Cost Of House Foundation Repairs

♦ December 20, 2012 ♦ Leave Your Comment

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
My foundation was recently repaired but the repaired cracks are starting to show through. Is that bad?
I recently bought a house that had foundation repairs. I have noticed that one of the cracks, that had been repaired with stucko is starting to show through. It looks like it is cracked again. Does this mean my foundation is in need of repair again or is my house just settling? Please Help. Im so worried about the cost of having to repair again.
- ANSWER:
  The proper way to fix a crack in a foundation is with pressure-injected sealer.
  
  The crack is cross-drilled at 12″ intervals, compression fittings are inserted that have a zerk (grease) fitting on the end. Then a sealer is pumped deep into the crack through the fittings. It’s hard to explain. I think it’s called “threading”
  the crack.
  
  And….not to make you lose sleep, but something to keep in mind for the future, the “settling” of a house is not covered by any home insurers. Your house could sink into the ground, and the only compensation you’d get from them is “loss-of-use”.
QUESTION:
Does anyone know anything about foundation repair for a house?
My house has had foundation repair done 8 years ago and the piers had to be re-adjusted recently because they failed. Now the house is cracking in more places after the “adjustment” and they told me I need to spend from ,000-,000 more for more piers. Do I pay for more piers or stand my ground and tell them they should have fixed it right years ago and now that they didn’t the foundation is even more messed up?

There is a lawfirm specializing in attacking this specific company but they are asking for ,000 fee upfront and I wonder if it will cost me much more with their fees and stress, etc?

Any help will be appreciated!
- ANSWER:
  i would not hire the same company and would nver pay a lawyer. lawyers will take a case if they think they can win and make money. if he wants to charge you he just wants his money
QUESTION:
We need to know if our foundation around the house which is conrcret nneds repairs?
concrete around our brick house (foundation) shows some cracks. Should it be repaired called parging or resufaced. What are the usual costs.
- ANSWER:
  Since the foundation is the main support for the house you need to know what is causing the cracks; i.e. settling or deterioration of the concrete. You may need a professional home inspection to be sure what is necessary before you proceed, as maybe nothing needs to be done
QUESTION:
Anybody knows a good and honest foundation repair company in arlington tx?
my house needs a foundation repair but I don’t know where to start, if someone has had a foundation repair, would you tell me a good foundation repair company and about how much it costs?
- ANSWER:
  I’m not aware of any particulars in your area, but you might contact a home inspector and ask him who he recommends. Also, some area builders may have someone they use.
  
  The following page may also give you some guidance. It is on home foundations:
  http://www.building-your-green-home.com/home-foundation.html
  
  Once you find a company (or 2 or 3), ask them if they will give you a free estimate.
  
  Hope this helps.
QUESTION:
I’m considering remodeling my house, do I talk to a construction company first or an architect first?
The potential work includes foundation repairs and converting a basement to a room and possibly adding a second bathroom.

I’m not sure where to start with something like this.
Thanks for all the great answers!
- ANSWER:
  Call a remodeling contractor for an estimate. They will send someone out to give you a ballpark estimate (not binding) of what they think the costs will run. You can also obtain a listing of previous customers (references). Call these people and find out what their experience was like (Did the job get done on time? What did they think of the general contractor’s people or the subcontractors? Was the job done on budget, or did they keep adding on things? Would they recommend this company to you? that sort of thing). The references usually include an address. If it’s close by, go see the work for yourself (from the outside, of course).
  
  Be wary using remodeling contractors where just a couple or handful of guys do all the work. The bigger name builders generally use the same subcontractors for all of their jobs – they have enough work for the subs to work for them exclusively. So, you won’t get your job put on the back burner by some independent subcontractor that works for multiple general contractors. This avoids unneccessary delays. The bigger general contractors also have connections with suppliers, since they purchase so much materials. This avoids delays caused by inavailability of specific materials.
  
  For the plans, start with the general contractor. Many of the bigger builders are what they call design-build companies, where they have in-house architects who can draw up all of the plans. They will also know how much each design feature they add costs to implement. If you go to an architect first and get all these cool little design features added, you might find that they’re too expensive to actually implement. You then have to go back to the architect to have the plans changed – at an additional cost.
  
  If you’re thinking of going by price alone, be warned: the cheaper the price, the less priority you will have with the contractor. The two or three guys who do it all may quote you a price about 10% cheaper than a big builder. But, their estimate of 6 months might turn into 1 year. I went with Marrokal Construction here in San Diego for an extensive remodel (gutting and completely rearranging the house). They said it would take 5 months. It took 6. But, many people I talked with before hand said they would be surprised if that much work took less than a year, because delays are all too common with a lot of fly-by-night contractors,
QUESTION:
Anybody knows a good and honest foundation repair company in arlington tx?
my house needs a foundation repair but I don’t know where to start, if someone has had a foundation repair, would you tell me a good foundation repair company and about how much it costs?
- ANSWER:
  When in doubt about service personal you have several choices.
  
  There are several services on the web that purport to find them for you.1
  
  You can check your local papers and supermarkets for names. You will have to ask them for references when you have someone take a look.
  
  “Word of mouth” at the local hardward store, neighbors, friends
  
  Without knowing what type of problem you are trying to resolve it is impossible to say “how much it costs,” because we have no idea what type of job we should be considering. You will need a site inspection. In general often settlement problems are caused by erosion due to water. A proper inspection may have to include plumbing, roofing, and drainage.
QUESTION:
How much would it cost for foundation repair? House is approx 1200 sqr ft.?
House is a rental, dont want to spend too much money on it.
- ANSWER:
  it is impossible for me to sit here and tell you how much it will cost…or anybody else for that matter. call some contractors and have them look at it. there may be a few hours work or a few days worth of work…
QUESTION:
How much should I expect to pay for a plumbing estimate when buying a house?
From the initial building inspection some problems were found under the house (raised foundation). My real estate agent said the estimate alone would take 1.5 hrs and cost 0. Isn’t that way too high for an estimate only? Especially since the individual would get the job.
- ANSWER:
  I think you should consult some other home inspection service provider like inspections florida as they would give you accurate estimation on how much you have to spend on what problems in your house. I got my home inspected from them and I got my home repaired in a very affordable cost. You can also give it a try and take some decision about the work to be done on the house.
QUESTION:
On average how much does foundation repair cost?
We have one corner of our house that has already been repaired by the previous owner, but now the grout outside is getting cracks in it again. That’s the only area of the house that has problems. We are going to get professional estimates, but I’d like to hear input from others.
My husband has looked at the foundation from where he can and the slab is NOT cracked, so perhaps it is just cosmetic.

