Foundation repair is one of the biggest-ticket repairs DFW homeowners face, and it's full of jargon. Here's how to think about it.
Why it happens
Expansive clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry. Uneven moisture, such as a dry side of the house near a big tree or a soggy side by a downspout, makes the foundation move unevenly.
The main repair types
- Pressed concrete piers: common and affordable for slabs
- Steel push piers: driven deeper for more load-bearing capacity
- Drilled piers: engineered, deeper, often recommended by engineers
- Pier-and-beam re-shimming: adjusts supports under older homes
Compare bids the right way
- Bid against an independent engineer's plan if possible
- Compare pier count, depth and spacing, not just price
- Ask about plumbing tests before and after lifting
- Read the warranty: lifetime, transferable, and what it actually covers