How Long Does Foundation Repair Take?
Let’s face it, no one likes having a team of contractors on their property for an extended amount of time. However, house repairs are beneficial and necessary projects that need to be completed.
Groundworks understands how repairs might be an inconvenience to your daily routine but unfortunately, there’s no way around it.
This is especially true for something as important as your foundation – but we’d like to give you a general timeframe for a foundation repair project.
That way, you know exactly what you’re getting into when a repair crew arrives.
Factors that Impact Foundation Repair Time
On average, most foundation repair projects from Groundworks take just 2-3 days to complete. However, three major factors can increase or decrease the time it takes to finish a foundation repair job:
- Amount of damage
- Location of damage
- Home size
Let’s dive into each of these factors to better understand how they affect completion time, and so you can see if they apply to your individual situation.
Amount of Damage
Noticing foundation problem signs is the first step toward foundation repair. When your foundation becomes damaged, the issues are generally quite visible.
Common problem signs include drywall cracks, uneven floors, cracked or leaning chimney, sinking foundation, or stuck doors and windows.
These problem signs may start out looking small; a foundation that has sunk below the ground by an inch or two won’t cause as much concern as a foundation that has sunk 10 inches below the ground.
Don’t be fooled though, even the smallest foundation damage needs to be repaired quickly, because it will always get worse without the proper protection.
Think about if you’ve seen cracks, sinking, or uneven sections of your foundation lately. How bad do they look? Most problems can be fixed in 2-3 days, but larger problems may take longer.
When you call a professional early on, even if the damage looks small, you can stop problems from getting worse and get a complete estimate on the time it will take to complete repairs.
Location of Damage
Alongside the amount of damage to your foundation, the location of damage is also important.
Many times, the type of foundation that your home rests on determines where damage arises. Your foundation type, and associated damage, is largely dependent on which region of the U.S. you live in.
Concrete slab foundations often experience damage outside as they settle into the ground. This makes damage easy to identify and much simpler to fix.
However, crawl spaces and basements are a different story. Crawl space damage usually occurs right under your home.
Rotten wood, mold infestations, and drooping insulation are common issues. For this reason, crews have to spend more time getting into your crawl space and working in the limited space.
Meanwhile, basements usually experience damage on their foundation walls deep below the surface. Some basement repairs can be completed inside the basement itself, which speeds up the process.
However, other basement projects may require a repair crew to excavate deep into your yard. While this can be an inconvenience, it’s a necessary part of the job, and it takes some time to put everything back the way it was.
Home Size
While there’s no definitive answer as to how much the size of your home will impact the overall time it takes to complete foundation repair, it still plays an important role in the process.
For reference, as of 2021, the average size of a U.S. single family home is 2,561 square feet.
Larger homes in the country will have bigger foundations and will likely require a greater number of solutions to fix. Smaller homes may experience the opposite effect.
It’s best to have a free inspection done so our team can provide you with even more details on the tools and labor needed for your specific home.
Different Solutions, Different Amounts of Time
Another thing to consider when it comes to foundation repair time is the type of solution used on your home. Groundworks provides three kinds of foundation repair:
- Pier systems (push piers, helical piers, and slab piers)
- Crawl space supports
- Basement wall repair (wall anchors, carbon fiber reinforcement, IntelliBrace™).
In this next section, we’ll look at how long each repair process takes.
Pier Systems
Pier systems are used to stabilize and potentially lift a sinking foundation.
Thanks to their simple design, pier installation is usually completed in less than one week, with most projects rarely taking more than 2-3 days.
Different pier types can also increase the time it takes for installation to be completed. For instance, slab piers are generally installed from inside your home.
Since removing a section of your floor may be necessary to install a slab pier, this can increase the overall project time. Don’t worry, the floor is replaced after the pier is installed.
Crawl Space Supports
Installing crawl space supports is no easy task. Installers have limited space to move around in, and you may need to hire a professional to remove mold before our team starts working.
Depending on the size of your crawl space, mold removal can take anywhere from 1-10 days. Once the crawl space is clear of debris and hazardous materials, installation can begin.
Typically, crawl space supports can be installed in two days or less. Thanks to their adjustable design, our crawl space supports can quickly adapt to nearly any crawl space size for quick and stress-free installation.
Basement Wall Repair
Basement wall repair can be accomplished using a few different methods. We’ll break down the completion time for each of Groundworks’ individual basement repair solutions.
Wall Anchors
If hydrostatic pressure is putting stress on your basement walls from the outside, wall anchors may be the answer for you. This basement repair system is designed to be installed quickly, with most projects being completed in a single day.
Carbon Fiber Reinforcement
Carbon fiber is 10 times stronger than traditional steel reinforcements, which makes it an extremely effective solution for basement walls bowing inward 2” or less. Even better, installing carbon fiber reinforcement is incredibly quick – only taking 1-2 days from start to finish.
SettleStop IntelliBrace™ Beams
Sometimes, using steel beams on basement walls is a better option for homeowners. If this is the case for you, this project can also be completed in 1-2 days. This process is also quicker than others because installing this solution does not require any access to the outside wall.
Permit Requirements in Your City
Something else to keep in mind when considering foundation repair are the specific permit requirements in your city or municipality.
One of our certified inspectors, Dale King, mentions that the “length of time to complete a project can vary greatly. A job in one city could hold off for 6 weeks to get a permit application approved, and as much time as 2-3 weeks to install. The same scope of work, size, dollar amount in another city could be completed in 1-2 days because the permit requirements are totally different.”
Having an inspector from Groundworks come to your home is important for this reason. They have knowledge of the permit requirements in your region and will give you an accurate timeline for your foundation repair project.
Groundworks Does it Quicker
Getting work done on your home might feel like an inconvenience, but Groundworks wants to help the process go as smoothly as possible.
Our expert installation crews and high-quality solutions make this a reality, with most projects being completed in just 2-3 days at the most, but keep in mind, there is no set completion time.
The intricacies of your home and situation all play a role but when you work with Groundworks, we’ll make sure that foundation repair is as efficient as possible.
With local offices in 33 states, each with thousands of positive online reviews and multiple service awards, every Groundworks company is committed to quality results. Contact us today to schedule a free home inspection.
We’ll identify any foundation problem signs in your home, come up with a solution, and provide you with the estimated completion time so you’re fully prepared when our crew arrives.
At Groundworks, we’re on a journey to revolutionize the home services industry one project at a time – and to protect your home and family while we do it.