We live on that black land soil which cracks during the summer.
- ANSWER:
  It is not uncommon in Texas for houses to have concrete slab foundations with cracks at the corners. This is not generally associated with an actual cracked slab but is due to stress at the corners. This can be cosmetically repaired if you like for 0 or so per corner but may not last long. You can even make the repairs yourself.
  
  If the foundations is truly cracked and you have walls that are also cracked and/or doors which will not close properly, then might you have more serious problems and need professional help. The average foundation repairs are in the range of ,000 to ,000 depending upon the type of repairs required, how deep they have to dig around your house, the number of pilings they have to place into the ground, etc.
QUESTION:
Proper accounting procedures for a house and improvements.?
I work for a church. Three years ago the church bought a house.
1)The original purchase price is an asset on the books and is not depreciated.
2)Immediately upon purchase the church made extensive repairs to the foundation. These repairs were added to the original cost and have not been depreciated.
3)Now, in year three, the church has put in a new roof and remodeled the kitchen.
Should any or all of these items be depreciated? We aren’t concerned with tax consequences (we don’t pay taxes), but how, according to GAAP, these items should be treated.
- ANSWER:
  Which GAAP ?
  
  What is the house for – I assume used in the activities (e.g. for staff to live in) – the answers might be different if held for investment purposes.
  
  1) asset – yes; not depreciated – no – it should be depreciated.
  2) if normal repairs, they should have been expensed. However, if the purchase price was reduced because of that, the cost can be capitalised.
  3) roof – not sure; kitchen – probably capitalise as improvement
QUESTION:
Would homeowners insurance help with the cost of foundation repair?
I have noticed cracks on the wall of the house. That probably means that the foundation has cracked.
- ANSWER:
  Homeowner’s insurance does not cover foundation failures in most cases. Insurance covers unexpected and sudden problems; foundation cracks usually happen over a period of time. The insurance also will not cover the cracks in the wall if caused by a foundation failure.
QUESTION:
What can be done for a house foundation which is settling unevenly?
The foundation of my house seems to be settling unevenly. The garage area is sinking faster than the rest of the house, and it is starting to cause cracks in the walls. What can be done to stop or reverse this before it gets too bad? The house is about 40 years old.
- ANSWER:
  Call a foundation expert to assess the problem and recommend repairs. You can’t do this yourself.
  
  There is a new process called hydro-jacking which may be an option for you as an alternative to having new piers placed under the slab. Hydraulic cement is injected in strategic locations under the slab to level out low spots, is less labor-intensive than trenching around the foundation and can be done for a fraction of what a typical repair job will cost. Ask the contractor who comes to see you about this.
  
  Once the foundation repair is complete you may have to address water problems that caused the slab to sink in the first place. Gutters/downspouts, french drains, etc. are cheap insurance.
QUESTION:
house with foundation problems,is it savalable or is there no hope once a house has foundation problems?
The seller reduced the asking price to ,000 today. The house has a foundation crack, with some damage to the bathroom walls. A repair inspection was done and the cost to repair the foundation totaled about ,800 – ,000.

Other than that, the house is in good condition, with original hardwood floors. I know the seller is anxious to sell the house.
- ANSWER:
  How do you know the foundation has problems? Foundation cracks and stair-stepping on walls can be signs of “settling” just as often as a sign of a foundations with questionable structural integrity. Settling is easy and generally inexpensive to fix. Is most the cosmetic damage in one place in the home? if so, are there huge trees nearby or lots of bushes that have extensive root systems that ‘suck’ the water in the ground under the foundation causing it to settle? Did the company that quoted ,800 to ,000 determine the cause of the settling or just how much it would be to put their 12 piers (i’m guessing here, 5 a piece or so???) to (temporarily) stabilize the foundation?
  
  if you haven’t answered the WHY of the settling you shouldn’t consider the HOW of the fix. get a structural engineer out.
QUESTION:
how can I repair the foundation of my house with little cost? The house was built in 1927?
The foundation is made up of red brick, this is a two story house.I have no idea of what or how to do this type of work,
but I have to get it fixed.
- ANSWER:
  repairing the foundation can be expensive.depends on what you mean about little cost and how much needs too be repaired.get estimates from several sources preferable from people you know who have had work done.Be careful,who you hire.
QUESTION:
Is the cost of foundation repair worth it on an older home?

If you’re not planning (necessarily) to keep it for the duration, is the repair investment going to have a great return if it’s sold?
- ANSWER:
  Tony H;
  It will be money well spent, besides, what other option is there, other than tearing down the building.
  A leaking foundation will degrade the house value, and cause mold and other health issues.
QUESTION:
What is an average cost for repairing a front porch. It is composed of 2 sandstone slabs & supports a railing?
The concrete connecting the railing has deteriorated as has the concrete sealing it to the house. The slab now shifts when stepped on. The cinder blocks underneath also appear to have sunk.
- ANSWER:
  You shouldn’t pay more than – sqft (demolition your previous concrete is included) to pour the porch. Usually we charge 0 to install 100 blocks. To pour foundation it’s about for liner foot. So if your perimeter is 12′ by 22′ it should be about 0.
QUESTION:
What can I do about the foundation on my house settling?
One side of the house is settling and is causing the tile to crack in my kitchen floor. I need to figure out how to make the house level again. Any suggestions would be wonderful thank you!
- ANSWER:
  You must get a certified foundation company now. This can cause more problems than you immagine. The home will be very hard to sell if you don’t. But the main thing is so much more can happen to the walls and cost you so much more money in the long run. Seek a foundation repair company now. They are in the phone book under foundation.
QUESTION:
Limestone foundation: is it worth the cost of finishing the basement?
I have a 90+ year old house with crumbly, limestone foundation. The unfinished basement only leaks in extreme weather (once/year, just enough to stain the floor, but not puddle). I’d like to reclaim some square footage by turning the space into an office/living area. What moisture factors should I be aware of? How can I minimize the threat of water damage? Would finishing the attic be a better idea?

