Top 5 Tips for Hiring a Foundation Repair Contractor

There can be a number of reasons why you might need to hire a Foundation Repair Contractor in SoCal. It could be something as simple and unavoidable as an earthquake (where you need a seismic retrofitting. Or it could just be that you need a structural engineer or general contractor to help you brace, retrofit or rework the structure based on a renovation, faulty construction, or other factors within and outside your control. By the time you’ve discovered that reinforcement is needed for a soft story building, you may not even have much time to do much research or determine which soft story reinforcement contractor will best meet your needs. So, here are some tips to look for when you’re hiring a Foundation Repair Contractor. 

What about References? 

Every good foundation repair contractor should have at least some references, whether they are good or bad. If they don’t want to give you a list of satisfied customers, you may still be able to find reviews and other company details by searching for their company on Google. A search may also turn up any legal issues, lawsuits, or other details regarding the company or the contractors working there. While not every review has to be perfect, it’s important to get a sense of whether the overall experience has been a good one for their customers. 

If you’re having a hard time finding a general contractor who can take on your project, you can also take the opposite approach. Ask your friends and family members for referrals. It’s a great way to find a great reliable soft story reinforcement contractor without the hassle, and your friend and family member may have already done all the legwork and asked all the questions to make sure they are reliable and knowledgeable. 

What about Licenses, Insurance & Permits? 

Yep, it’s true. Soft story contractors need more than just a 5-minute PowerPoint presentation or a quick, online certification to be legally allowed to offer their services as a business in SoCal. If the person doesn’t have a license or insurance, it could be that they are sub-contractors under a general contractor who does. You need to know what the situation is, and be aware of how that could affect any retrofitting work that they do. Will the general contractor be reviewing the work? Will be he on the project as well? Also, you need to make sure that the Foundation Repair Contractor has insurance in case of an accident, injury, or even damage to your property. Then, too, as a licensed and insured general contractor, the person will also need to have all the required building permits for the job. 

What about Experience?

Always ask a lot of questions about the experience and background of your Foundation Repair Contractor, particularly around whether the person has been involved in seismic retrofitting, reinforcement of soft story buildings, and other retrofit programs. It’s nearly impossible to do work in SoCal without at least some familiarity, but you’ll need to ask about specific examples and experience to find out the depth of the person’s experience and knowledge. Beyond just experience with the type of soft story buildings, as well as moment frame, cantilever columns, and sheer wall, the soft story reinforcement contractor should also have knowledge of the local construction conditions, factors, and techniques that come into play. For example, are they specifically experienced in dealing with seismic retrofitting and reinforcement? 

What about Warranty? 

A warranty is really just a written guarantee, but it can be one of the most important factors you need to consider when you consider hiring a Foundation Repair Contractor to retrofit or reinforce your soft story buildings. There are a number of factors you need to consider when you ask about the warranty. Find out if their warranty agreement is in writing, but also find out if there are specific requirements for the warranty from your insurance provider. This is another great opportunity to do more research on the companies that you’re considering. If the company has been around for 10 years, they have a solid staff, rave reviews, and all the other factors really check out, you can probably rely on the fact that the warranty is solid. 

What you’re looking to determine is whether the company is going to be around for the next ten years, and whether they will really hold up to their end of the warranty or guarantee about repair, service, and support if you have any issues or need further repairs or retrofits that are covered under the warranty. Some companies or soft story contractors will promise you anything and everything to get you to hire them for the job, but then they’ll disappear, be unresponsive, or just refuse to hold up to the terms of the agreement. 

Next Step: Hire a Foundation Repair Contractor 

It’s not an easy decision to hire a Foundation Repair Contractor. There are so many variables that you must consider, and you may be uncertain about which one is the best choice. Here’s the bottom line: Nobody is perfect, so you will not find a general contractor who has never had a problem in some way or another. You need and want an honest and knowledgeable Foundation Repair Contractor who will work with you to fulfill your needs. You also need someone that has proven themselves to be experienced and trustworthy based on the customer reviews and testimonials that you’ve researched, read and spoken with. You must determine whether the contractor has the level of knowledge and experience to get the job done right the first time. That’s what the license, certifications, insurance, and warranty are all about. You do your due diligence, but you also protect yourself and your property against even those accidents and experiences that are beyond your control. The best scenario is when you have done all the groundwork. You’ve found the best Foundation Repair Contractor and then the whole project is completed without a single delay, issue, or problem.