Be very careful when placing your home in the hands of someone who’s livelihood is based on the sale of piers, or uses foundation elevations to convince you that piers are the answer.
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Watering Elevations Pier and Beam Scams About Contact Me Testimonials Fees FAQ
Welcome to “www.repairfoundations.com”
Hi, I’m Richard Rash, the foundation man and I know about as much about foundations issues as anyone in North Texas.
Since retiring from active contracting, some fourteen years ago, I have been consulting on foundation problems. Before retiring I spent 24 years as a foundation repair contractor often as a consultant to other foundation repair contractors. When I started in the business there were a handful of people doing foundation work. When a foundation was broken we fixed it, as best we could, with the knowledge we had. Over the years, we learned a lot.
As time progressed things begin to change. Foundation Repair became a billion dollar business and the gypsies, tramps, and thieves jumped in.
It seems that all it takes is an over the hill athlete, disk jockey or talk show host to endorse a company and the uneducated masses go for it. Well, guess what, the masses are getting screwed. They are buying piers that are, to say the least, not ideal for our soil. They are buying piers they do not need and they are paying far too much for the piers they get. And, worst of all, they are not addressing the real problem, the soil.
The truth is, foundations don’t fail, soils fail. Soil expansion and contraction is a problem that must be addressed to solve foundation issues. Piers can not solve upheaval and many piers being sold do a very poor job of preventing settlement. You as the homeowner must maintain your soils. Maintain the soils correctly, and new problems do not appear. Maintain the soils correctly and old problems often lessen and sometimes go away.
You must have the knowledge to address whether your home has heaved up or settled down.
In our area, at least as many structures are damaged by upheaval, or swelling soils, as by settlement or contracted soils. You do not use piers to address homes that have already been lifted above grade by swelling soils.
Elevations alone can not distinguish between settlement and upheaval. Only experience can!
If upheaval has occurred the high point must come down. The moisture in the soil must come out. You must find the source of the moisture and eliminate it. It’s usually much cheaper than piers and much better on the slab.
If settlement has occurred, and walls need to be lifted, you want the right number and type of piers from a reliable, experienced contractor. Not piers that have a reputation for failure. Not twice the required number of piers and not overpriced piers.
If you feel that you may have foundation issues and don’t want to get screwed, call me. If I can help over the phone it’s free. If I have to come out, it is still the best deal you can get!
Call me. Richard Rash, 817.308.8186 or email at richardrashinc@tx.rr.com
If you are unsure about something, you bring in an expert.
If you are unsure about something, you bring in an expert. That is a good business practice at any level. You use due diligence. You need checks and balances. Foundation damage is not the end of the world. Treated properly it can be a minor irritation. Treated incorrectly it can be a nightmare. Don’t experience a nightmare! The reason for this website is to let you know that I am available to help you understand the reason foundations fail, to help you maintain your foundation and to help you find proper repair when required. Remember: With over 150 foundation contractors in the Dallas-Fort Worth area alone, getting three bids give you a one in fifty chance of getting the right job at a fair price. I can help you beat those odds. People pay me to help them successfully deal with foundation issues. If I save you from buying one un-needed pier you have made money. It’s a smart move and cheap insurance. I will be your advocate, your “check and balance”.
Foundation companies sell piers, I provide solutions.
I know this is confusing and I will be glad to provide more information. Contact me at 817-308-8186. My email is richardrashinc@tx.rr.com.
Website: www.repairfoundations.com.
Blog: www.foundationmanspeaks.com.
Best bet: Consult an advocate!
Remember: Be sure ….before you pier!
- Using pictures I explain:
- how your home is built.
- How the soil affects it.
- How the moisture affects the soil.
- How the soil causes the house to move.
- I show you why and how the home is moving.
- I tell you what can be done.
- If you need piers:
- I will explain the different types of piers.
- I will explain how many you need.
- I will explain where you need them.
- I will explain the most you should pay for them.
- If you need other work such as drainage, plumbing, root barriers or soaker hose I will explain it all.
- If you need piers:
- I will answer all of your questions including about:
- Bids.
- Warranties.
- Scams.
- Homeowners insurance.
- Home buyers warranties.
- Slabs.
- Pier and Beams.
- Piers.
- Drains.
- I will send you an overview of our conversation (report).
- I will encourage you to email me any bids you wish to discuss.
- I will encourage you to continue to call me with any questions.
For additional information: Contact me: Richard Rash, 817-309-8186, email: . See what my customers say: Testimonials. Here are: My Fees. If you still are not sure, please carefully read over my website: www.repairfoundations.com. Then contact me with any questions. Thank you.
Why Foundation Repairs Fail
Most people think that foundation movement is caused by settlement. In some parts of the country, that is true.
In areas of expansive soils, such as most of Texas and surrounding states, not so much! The people selling piers want everything to be the result of settlement because that is what piers are designed for. By definition, settlement is generally looked at as a loss of support, and piers are designed to provide support, and in the case of foundations, provide support after lifting. The truth is that there is really not much settling, percentage-wise, going on in our area or other areas of expansive soils and I will tell you why. By definition, expansive soils shrink and swell.
