A1 Foundation Crack Repair is known for keeping it real. They routinely save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars applying the proper fix whereas some companies out there always try to apply the most expensive solution even when it’s not necessary. Adam shares another shocker.
Narrator: This time once again for The Crackman podcast hosted by A1 Foundation Crack Repair. I'm Darren Kincaid, and I'm here with the crack daddy himself, Adam Tracy. Adam has 20 years of experience in the construction industry and as a civil engineer, A1 Foundation's resident engineer on staff, solving a plethora of unique foundation problems every day. This podcast provides expert basement waterproofing, concrete repair and preventative maintenance tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation's valuable insight will help avert the disaster of a flooded basement, health problems from water infiltration and protect your biggest investment, your home. The topic of today's podcast: Don't get fleeced, why one client almost paid 40 times too much for a foundation crack repair.
Narrator: So Adam, A1 Foundation Crack Repair is known for keeping it real. You guys routinely save homeowners tens of thousands of dollars by applying the proper fix, whereas some companies out there always try to apply the most expensive solution even when it's not necessary. It sounds like you have another story to share. What happened here?
Adam: Yeah, unfortunately, this is becoming an alarming trend in our area, where homeowners are left questioning whether they have a major capital project on their hands when they're looking at issues with their houses.
This particular homeowner was selling their house in the Andover area. The home was built in the early 1970s and had a concrete foundation with a vertical settlement crack in the front of the house and another in the back. These cracks were pointed out as areas of concern by the buyers, so the homeowner brought in what they believed was a qualified company to evaluate the issue.
Before the company even properly examined the problem, they started measuring the foundation and explaining how many piers and underpinning helical piles would be needed to stabilize and lift the house because, according to them, it was supposedly on the verge of collapse. They then provided a quote of more than $50,000 for the project.
Naturally, the homeowner was panicking. They were in the middle of trying to sell their home and suddenly faced the possibility of an enormous repair bill that could jeopardize the entire transaction.
Fortunately, they did the right thing and sought a second opinion. That's when they contacted us at A1 Foundation Crack Repair.
When we evaluated the property, it became clear that the solution was actually very simple. This foundation had been in place for more than 50 years, and there was no active movement occurring. The crack in the front of the house roughly lined up with the crack in the back, which is often a strong indicator of early settlement that happened long ago.
Looking around the property, there was a significant amount of ledge present, suggesting that some buried ledge in the center area of the house may have caused the structure to settle slightly around it during its early years. The total amount of settlement was less than one inch—an extremely small amount.
Even more importantly, there were no signs of structural distress throughout the home. There were no shifting issues, no cracks in the upper levels, and no problems visible along the roofline.
As a result, this was a straightforward repair. We repaired the crack, protected it from weather and moisture intrusion, stabilized the foundation, and provided a warranty on the work.
The entire repair cost less than $2,000.
That meant the homeowner could move forward with the sale confidently. Had they accepted the original proposal of more than $50,000, the deal likely would have fallen apart and they may have had to take the house off the market altogether.
In the end, we saved the sale, helped the homeowner avoid an unnecessary expense, ensured the foundation was secure, and left everyone involved happy with the outcome.
Thanks for explaining how you saved a homeowner more than $55,000 by properly diagnosing and repairing a foundation crack.
Narrator: If you have a basement water problem and think you need a professional, or if you'd like more information on foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing topics, please visit a1foundationcrackrepair.com or call Adam at (866) 929-3171. Or you can email Adam at info@a1foundationcrackrepair.com. Thanks for listening and keep that basement dry.