I've got a foundation guy coming Friday because I strongly suspect problems. Cracked sheet rock, doors hard to open, gaps between brick & door jams outside etc.

The house is on a slab.

Evidence of problems are only on one end of the house affecting the laundry room, outside storage room & dining room.

House is on gumbo & has flooded in the past (20+ years ago), but drainage has been corrected & is now, not a problem. House is fine during rainy/wet season but settles during the summer/dry season (typical gumbo).

I got the guys name & company info from Angie's List & comes with top reviews. This company appears to use concrete pilings that are poured after manual digging, forming, setting re-bar, etc.

His ad says he is insured but not Bonded.

His estimates are free.

Reason for thread:
What questions should I be asking this company about my situation?

Thanks in advance for any relevant info....

 

Without "bonding" how does he back up any warranty? Insurance is good while he is working there, while bonding will carry over to the future.

 

general liability, workmen's compensation, & completed operations,,, if you need a bond, he can buy 1 relatively inexpensively,,, the more you require, the more you pay,,, eg, we do NOT pay taxes, ins, etc - those are passed along to our clients

 

Bonding is the only thing that will protect your interest in the long run. You should definitely get it in a situation like this.

 

A Bond is the least expensive thing I provide or need as a contractor. I'm wondering why a contractor would not have one.

 

Was the house flooded by salt water or fresh water. Salt water can eat away at the studs in the wall which can weaken the structure. Could be the cause of your settling. Drywall is pretty easy to repair, I would open up some exploratory holes it the walls to get a better look at the framework of the building.

Are there major cracks in the slab? The house should move with the slab movement. Report back any observations other than drywall settling. Take measurements, check for level, ect.

Keep in mind that this guy wants to sell you a lift and stabilize job (which won't be cheap). Therefore, he will pitch his "perfect" solution. Exhaust all possibilities before committing.

 

Agree with cz, we had an uneven kitchen floor. I had a foundation guy come and he wanted to basically rebuild the entire back of the house. HIs bid was nearly 10k. I ended up buying a few jacks and a 4x4 and did the work myself for $176. Your fix may not be as easy but just be careful with the foundation guys.