How to Turn Your Foundation Repair into a DIY Project
Foundation repair is expensive. The average cost of fixing a foundation is $4,009 in the United States. Extreme repairs can run up to $10,000.
What do you do when you don’t have that kind of money? Or, what if you just want to perform some minor reparations until you can tackle the repairs at once.? DIY repairs are an option if you know how to go about it.
Here’s what you need to know about DIY repairs.
DIY Foundation Repair: What You Need To Know
To begin, there are a few assessments you need to make. If your house is built on a crawlspace and is sinking towards the center of the foundation, DIY repairs are totally doable.
If your structure is built on a slab and it’s settling around the perimeter, you’ll need to contact a professional.
Step #1: Identify The Problem
You’ll need to make sure the foundation is actually the problem. Common signs of a faulty foundation include:
- Cracked foundation walls
- Cracked bricks
- Sagging floors
- Leaning chimney
- Flexing basement walls
More extreme foundation problems will be beyond the scope of a DIY project. These include:
- Cracked exterior walls
- Chimney is falling away from the house
- Problems with exterior doors
A number of problems associated with foundation repair can be addressed by yourself, however. Common signs your repair is right for DIY are:
- Cracking interior sheetrock
- Bowing floors
- Problems with closet doors
These could be signs of a floor joist that needs to be reinforced. An experienced DIY-er can find additional support beams at a local hardware shop to bolster the concrete pillars. Shims may be used above the pillars, as well, if there’s room.
Many types of foundation repair are able ripe for DIY projects. Sealing a foundation floor can be done by yourself.
Repairing stone walls is achievable if they’re not on the exterior. Foundations can be insulated. Interior cracks can be mended.
DIY foundation repair is only a good idea when your problem isn’t that severe. Certain types of repairs get more pronounced with time.
Some types of repairs are to be expected. New homes frequently show minor problems related to foundation repairs within the first 10 days of being built. The concrete is still settling at that point and is rather porous. A certain amount of cracking is common.
Older homes often have problems associated with their foundations, as well. If a home is built on a crawl space or is over 100 years old, even a simple waterproofing can solve many of these problems.
Determining that your house is suitable for DIY repairs can save you a tremendous amount of money. It’s best to be at least comfortable with DIY projects if you’re thinking of tackling these repairs yourself. Getting it wrong can do more harm than good.
Want To See More DIY Projects?
People are capable of the wildest things! Want to see more of what ordinary people can do when they put their mind and effort to it? Check out the rest of our DIY project posts!