Thanks in advance.
- ANSWER:
  An important factor here is your outside drainage. Another no so important is basement ceiling height (your home’s age usually indicates a lower ceiling).
  
  Hopefully your drainage is such that it can be easily cleaned or updated. If part of the basement is above ground, that is you live on a hill, then you are home free. That is the best way to fix your moisture problem and because this would be a necessary fix to your home anyway, this could be considered a non cost to your project.
  
  Ceiling height is important for comfort, air quality and resale value. If your ceiling is lower than eight feet, consider “digging down”. Look at costs and feasibility. This would also be a repair needed regardless of the finishing.
  
  My preference would be to finish the basement and would do so unless either of these improvements show to be cost prohibitive.
QUESTION:
What is the average cost of foundation repair in the DFW area?
Looking for ball park figure for 1600 sq ft house.
- ANSWER:
  I don’t know the average, but I do know it is very expensive. Ranging from 00 to ,000 and more. I’m in Plano.
QUESTION:
How much lower should you offer from a seller’s asking price?
We’re looking at a home listed for 130,000 in a very rural community. We would really love to get the house of a little less. We also want the sellers to pay some or all of the closing cost. The house is unoccupied at the time. Is there a percent that you can go by. The real state market in the area is overwhelmed with listings and not many people looking to relocate to the area.
- ANSWER:
  There is no general percentage. There is a chance this house is already listed below market to draw interest, with the idea that that is the final number.
  
  Getting the seller to pay closing costs is something you can put in the offer, but you need to be specific with an amount – they vary wildly. And a lot of sellers just want as clean of a deal as possible, so adding 10 requirements could just bog down the offer.
  
  So look at what similar homes are going for in the area. Since it’s rural you may need to look at old data, then reduce that price by the average that real estate is down in your county (which will compensate for the state of the real estate market). Then subtract large immediately necessary repairs (roof, a/c, foundation bracing, septic/well), and you’ll come to a good number.
  
  If you are cash strapped and want them to cover closing costs, add the amount of closing costs to your “good number” from above (so you will be paying “more” for the house).
  
  Keep in mind if this house has been sitting vacant the sellers may have been paying 2 mortgage payments for some time and are even more broke than you. Selling the house may not net them any cash to hand over to you. So it’s possible that any offer with such terms will be immediately turned down.
  
  Hope this helps.
QUESTION:
How do I repair a crack in a mortar joint of a concrete block foundation?
I recently noticed a “stair step” crack in my foundation’s mortar joint. Foundation company came to my house and said the foundation was okay. My question is, how do I fix the mortar joint? Is there some kind of product you’d recommend to fill the crack to keep water out?
- ANSWER:
  water stopping cement or hydraulic cement you can buy a small tub at home depot or any hardware store mix with water to consistancy of mayonaise and fill in cracks quickly the stuff sets up very quickly cost abot 6–8 dollars takes 3-5 minutes if you notice the concrete is not even take a wet (soaking) rag and wipe across concrete until desired result is acheived. you must do that immediatly or it will not work!!!!! good luck
QUESTION:
Should I buy a house that has foundation problems?
I am thinking about buying a ranch style house that was built on a slab of cement. The problem is in the living room. The floor is unlevel in the middle for about 12 feet. I think this means there is a crack in the cement slab. I have not signed any contract or put any earnest money on the house. Should I buy this house?
- ANSWER:
  Find out how much it will cost to repair, then ask the owners to either make a concession to give you cash for the repair at closing or take that $$$ off the price of the house.
  
  Foundation problems are common in TX. Is this where the house is? They can be very expensive to fix. Tread carefully on this one.
QUESTION:
How much does it cost to get rid of wood eating ants?
I was just wondering what other people have had to pay. Which service company offers the best price? My house is 1600 sq ft. And when we took out some trees/stumps all of a sudden now we have carpender ants.
- ANSWER:
  Hello. My name is Richie. I am an electrician and a home improvement expert. I will help you the best I can.
  About all you can do is prevent them from getting in your home. Get a big spray bottle of ant and bug spray, spray the perimeter of the house, where the house meets the dirt. Also, use spray that is odor free (they say that but there still is a smell) and spray the areas where you see them most and along the base boards of the exterior walls the same as where you have sprayed outside.
  To prevent them form being a problem:
  Keep all trees and bushes trimmed so branches do not touch or come in contact with the house. Correct moisture problems such as leaking roofs, leaking chimney flashing, or plumbing, poorly ventilated attics or crawl spaces and blocked gutters. Replace rotted or water-damaged wood and eliminate places where wood comes in contact with soil. Remove dead stumps, logs and firewood within 50 feet of the house, especially in Summer months. Repair trees with damage and broken limbs or holes in the trunk. Seal cracks and crevices in the foundation, especially where utility pipes and wiring occur from outside. Be sure to store firewood off the ground away from the house and bring in only enough firewood to be used quickly . Consider non-organic mulches near the house in heavily infested ant areas. High moisture conditions must be eliminated to help control carpenter ants, prevent future attacks and prevent “wood decay” fungus infection.
  Good luck and God Bless. Jesus Christ loves you.
QUESTION:
What is the approximate cost of having a house leveled?
I am looking at purchasing a home and we just had a home inspection done yesterday. The house has some settlement issues and needs some work. We are getting a good deal on the house b/c it does need work. I would just like to know an approximate amount on having the floors leveled. My husband could possibly do it himself, but would rather pay someone if it is not going to be too expensive. Also, the house is only one story, incase that matters. I’m sure a 2-story house would cost more. Anyways if I could possibly get an estimate from someone it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I am located in North Alabama and the house is on a crawl space. The inspector told us that there were some leaning, missing and fallen columns under the house.
- ANSWER:
  you failed to mention what area you are in and whether you are on a slab or a crawl space. IF the issue is because of the foundation it “could” cost an avgerage of 00.00.
  But repairs can range from 1200.00 to 40000.00.
  
