December 11, 2003
We tend to think of terra firma as being solid but it's not always the case. If your house sits on a base that's not solid, it can lead to big problems over time.
On the other hand, trying to remedy the situation can be even worse, as Rusty of Arlington TX tells us:
I writing to about a problem that occurs in much of Texas. That is the problem of the ground (clay) moving or shifting. It can cause significant damage to your home.
We recently called several foundation companies about repairing the problem. The estimates were between $8,000-$15,000 to repair. Before spending that kind of money, we had a stuctural engineer review our house and he stated that there is some movement, but that it does not need any repairs as long as you perform some minor watering and manage outside drainage problems as they occur.
Since then, we have talked to several people and they say that not only does foundation repair not work but in some cases it makes matters worse. Finally, the only way you can sue a foundation company in Texas is through arbitration.
