Myths Busted: 5 Myths About Foundation Repair

Your home is your biggest investment. When you start having concerns about your home, Google is the first place to go. But Google can be a double-edge sword when it comes to finding reliable information.

Don't worry, though. We are here to help bust the top 5 common foundation repair myths to ensure you can keep your home as safe as possible.

Myth #5: Overwatering can damage the foundation

Now, this may seem like a silly myth, but it does bring up a good point. Here's the truth: Watering flowers and plants near your foundation will not contribute to foundation problems. Soil expansion from overwatering your plants would not have a large enough scale to cause cracking, and plants absorb most of the water anyways.

But it can cause a problem if you have clogged gutters or downspouts and allow water to pool around your foundation. Pooling water from clogged gutters, downspouts, rainstorms, snow melt, or plumbing leaks can weaken the soil around your home. When soil absorbs too much water, it can expand or erode, causing the soil to either push up against the foundation, causing cracks, or wash away, causing sinking.

Myth #4: New homes don’t crack

Seeing cracks in a new home is frustrating. There was so much work put into building or acquiring this new home, and now there are already problems.

Unfortunately, the soil your home was built on does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone. Cracks don’t only appear in your foundation if your home is poorly built; it's caused by soil, stress, or hydrostatic pressure.

This is when too much water in the soil is absorbed and pushes against the foundation's walls, which can cause the walls to bow inward. If you notice early signs of this, such as musty or damp smells or water leaking, basement waterproofing can help prevent further damage. 

Myth #3: You can DIY a foundation repair

No matter how handy you are, DIYing your foundation repair can and will worsen the problem.

It might seem like a good idea to just patch over any cracks you see in your home, but this will not fix the problem. It's important to cure the illness instead of putting a band-aid over the symptom. Patching a crack will not fix the underlying issue, which can lead to potential future damage and cost you more in the long run.

Myth #2: Selling a home with foundation repair is impossible

Selling or buying a perfect home is stressful enough without having to worry about foundation issues on top of that. Whether you list your home as is and front the price or repair the foundation before, foundation repair can extend the home's life. Getting these repairs done before selling can increase the market value because you're addressing and fixing the issue. 

If you are in the market for buying, do your research. If there are foundation issues, book a free inspection with a professional foundation specialist to check it out. 

Thrasher provides free inspections, same-day quotes, and transferrable warranties, making it painless to switch over homeowners of foundation repairs. 

Myth #1: Foundation repair is expensive

Expense is an important topic when it comes to foundation repair. The reality is everyone’s definition of expensive is different, and every home is unique in what repairs are needed. Two houses could sit next to each other and have different scopes of work needed. As a homeowner, keep in mind price vs. cost. Waiting until the job is more affordable can cost you more in the long run as these issues generally worsen over time. Realistically, you can save thousands of dollars by fixing these issues sooner than later. Also, keep in mind what warranties companies have. Having a company that backs their work with warranties can save you time if you need additional work or maintenance on your systems. 

Where do I start?

If you are reading this blog, it is safe to assume you may need some foundation repair. Let Thrasher take care of you. Here at Thrasher, we are a family-owned business that has been around for over 45 years. We have robust warranties that go up to 25 years, and service techs are available to come out for maintenance and service calls. We have what it takes to keep your home safe. You can schedule a free inspection with us, with no obligation, to help find the underlying issues and discuss the best solution for you and your home. We offer many options, from extending discharge lines to installing gutter guards, waterproofing, and foundation repair. Call us today or fill out this online form to get scheduled!