  If you are on a crawl and the wood floors need replaced, cost would depend on amount of sqare feet and whether the joists need to be supported from underneath.
  
  Here is what I would do. Call serveral contractors and ask them to bid out the job. The estimate should be free. If they are hungry, they will do it for free and give a little lower price.
  
  If you do not know who to call, in our area we have an organiztion called, Angies List. It is comprised of reviews from the members and they rate thier workmanship and price for value. ( they only keep good companies that know what they are doing.)
  
  Hope this helps
QUESTION:
just to give me an idea, how much can a cracked or sinking foundation cost to repair?
we are looking to buy a cute home, but the foundation is cracked and one wall is sinking…we may think it is worth it depending on repair costs. I just need and average cost nubmer just to have an idea of what we would be getting into.
- ANSWER:
  Wow! That’s just about rebuilding the whole house – think about it! The foundation – just by definition it means the base , in this case, of the house. You are looking at at least 20K maybe on up to 50K depending on the size and the land it’s being erected on – there could be an underlying problem – sinkholes, etc. – Seems like a bad investment unless you tear it down and start over! Remember – you get what you pay for!
QUESTION:
How much does it cost to repair cracked foundation?
I’m looking into buying a house, but the garage floor is cracked. The house is on a hill, and one corner is definitely sloping down the hill. The room upstairs is sloping down, as well as the garage. Other than that only the garage floor has a noticeable crack. How much does it cost to get it replaced?
- ANSWER:
  All the advise above is pretty much on the mark, apart from anyone mentioning trying to ascertain what’s the cause of the failure. Fixing the foundations only to have the problem raise its ugly head again because you haven’t fixed the cause of the failure could be devastating. You say the house is on the side of a hill, how would you know if the hill isn’t prone to landslides which could be the cause of the failure and no matter how well you fix the foundation one day the whole house could slide away? If the problem is that the original foundations were only under size, go for it if you can get it cheap enough.
  
  Fixing foundations isn’t as big a job that most in the industry would have you believe, after all the harder you believe it is, the more they can charge. Most of the time it’s as easy as digging a hole alongside the problem section of foundation, about 3 to 4 feet deeper than the bottom of the foundation, allowing you to dig out underneath the problem area, so as to be able to jack that section up to level with the rest of the house. Then pour a concrete pad say 1 ½ foot to 2 foot deep and 2 foot square then install a pier much like in this picture, but hopeful neater than the picture seeing trying to find a better picture could of taken some time.
  
  It woud only be a guess giving you a rough price to repair your foundation without knowing what’s the problem.
  
  TEX my red neck friend and which school of building did you spend 3 years studying at? Plus I didn’t say it was always an easy fix if you can even read and for your information that’s not my picture, I did say it was a poor example seeing I did feel up to searching for a better example.
  
  And that picture in some way proves my point seeing the person who did the repair was the owner not a professional!
  
  I suppose to a pencil pusher who’s never did a hard days work before, it would be hard and maybe a pig farmer might find it difficult, just where do you sit in that mix, pig farmer or pencil pusher?
  
  http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/1052257997016067599AQCvGW
QUESTION:
How much will foundation repair on my home cost??
I have just moved into a hundred year old home that is sagging on one side. I want to know what kind of options I have before I purchase this house. Is there a cost effective way of fixing this problem????
- ANSWER:
  sounds like you ought to pass it by.
  contractors costs are with out a doubt, going to get expensive.
  
  Think about, how much dammage has the sag caused to the surrounding structure, and how long has that sag been ignored?
QUESTION:
How realistic is it to raise a house and redo/repair the foundation? A cost in extremely ball park figures?
My has a very shallow basement, about 7ft from floor to ceiling, not counting plumping and duct work. There is also a large wooden support beam running half the length of the basement, held up by temporary jacks, that drops that down to around 6ft. Also there are many areas where the previous owner tried to fix the basement ceiling with pieces of sheet rock. I have a mild moisture problem. I will be installing rain gutters. The floor is not well leveled. One wall of the foundation also has a slight bulge to it, and it seems that there may have been cracks or breaks in the walls that they tried to cover up. I may also have a problem with settling, I dont know. The home is built on an extremly narrow lot, 31ft face, with only a couple feet to the property line, and less than 10 feet between my house and the homes to the next. How feasable would it be to redo the entire foundation, raising the house (or lowering the basement floor)?
- ANSWER:
  I had my house done about 5 years ago they had to put piers in the front of it. And my house was brand new with wood floors throughout the house. It worked wonderful had to make some drywall repairs but it was nice to have it right. The cost was 6000.00 or a little more
QUESTION:
what would it cost to repair a foundation wall that has colapsed?
I’m interested in a home which has one side of the foundation colapsed, how much would it cost to repair something like that?
- ANSWER:
  You really are going to have to call in a structural engineer to look at that.
  
  As already noted… you didn’t specify where the home is (labor rates vary from region to region), what kind of foundation it is (stone, concrete, etc), how much has collapsed (dimensions).. etc, and etc….
  
  There’s no way you’re going to get a serious, accurate answer, without all those details being looked at by a structural engineer. I will say, its likely to be expensive. Excavating may be necessary, as well as temporarily supporting the home while the foundation is repaired. If you are only ‘mildly’ interested, I’d suggest you pass on this house. If you really like it, then get that inspection by a structural engineer. The engineer can tell you what needs to be done, and about how much it will cost. Then you can use that information to negotiate with the seller.
  