The pier salesmen want us to believe that every year we are in a new drought which is causing our soils to shrink out from under our foundations, (which were poured when the soil was expanded?) allowing them to fail to a point that they need to be artificially lifted, by piers, up off of the shrinking soils that have failed them.
You know, I even bought into that line of thinking 30 plus years ago when I got into the foundation business. That’s what everybody said so it must be true, or so I thought.
After working in the business for a while it became obvious to me that something didn’t add up. For one thing, there were about as many foundation job failures as there were successes. That didn’t seem right and the more I thought about it the more I realized that the drought that happened just about every summer was also going on during many of the falls and springs as well as the occasional winter. In fact, it seemed to me that when we did have rain it was seldom if ever enough to stop the drought. Also a fact, we have been in some sort of a drought most years since the 1930’s. It also dawned on me that most foundations were poured during these droughts, to the point the ground was already contracted so that it couldn’t shrink much more, so why were, and how were these houses and commercial buildings settling? It struck me: they were not settling! You know what I figured out? I figured out that a whole bunch of this foundation failure business was not settlement but upheaval.
Upheaval due to rains
Houses were being built on dry, contracted soil. Then the rains came after the houses were built. The contracted soils expanded around areas of homes where water was standing. Parts of the homes were lifted and parts were not, giving the illusion that settlement had occurred. What is considered the “settled” areas of the house remains near the “as built” elevation where they were built while the damage was actually the result of the other parts of the house lifting. The results were that of a structure that appeared to have settled, but in reality had not. So bottom line is that many homes thought to have areas settling are actually having other areas of the house raising or heaving, leading to piering of parts of the house to bring it up to the already artificially high section of the home. When this is done, and it is done often in areas of expansive soils such as ours, the repairs seldom succeed. Either the soils continue to swell and lift the building off of the piers causing more damage, or the drainage or the plumbing is fixed and the heaved part of the structure settles back to near it’s “as built” position. This happens while the piers continue to support the lifted areas above original grade and this also leads to additional damage. *** To sum it up: most foundation movement is not settlement and most homes in our area do not need piers. That’s why there are so many failed foundation repair jobs. And sadly to say I don’t know of a foundation repair company whose LIFETIME WARRANTY covers upheaval.
Note: As I have stated most foundation movement and damage in North Texas is the result of drainage/upheaval and not settlement. that almost surely mean that piers are not the answer. There are however adjustments that need to be done. They are seldom if ever as expensive or disruptive as piers but they must be attended to before the movement will stop or the damage should be repaired. I can help you determine what is needed and show you how to accomplish the repairs as inexpensively as possible. Remember I am not involved in the work and my job is to help you get it done correctly and fairly.
If you would like additional information about this or need clarification contact me, I will be glad to discuss it. See what my customers say at: Testimonials. Here are: My Fees. For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186 with any questions. Thank you.
WHO I AM
I am Richard Rash and I am here to help you keep from getting taken advantage of by the foundation repair companies. I have spent the last thirty-five plus years working with foundation damaged homes constructed on expansive soils. I am based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area but go where I am needed and the economics warrant, such as San Antonio, Austin, Shreveport, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and cities and towns in-between.
I have been involved with thousands of foundation repairs in all size homes, apartments, hospitals, nursing homes, warehouses and small commercial buildings. I have worked as foundation inspector, contractor, consultant, and expert witness.
Since 2005, I have been consulting with individuals who are experiencing foundation distress. I am their check and balance, their advocate. I know foundations and I know the soils. I know what causes foundation failures and what prevents foundation failure. I know the products used to repair foundations and I know the contractor’s reputations. I know what works where, and how much it should cost. I save my customers from failed foundation repairs, un-needed piers and I save them money. See what my customers say at Testimonials. Here are: My Fees. For additional information: Contact me! Richard Rash 817-308-8186
Understanding Foundation issues!
So you think you have foundation issues? I can show you the difference between cosmetic and structural foundation movement! Do you have conflicting bids? I can explain them to you and offer independent direction!
- Do you want to avoid paying too much? I can keep you from being overcharged!
- Do you want to avoid failed repairs? I can help you make sure the work that you choose to have performed is the work that is needed!
- Do you want to prevent or reverse foundation movement? I can show you the maintenance needed to prevent and often reverse foundation movement!
- Are you looking to buy a home? I can inspect the home and alert you to undisclosed defects, covered up issues and potential problems. Best of all I can assure you (1) if the foundation is sound and advise you on how to keep it that way, or (2) any repairs that would be needed if there has been foundation movement or (3) if previous foundation repairs are working!
- Are you looking to sell your home? I can show you what must be done to prevent any last minute foundation issues from blocking the sale.After discussing your issues over the phone if I don’t feel I can help you I won’t set an appointment. If we do set an appointment and I can’t help you understand the situation, you will not be charged. What do you have to lose?If we do set an appointment, the fee you pay will entitle you to call me anytime with any questions relating to your foundation. I will have my notes to refer to and can answer most questions over the phone.For additional information:
- See what my customers say at Testimonials. Here are: My Fees.
- I will provide a written overview of our discussion including a summation and recap of recommendations.
- If you are concerned with foundation issues I can answer your questions.
Contact me: Richard Rash at 817-308-8186
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See what my customers say at Testimonials. Here are: My Fees.
For additional information: Contact me: Richard Rash, 817-308-8186