A corner that's dropped
A sloping floor, a gap opening under the baseboard or a crack running down from one corner usually means that part of the footing settled, and that's where we start looking.
Foundation repair in Loveland CO - a house supported the way the engineer drew it
Sticking doors, a basement crack that keeps widening or a corner that's dropped? We find why it moved and support it properly.
- Licensed and fully insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- We respond within 1 business day.
What foundation repair in Loveland involves
Foundation repair in Loveland, CO means finding out why part of your house moved and then supporting the foundation from below, following an engineer's plan, so the fix deals with the ground and not just the crack you can see.
Most foundation calls start with something you noticed, like a basement crack that's getting wider, a floor that slopes or a door that won't latch anymore. Some parts of Loveland sit on swelling and collapsing soils, found where the ground is underlain by Pierre Shale or wind-blown sediments, and geologists count them among the area's most prominent natural hazards. That isn't every house, but where those soils are present a footing can rise or drop. We're based in Loveland and work across the cities around it, so we see the same kinds of calls all over the area.
What moves the price is mostly what the engineer's design calls for: how many supports, how deep we dig to reach the footing, whether the basement floor gets cut, and what's in the way, like a deck, a patio or old plantings. The schedule turns on getting that design done and getting through the city's permit review. Your estimate puts your own figure in writing, along with what it covers.
Fixing the cause, not the crack
Patching a crack over a footing that's still moving just means patching it again next year, so we figure out why the house moved before anyone talks about a fix.
I come out myself
I'm the one who looks at your foundation and writes the estimate, and I work on site alongside our masons, so the person who explained the plan is there doing it.
Gentle with older brick and stone
When we dig along an old wall or cut near brick, we work carefully around what's there, because old masonry doesn't forgive rough handling and it's hard to match later.
How we plan and do the foundation work
Foundation work starts with an engineer's plan, so we make sure that's in hand before anyone picks up a shovel. The design says where the supports go and how many your house needs, and I'd much rather follow a plan drawn for your footing than guess at it.
Before we dig, I walk you through exactly where the yard and the basement floor will get opened up, so nothing catches you off guard. That's the time to move patio furniture, think about a garden bed you want to save or clear out the storage along that basement wall.
Once the house is supported, there's usually some masonry to sort out above it. Brick that cracked along the mortar lines while the house was moving may need tuckpointing to rake out the broken mortar and pack in fresh, and a chimney that shifted with the house may need chimney repair. I'll tell you honestly which of those can wait.
When a foundation needs a closer look
Doors and windows that stick
When a door that used to close fine starts rubbing at the top, the frame has usually racked because the wall under it moved. We check those openings again once the house is supported.
Cracks that keep coming back
If you've patched the same basement crack twice and it's open again, the wall is still moving. Another patch won't hold, so we look for what's happening underneath.
Brick pulling away from the house
Stair-step cracks in brick or a gap opening between the chimney and the wall often trace back to the foundation, so we check below before fixing the brick and having it crack again.
Get a written foundation repair estimate
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look over the foundation and write your free estimate on site, with no obligation.
Tell us what you've noticed
Where the cracks are, which doors stick and roughly when it started all help. I'll ask plenty of questions, because the pattern usually tells me more than any one crack does.
Straight talk if it can wait
Not every crack means the house needs support. If what you've got looks like ordinary settling that's already done, I'll say so and tell you what to keep an eye on.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That goes for foundation work too, and your written estimate lays out what you're paying for, so you know exactly what the job includes before you say yes.
Masonry and foundation work examples to browse
These photos show finishes, materials and layouts we can talk through at your estimate, from block walls to pointed brick and stone.
Foundation repair questions from Loveland homeowners
Here are the questions Loveland homeowners tend to ask before foundation work, from how the supports work to permits, digging and records.
How do helical piles repair a foundation?
Helical piles are steel shafts with screw-like plates that get turned down into the ground and fastened to your footing, so they carry that part of the house. One maker describes them as a common way to repair, level or hold up a foundation, and they go in without vibration. An installer's guide says their layout should follow the engineer's drawings.
What happens to my yard and basement floor during foundation repair?
Expect a dug strip along the wall outside and a cut square of basement floor inside. One installer's guide digs down to the footing, either as a trench along the whole wall or a hole at each pier, once 811 has marked buried utilities with paint or flags. Afterward it backfills with clean rock and topsoil, so you can plant along that wall again.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair in Loveland?
The City of Loveland requires a building permit for new construction, additions and alterations, and we check with the city on every job. When a permit is needed, we handle the application and set up the inspections. The city currently estimates plan review at 20 to 30 working days per round, so we build that wait, and any extra round, into the schedule.
Does a foundation contractor need a Loveland city license?
For structural work on a rental home, a multi-family building or a non-residential building, the city requires a contractor with a valid City of Loveland Contractor's License. You can check any contractor's city license by calling the city's Building Division at 970-962-2505. We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm happy to answer questions about that at your estimate.
Can I do my own foundation repair in Loveland?
Yes, Loveland lets you do your own work on the home that's your primary residence, with a homeowner affidavit. Foundation work is heavy, though, and it's best done from an engineer's design, so it's worth getting an estimate to compare before you decide which way to go.
Where can I find the foundation plans for my Loveland house?
Depending on the year your house was built, the city's document system may hold its foundation plans, engineer letters, site plans and certificate of occupancy. Those help the engineer see how your footing was built, so if you find them, have them ready along with the year built when you call or fill out the form.
Masonry work that often follows foundation repair
Call us about your foundation today
We answer from 7 AM to 11 PM every day, so call (970) 292-7476 after work or send the form tonight.