  Good Luck
QUESTION:
What is the cost to repair/replace a house foundation (concrete slab) in the bay area (Saratoga, CA)?
I put an offer on a bank owned foreclosure at 1K it was listed on the MLS for 0K (on zillow its worth 1.5 million). However I noticed the house (built in 1950 with concrete slab foundation, wood and stucco exterior, ranch style 1600 sq ft home on a 13000 sq lot) has many problems but I’m mostly concerned with the foundation of the house. If I buy this home I won’t have much money left. And I want to know how much it would cost me to fix or replace it. I noticed the floors slope and bulge in certain areas. Any suggestions about who is really knowledgable and honest I should hire to inspect and/or fix the foundation? Because I have no idea how bad the foundation is. The house seems to be in living condition but I don’t want to take any unneccessary risks. Plus because it is a foreclosure I don’t have any idea what else is wrong with the property. Do you think if there is anything wrong with the house the bank would give me credits or negotiate a lower price? Thank you.
- ANSWER:
  I have represented buyers that have had issues with foundations and in every situation a Structural Engineer was hired for a specific inspection. A regular home inspector is often not qualified to make such an assessment.
  
  Foundation problems vary greatly. But a slab that slopes and bulges puts up some major red flags to what is going on beneath the slab. A slab is nothing but a piece of concrete and concrete doesn’t “give” much. You could be looking at a repair cost of a few hundred dollars or something like ,000. Regardless of the engineers findings, keep the report for the sake of future buyers of the property!
QUESTION:
What does it cost to repair a leaky basement?
One corner of my basement is leaking. So far it’s small, at the base. What are ranges of costs for various methods of repair?
- ANSWER:
  You should first determine where the water is coming from. Many times leaky corners are caused by downspouts that empty at or near the foundation. If that is your case, add an extension at the bottom elbow to direct the water away from the house. If it is not the case, look at your site and see if the ground slopes away from the house as it should, or if you have something there like a shrubbery that may be holding water next to the wall. Once you determine where the water is coming from and eliminate the root cause, let things dry for a few weeks and clean and treat or paint the wall as you wish. Just be certain to find the source or you may be doing this all over again soon.
QUESTION:
What can cause a house to fail inspection in Missouri? How serious do defects have to be?
In the house we are looking to buy, there are problems like paint peeling off walls, light fixtures being loose and electrical outlets not having covers on them, minor things we could easily repair ourselves with little cost because we own many of the supplies. Could this cause the house we want to buy to fail the inspection?
No, I am not trying to back out of any earnest money. Im just not sure how/what kind of things inspectors look for and how hard they look at things. It’s an inspection for a FHA loan.
- ANSWER:
  to did not indicate what inspection you meant; if you mean
  an inspection for your house insurance; no. IF you mean for
  an occupancy permit; yes. Different lenders require
  different things to be taken care of so that you will be
  inspired to pay the mortgage and not get caught with
  a “real estate sink hole.”
  
  IN some cases, an inspection can find non-remedial problems
  like faulty foundations, bad tresses, contaminated wells, and more.
  
  Some people have bought houses that soon strained their
  skill levels and savings.
QUESTION:
How much would it cost to fix loose bricks on a home?
Located beneath a window maybe about a total of 16-25sq ft. Bricks are sort of popping out about .25inc. House was built is 1965, It’s about to have some minor foundation work done. Just wanted to know about how much it would cost to repair that section of brick. Thanks for your help! =)
- ANSWER:
  Answer:
  
  I have done this before. It took about 2 hours and cost about .
  *I took a digital picture of the way it looked
  *pulled the bricks out
  *chipped away some of the old loose mortar
  *went to Home Depot and bought a bag of mortar for , and trowel for
  *mixed the mortar in a bucket until it was as thick as pancake batter
  *put a bit in each space and packed it all back together.
  * I used old plastic CD cases to get the spacing right
  
  That was about 10 years ago. It still looks perfect!
  If you get right up and stick your nose on the bricks you can tell the difference. But, nobody ever bends down and gets that picky about my brick repair job.
  
  Good luck.
  
  P.S. Mortar dries better in warm weather. Make sure it’s not raining or freezing when you do this. Don’t mix more mortar than you are going to use in about 15-20 minutes.
QUESTION:
How much does raising of settling house foundation cost in the mid west?
If the settling is in one room?
- ANSWER:
  That is like asking “how much is my house worth” You will need to contact licensed contractors to get estimates. Make sure you check references. The job could get very expensive if you hire the cheapest contractor and they don’t know what they are doing. The complexity of the repair will determine the cost of the work.
QUESTION:
The stucco around the base of my house is peeling off. How can I do it myself?
Should I power wash my house prior to the repair? What tools should I use?
- ANSWER:
  I would not power wash the stucco covering on my foundation and retaining walls. At least I will not now since I tried that about two years ago and knocked off most of the stucco.
  
  There is a glop sold in big buckets that will redo stucco on exterior surfaces. The two problems with it are getting a smooth surface on it and getting the color to match. If it is just a little problem in an out of the way corner you could try that. Tap the stucco with your knuckle to see if it is all loose or just one spot.
  
  I had about 100 running feet of loose stucco. I tried the glop unsuccessfully one year. Finally I called a local mason who quoted me 0. He came in one day, knocked it all off and tossed it into his truck for disposal. He came back the next two days with cement and sand and smoothly redid it all. He also replaced a cracked paving square, climbed up on roof to inspect chimney top, and tightened chimney cap while he was here at no added cost.
QUESTION:
Where can I find information to repair my pier and beams on island?
I live in texas on a coastal island Every rain and my yard floods I need to replace and repair posts beams in silt and sand. If I have to hire it done I still need to know how because most foundation companys around here are less than honest. While at it should I just raise the house up a level?
- ANSWER:
  Greetings!
  
  What you really need to do is consult with a structural engineer. Having a contractor without using an engineer, or doing it yourself may void your insurance policy should there be a mishap.
  Also it is not a cheap undertaking. The engineer will also give you an reliable estimate as to what the work would cost.
  Also he would be able to answer questions you have not even thought about yet.
  
  Good luck
QUESTION:
How necessesary is it that we put DryLok on the walls and put in a sump pump?
We bought our house three years ago and hold mold remediation done to the basement. There was a dirt floor, cement walls and we had a dehumidifier running all the time. We just poured cement to finish off the basement yesterday. How necessesary is it that we put DryLok on the walls and put in a sump pump? If it is important to do so, how soon should we do this after pouring the cement?
- ANSWER:
  Insulate all cold water pipes to prevent condensation. When possible, insulated ducts are a great idea too to prevent condensation from accumulating on the ducts in the ceiling when the air conditioning is running. But this is not always practical.
  
