While most reputable companies do offer warranties on their foundation service, it’s important to know exactly what is and what is not covered. Often when a warranty in transferred to a new homeowner, they are under the assumption that their entire foundation is covered. Nothing could be further from the truth.
What Specific Work Is Covered By A Foundation Repair Warranty?
Only those specific areas of the house that were actually serviced by a repair company are covered by a guarantee. For all practical purposes, that includes the materials and labor that were required to perform the job. For example, if 10 foundation piers were installed around the right side of a house, only those 10 piers would be under warranty. If, over time, those piers shifted and needed to be adjusted, the warranty would most likely cover the cost of making the adjustments. Of course, not all companies offer the same guarantee and some companies don’t guarantee anything at all. That’s why it’s wise to ask a lot of questions before you enlist a foundation repair contractor.
You’ll want to keep in mind that since pier and beam homes are constructed differently from slab foundations, different warranties will apply to them. Wooden joists rot over time and steel shims can easily move. That’s why the warranty on pier and beam foundation re-shims and wood replacement can be expected to have a much shorter life than the warranty for installing rugged foundation piers.
What Is Not Covered By The Warranty?
The areas of your house that were not serviced are not covered. Since foundations generally require only partial repair at one time, it’s quite possible that a homeowner may need foundation repair service more than once. If you had the right side of your foundation fixed in 2006 and then discover that the left side of your house is sinking in 2017, you will probably need to have new piers installed under the left side. Any new foundation piers would not be covered by the original guarantee.
It’s important to keep in mind that foundation repair warranties have terms and conditions. Harmful things such as plumbing leaks can affect your foundation, as well as the guarantee on your home. To avoid complications, take very good care of your property and enlist a qualified contractor.