So you think (or know) your home has foundation problems. Maybe you had a foundation repair company out to give you a quote and had sticker shock. Maybe you know something is wrong, but think ignorance is bliss. Regardless, putting off foundation repairs is a poor long-term strategy. You’ll just end up paying more to fix more extensive damage. And if you don’t … well … the consequences could be dire.

6 Reasons Why It Is Crucial to Repair a Damaged Foundation

1. Stop Structural Failure

While it is unlikely that your house is going to all of a sudden collapse, significant foundation problems, if allowed to continually stress your home’s structural components, can make portions practically unlivable. Basement walls can reach the point of collapse. The interior framing can fracture, weakening its load-bearing capacity. Floors can sag enough to cause drywall tears and plumbing issues.

Basically, foundations do not fix themselves. The strain that they place on a home will cause the symptoms to only get worse. The time to fix a foundation is as soon as you notice the problem.

2. Avoid Additional Expensive Repairs

Having to hire someone to fix your home’s foundation isn’t something anyone wants to do, but it sure beats hiring someone to fix your home’s foundation, and its masonry, and its walls, and its chimney.

The more time your home sits with a bad foundation, the more problems are likely to pop up that need independent repairs. The longer you wait, the more expensive the cost of fixing all the issues caused by foundation failure will be.

3. Stop Water From Entering Your Home

Foundation problems aren’t the only cause to water seeping into your home, but they sure make it easier. The cracks that foundation issues bring offer a ready-made path for water to enter your basement, crawl space or living space, depending upon the foundation.

Also, cracks that are repaired without fixing the underlying cause will likely soon reopen (or simply spur new ones). All true solutions to cracking caused by foundation problems include fixing the foundation as part of the solution.

4. Prevent Your Home Value From Cratering

Home buyers are understandably cautious about foundation issues. Even if they’re willing to consider a home with damage, they often expect steep price reductions — well beyond the cost of repairs.

If you are selling your home, various real estate sources estimate that sale prices drop 10-20% or more for homes with known foundation issues. Unless you have a desperate buyer, they are likely to want more than the repair price taken off the top. Many will refuse to even consider the home because of the immediate hassle surrounding repairs, making it likely the home will have a longer stay on the market.

5. Prevent Legal Issues

If you do sell your home and neither repair nor report the foundation issues to the buyer, you could be facing liability issues. Oklahoma law requires most sellers to provide a disclosure statement, listing any known issues with the home. Failure to report foundation problems could lead you to be found liable for them.

Need to Have Your Foundation Repaired in Oklahoma? Call Pierman

At Pierman, whether you have a slab, basement, pier & beam, or other foundation, our experts can level and stabilize your foundation. As soon as you notice the signs of foundation issues, contact us for a free quote.