  DO NOT PAINT YOUR WALLS, even with Drylok or waterproofing paint. Concrete does not support fungal (mold) growth. Paint does. Even most antimicrobial and antifungal paints and coatings will eventually grow mold if the conditions are right. Also, do not attach insulation directly to the foundation walls. It behaves as a moisture trap and can also hide structural problems and cracks in the foundation. Bottom line: basement walls need to breathe too.
  
  How ‘bout a little elbow room?: Although this is sometimes impractical and you can lose a lot of square footage, building the wall at least 18 inches away from the foundation gives you permanent access to your foundation and allows enough air movement that ventilation and dehumidification can work together to the fullest. Also, if you ever need to perform any repairs to the foundation, it can be done with little additional cost and destruction. It also makes upgrading wiring, plumbing, sound systems etc. much easier and less expensive.
  
  Use metal studs or, if you use wooden studs, make sure to put in a pressure-treated sill plate. As a rule, untreated wood and any porous or absorptive building materials should never be in direct contact with concrete. A concrete slab and foundation can contain thousands of pounds of water and will gladly transfer that moisture into anything porous and absorptive it touches. Once the moisture gets in and stays, mold growth, and eventually rot, are inevitable. So keep wood, drywall, carpet, carpet padding, tack strips, etc. away from direct contact with concrete.
  
  Insulate properly: Although some building code officials do not like rigid insulation, it is a preferred material for moisture-prone areas such as basement. Unlike traditional fiberglass batt insulation that you will find in most attics and wall cavities, rigid insulation will not absorb water. Also, rigid insulation contains no nutrition to support mold growth but the paper backing on many kinds of fiberglass batt insulation does. Building code officials don’t like rigid insulation sometimes because in the event of a fire, the gases are deadly. So if that scares you or your local building code official too much, then fiberglass batt insulation is your best bet. Johns Manville makes a Formaldehyde-Free fiberglass batt insulation that is great for families concerned about indoor air quality. You’ll know you’ve found it because it is white, fluffy and encased in plastic.
  
  Heat and air condition the basement just like the upstairs. Consult with a NASE certified HVAC technician to prevent losing heating and cooling efficiency upstairs.
  
  No carpet. No hardwood floors. Ceramic tile is the preferred choice. Pergo is often recommended but I have my reservations. Pergo, as with all laminate flooring, is made by taking fiberboard planks and wrapping decorative laminate sheeting around it. The fiberboard inside is a favorite on the menu mold likes to eat from most. If you insist on carpet don’t overspend, seal the slab with an epoxy-based concrete floor sealer, use no carpet padding, and install Dri-Core (www.dricore.com) or Sub-Flor (www.subflor.com) raised-floor systems on the slab. Then put your carpet over the raised floor system. If you flood, for whatever reason, the carpet will need to be professionally dried within 24 hours, or it is garbage. Period.
  
  No drywall on exterior walls. This includes “green-board”, “blue-board” or any paper-faced gypsum wallboard. All of it will get moldy in a wet environment. On exterior walls, Dens-Armor Plus by Georgia-Pacific is the only way to go. It has no mold-friendly nutrients and is just as easy to work with as standard drywall. At this writing, the only problem with Dens-Armor Plus is that it is has a slightly different surface texture when compared to traditional drywall. It requires more primer and more paint to even out the surface. When I called Georgia-Pacific to ask them about this they assured me that they are working hard to remedy this.
  
  Get it up: Regardless of the type of wallboard you use, keep at least a 2-inch gap between the bottom edge of the wallboard and the slab to prevent wicking in the event of water intrusion or release. Use molding along the bottom to cover the gap for aesthetic reasons. Do not let the drywall touch the foundation walls either.
  
  Get exhausted: If bathrooms or a kitchen are part of the plan, exhaust fans vented to the outside are a must.
  
  Stuff it: Anything stored in the unfinished areas should be in Rubbermaid containers or, at least, up on shelves.
QUESTION:
How much does it cost to waterproof a basement?
I have seepage in my basement through cracks in the cement foundation & through cinder block walls.
- ANSWER:
  Stop any leaks from the edges of your home. Check around the outside of your house. Make sure the ground does not slope towards the foundation. If it does, use a shovel to raise it. You can do this by adding dirt sloping away from the foundation. The dirt should be slopped between 1 and 2 inches per foot, and extend approximately 10 feet out.
  Step2Maintain downspouts and gutters. It is very important to have properly working gutters and downspouts. Clear the gutters of any debris. Check to be certain your downspouts release the water 5 feet or more away from the foundation of the house. You can use a splash block at the base of your downspouts to do this.
  Step3Check your landscaping. Make sure any type of landscaping (trees, bushes, flowers or any other plants) is no closer than 1 foot from the foundation. Also be sure to slope around landscaping to keep water away from the house.
  Step4Get rid of condensation. If moisture gathers on the surfaces of the basements floors, walls or cold water pipes, the basement needs better ventilation. Insulate the cold water pipes and make sure you maintain the ventilation of your basement by using heat in the cold months and air conditioning in the hotter months. Sunlight and a dehumidifier will also help get rid of condensation in your basement.
  Step5Fix any holes or cracks. Check the interior walls of the basement for cracks or holes. The area around pipes is a common leakage area. You can use regular patching mortar and a trowel for these types of small repairs.
  Step6Waterproof your interior walls. You can use specially made cement formulas to waterproof the interior walls of the basement. Many of these unique formulas will even stop small leaks.
  Things You’ll Need:
  Shovel
  Dirt
  Gutters
  Downspouts
  Splash block
  Pipe insulation
  Dehumidifier
  Patching mortar
  Trowel
  Cement formulas (epoxy or latex)
  
