couple years and waste money. The guys who did the job were awesome. Hard working and we’re done a day early. Polite and informative. Thanks for giving us confidence.

James saved me close to $8k, identified the root cause of the problem, and we were able to save a large tree.

One of my rental units had buckling of tiles. For the past few months, we’ve had professionals come out and even an insurance agent. Each foundation expert gave us a different advice and we were left confused. From injecting polyurethane around the house to injection slurry at the affected site. Each recommendation costed between $4-$8k. I met with James, very professional. He took a look at the property and within 5 minutes diagnosed the problem and it wasn’t even foundation related! When he told me if was humidity and vapors causing the buckling of the tiles, I kinda thought…this guy believes in voodoo magic. Well, we broke out one the tiles to look underneath and low and behold, the foundation was flat underneath and that the tiles really did pull up. So the fix? Pull out the tiles, re-grout, and set them back in place with grout that allows for expansion such as siliconized grout. Isn’t that crazy?? I also speculated that a large exterior tree may have been the culprit of the ground moving. We went outside looked around and he basically said the tree is fine and does not need to be removed. I gave James a great big hug for really helping us with this situation.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Lesson learned: For something as big as a foundation issue, make sure to get several opinions.

James was outstanding! He spent time educating me on the needed repairs and going over what it was going to take to fix my foundation problem. He is very professional and interested in actually helping his clients. He has videos to support his over 30 years of experience and knows how to do the job right. Thanks for your services!!

I highly recommend James and his crew for any concrete job!!! He and his workers are highly skilled, extremely thorough, knowledgeable and polite. I had a stem wall repair job that I’d been putting off for far too long. I sought other bids but James’ was more detailed (by far), priced competitively and provided by James himself—He gave me a complete rundown of the process and the products he would use as well as the time frame and the warranty he would provide. I accepted his bid on the spot and scheduled the work for the following week. The job was completed in the time frame discussed and the results were far beyond my expectations. The house, courtyard, landscaping, sidewalk, yard and street were left cleaner than they found it. They even polished my stained concrete courtyard which was in no way a part of the job!!!! They went above and beyond and I am so grateful for that. Call James if you want the best team for your job!!!

Mick

James came out to my home and was able to pretty quickly identify my problem. He did a full foundation inspection, inside and outside. He was able to identify and show me where these area are and explain each of them, why they matter and what else could stem from them. He was able to provide me with a step by step plan of what I need to do as well as giving me a referral. His solution was not to fix what was cosmetically wrong but rather identify the problem and fix the problem. Once that has been completed we can move forward with a much lower cost option (not using piers or pillars) that is just as effective. I feel empowered and very knowledgeable about our foundation problems. He didn’t try to sell me anything or offer me a buy now gimmick for a discount (As one well known company in the valley does. You feel so pressured to make a very big decision when this happens) . He let me know at the very end how his services could help and when the time to help would be (after we have identified the problem and fixed it). He was very friendly. Family own and ran company. He’s third generation and 35+ years. He not only has expertise in AZ foundation issues but is from Nebraska and has a very well rounded knowledge of Soil and foundation problems. Thank you so much James for getting us started and saving us a ridiculous amount of money!

Libby

Although I cannot speak to the company Concrete Repairman’s actual work, we found James a walking encyclopedia of information concerning many home issues. Our experience was pleasant and professional.

Sylvia

Great company! We were worried we had a foundation problem so we called for an evaluation. They couldn’t find anything wrong but taught us a ton about signs to watch for and didn’t charge us a dime. If I ever DO have a foundation problem I know exactly who to call. Awesome!

Thia

Had the foundation repair completed in March. Later, I noticed a small low line (depression) close to the foundation. Once I notified the company of this, they quickly responded, not only fixing the problem to perfection, but also did a little grading repair to an area that was outside their responsibility. Later it was brought to my attention that the grading problem may have existed before the foundation work was done. Their workmanship is far beyond expectation. I appreciate their quick response and willingness to do more than was asked.

Tomlin

James, Concrete Repairman LLC surely saved the day for us and our home. It became aware that a large crack had formed due to gutter rain being misdirected toward the home. James was amazing in his precise knowledge of how to fix the floor that had heaved several inches across the living room. It was a massive undertaking to us and James was very reassuring that with his leveling and stitching the floor would be better than new. Well, he is amazing. We were so impressed. The crew worked hard and diligently, there were No schedule changes, every day they were on time, the job was done with the utmost professionalism. Communication before and during project was beyond our expectations. I’ve read other reviews and they are so wrong. This is an amazing company with skilled workers who care about the customer.

Christine