  Repair hairline cracks smaller than 1/8 inch using a waterproofing mix. You need to clean out and patch larger cracks. Make sure you wear work gloves when handling chemicals.
  Step2Make your mortar fill cracks and holes. Mix one part cement and two parts fine sand with enough water to make a fairly stiff consistency.
  Step3Apply your mortar using a trowel or putty knife into cracks where water simply seeps through the wall. If outside pressure forces water through the wall, chip out a dovetail groove using a chipping chisel and hammer along the entire length of the crack.
  Step4Fix holes in the wall the same way by chipping out the broken area in a dovetail groove. Once you’ve chipped away all of the broken area around the hole, fill it with your mortar mixture and smooth it out with a trowel.
  Step5Insert a weep pipe through the wall if the outside water is trapped against the wall and is under pressure to escape. Insert the weep pipe where the wall and floor meet or where the pressure is greatest.
  Step6Fill the crack completely with mortar where you installed the weep pipe, beginning at the top and working to the bottom. Set the mortar until thoroughly dry. If the water running through the pipe slows to a trickle, remove the pipe and fill the hole. Leave the pipe in place if water is still significantly running and run this water into a sewer drain with a hose.
  Step7Remove the pipe, patch the hole and make a cement plug by rolling your mortar mixture into a cone shape that’s a bit larger than the hole. Put the cone’s smaller end into the hole where you removed the pipe and tap it into place. Hold the plug for five minutes until it’s set. Now you’re ready to waterproof.
  Waterproof the wall and floor
  Step1Moisten the basement walls with a gardening hose set to a fine spray. The walls must be damp with no water standing on the surface before applying the waterproofing mix.
  Step2Purchase epoxy or latex waterproof mixes to treat your walls and floor. Follow the product’s instructions carefully. You also can make your own mixture of plain cement and water to coat your walls and floor. The mix should be the consistency of cream.
  Step3Rub your waterproof mix into the wall using a stiff brush in a circular motion. Be sure to fill every pore.
  Step4Begin by applying your coat at the bottom of the wall, then brushing your waterproofing mix to the top. Slowly move back down to the bottom, applying additional coats. Apply only over the area where leakage was a problem, and be sure to completely cover the area.
  Step5Spray the area with water after the coating dries. Soak it completely and let it set for 12 hours.
  Step6Wet down the area with a garden hose once the wall has dried. Apply a second coat of waterproofing mixture to your basement.
  Pack a leaking floor joint
  Step1Determine if your leaking problem is near the joint at the floor and wall. Clean the area on the floor before applying your waterproofing mix.
  Step2Chisel out a a dovetail joint where the wall and floor meet if the leaking is heavy. Chip along the entire floor joint a
QUESTION:
Cracked Foundation repaired with epoxy cracked again?
on the inside wall of the garage close to the middle of poured concrete foundation is craked on the inside of the house aproximatley 3 feet long. this foundation has been repaired with epoxy.although the house must still be serttling (4 years old)
where the foundation has been repaired it is craking in the same spot about 2mm-3mm wide crack.
what wouuld be the cause of this and what can be done to remedy the situation?if possible how costley would this be to fix.
this is an inside wall from a 2 car garage.
- ANSWER:
  twood has hit it, it is a very costly problem. The house would have to be jacked, then the wall removed and replaced, then it needs to set up THEN maybe if all is well your house can be dropped. App. time 4-5 months ( in best scenario). Cost depends on the size. If you have a warranty with your house I would be checking into that. Otherwise the rest is your decision to fix it or leave it. Worst case the wall could slip your house falls in. Best of luck to you.
QUESTION:
How much to charge to paint a foundation?
A person wants me to paint the outside foundation of their house, and I don’t know how to bid the job…it’s the stuco part at the bottom. I don’t know how long it will take ( their are bush’s part way around. How do they price something like this???
- ANSWER:
  One option when not familiar with work is time and materials basis: Tell the person that you will do it on a time and materials basis…that is they can supply the paint and materials and you will supply the labor…it will take as long as it takes to paint it. Depending on your relationship with these folks you might paint a section of the job on T&M basis then bid the rest of the job or keep to T&M. Not much to risk on their part…and no risk on your part. Home owners dont like this approach because they feel like you will work slower and more expensively than you would if you bid it as a job.
  
  Another option is to bid it as a job, whatever you tell them it will cost is what they will pay you and no more. Unless you are careful you will lose on this type of bid – or if really cautious you will over bid it…either way you’ll likely not get the job. This hard bid or job bid is tough as often there will be changed circumstances for example what if you find a section of stucco that is rotten – are you willing and able to explain to them that this is a changed condition and that your original price did not include repair?
  
  How to bid it:
  1. Calculate the area in square feet of the foundation to be painted.
  2. Figure out how much paint and other materials you need. Paint, drop cloths, brushes , rollers, scaffolding or ladders – do you need to prime the surfaces to be painted?
  3. Specify the type of preparation you will do – ie scraping off old paint or are you only going to pressure wash it? Tell them that minor caulking etc is OK but anything more is considered a repair and not part of your bid.
  4. Figure out how much time it will take to pressure wash, figure out how much time it will take to paint. Once you have the time numbers double the amount of time unless you are really confident in your assessment.
  5. Figure out your wage per hour, multiply by number of hours and add in cost of materials if you are buying those add 15%.
  
  Good luck – my recommendation is you go time and materials until you know what you are doing.
QUESTION:
Does anyone know the average cost of repairing the foundation of a 1911 craftsman house (1,549 sqft)?
The house is located in Los Angeles, CA. and I think the house is being held up by a pier and beam foundation. The floor areas are sinking and some doors and windows are starting to stick. Do we go with a contractor or structural engineer? Has anyone used Servicemagic.com?
- ANSWER:
  Usually they’ll just put your home up on jacks…it shouldn’t be that much. We got under my house and did it ourselves. The kitchen floor wasn’t even when we moved it and it bothered me!
QUESTION:
How do you know whether a house has to many issues before you buy?
I am a first time home buyer under contract on a home. The agreed sales price in 0,000. The inspection turned up problems with the rear wall foundation (“bending failure”) and there are a number of leaks in the roof. The house was priced low because it is in general disrepair, however, these issues were unknown before the inspection. How do I approach the seller in the negotiation when these items were not in the seller’s disclosure? How much do I deduct from my offer to account for repairs?
- ANSWER:
  You have several options. You can negotiate a lower price for the house to cover the cost of repairs (you should be able to get free estimates from a general contractor for these repairs), you can ask them to complete the repairs before closing at their expense with the price of the house staying the same, or you can walk away from the deal stating that they didn’t disclose all of the homes problems.
  
  I don’t know if you will lose your earnest money on the last option. Your real estate agent should be telling you all of these things.
QUESTION:
How serious is a crack in the foundation of a house that is 7 years old?
Looked at a house for sale. We really like it but it had a long crack across the tiled floor. It has been repaired. New tile and grout where it was cracked. It was quite long. Think it is alright? Is this very common?
- ANSWER:
  Get a knowledgeable inspector or structural engineer to evaluate the problem.
  
  Alternatively, you might call a foundation repair company for a free estimate.
  
  This way you will not only find out what the problem is, but also what needs to be done and how much it will cost to have it done.
  
  You can then, negotiate down the price of the property, based on that written estimate or demand that the seller fix it before closing the deal.
  
  If you really like the place, you might be able to get a good deal here.
QUESTION:
What is the best way to repair cracked cinderblock basement?
We are thinking of buying a house with a bad cement block basement,it has vertical & horizontal cracks.We want to do it cost effective but lasting.
- ANSWER:
  First you have to ensure that this is not due to the foundations sinking? if that is the problem then Underpinning $$$$$$ is the solution, its a worry that you have both the vertical and horizontal cracks, good luck
QUESTION:
What is the best way to consolidate debt?
I have a lot of credit card debt. We are now starting to pay them off, but the apr’s are so high (29.99%) it’s hard to even see it drop. I do not have a house to use as equity. Have never filed for bankruptcy or anything like that. We just have a very high debt to income ratio. Credit score is well below 700 as well. What is the best option to consolidate the cards to one lower apr? I cannot get new cards either, so that is out of the question.
- ANSWER:
  Don’t consolidate.
  Go to the governement non-profit website established to help people like you.
  National Foundation for Consumer Credit Councelling.
  NFCC.org
  Goodness – how I wish the government would spend some money and advertise this.
  They will help you at no cost.
  If they put you on a DMP program – max cost 25 a month – but only if you can afford it.
  Go to the site – call the 800 number and make an appointment at a local office.
  Reviews call them angels from above.
  Negative reviews say it’s embarrassing – that’s about it.
  In the DMP program the councellors will contact your creditors and see if they can reduce payments, lower interest, settle, etc.
  
  Also get a good book on Credit and Debt Repair from your library.
  Everything these councellors do is in books – you could easily do it all yourself.
  /
QUESTION:
Cost to repair leaking sewer pipe and add drain pipe access?
I recently discovered a leak in my sewer line, which is a galvanized pipe that goes through the foundation of my house. To repair, the plumber quoted 20 feet of replacement plastic piping and adding a drain access for 0 that would take about 3 hours to repair. Is that a reasonable cost or should I get quoted elsewhere?
- ANSWER:
  0 sounds almost too good.
  If he’s gotta take up or alter the foundation in any way, 0 is way too low.
  I would find out exactly what he’s going to do and get a few more quotes.
QUESTION:
what is the most cost effective way to repair a block foundation?
me and my wife just looked at a house and the block foundation in visibly buckling, whats the best way to fix that of possible
- ANSWER:
  That’s not a good question and it usualy doesn’t get a good answer.The footer most likily heaved and caused the foundation to buckel. You didn;’t have the proper frost depth.set for the footer.I’d walk away from this one
QUESTION:
How much would it cost to fix my house?
My house is pretty old, about 107 years old. The house is a decent size; three bedrooms, living room, kitchen, and a bathroom. The only bad thing is there isn’t central heating and cooling so it gets pretty hot in the summer and super cold in the winter.

This is what needs to be fixed; windows (8), the whole bathroom (shower, toilet, sink), plumbing in the kitchen and bathroom, electrical wiring, floors, and possibly foundation.

My questions is, is it possible to fix each room separetly while still living in the house? If so, how much would it cost roughly?

Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  Yes you can do each room separately, and you really will need to get a builder’s quote to get an accurate estimate.
  
  But to give you an idea, we live in a 99 year old house that was in desperate need of renovations when we bought it, it cost us about 60K to fix it. That included cladding and insulation, repairing the roof, building a proper shed, re stumping, new walls etc
QUESTION:
Home owners, what small details should I look for when selecting a home to buy?
The home inspector should find any major structural faults. But I was wondering what little things I might over look. For example, I rented an old house, that had very few electrical outlets, most of them with out the third prong. That is on my list to avoid with a purchase.
Are there any little details that you have come across that I might not think to check for?
- ANSWER:
  Geeez, I could write a book on this question!!
  
  Along with what the other have suggested…
  
  Check the slope of the house for drainage. If/when it rains, water should flow away from the house and have somewhere to go. Make sure the house has gutters and the downspouts lead away from the house, and the water doesn’t just dump out at the foundation.
  
  Look to see how the previous owners have maintained the house. If there are a lot of little things that need repair, chances are good that a lot of big things need repair. Also try to determine if improvements and repairs were done with quality parts and supplies, or if a lot of corners were cut.
  
  In many cities it’s common for the seller to include a home warranty with the house. Don’t let that cause a false sense of security. Frequently they don’t cover a lot of things and that it can be hard to file a claim against the policy.
  
  Keep in mind the age of the house and the age of the major systems in it. When was the water heater last replaced? Dishwasher?Furnace? Air conditioning system? Water heaters and dishwashers last about 7 years and will cost 0+ each to purchase and install. Furnaces and air conditioning systems last about 15 years, depending on use. I *think* those are easily 00+ each to purchase and install. Having an idea of how old these things are will give you a better idea of when you might need to replace them and you can plan accordingly.
  
  Look at the vegetation in your yard and in the adjacent neighbors’ yards. Is the property going to be easy maintain? Are any plants or trees of your neighbors encroaching on your property?
  
  Speaking of neighbors, how are the neighbors’ yards maintained?
  
  Lastly, if a home has carpet in it, I’d plan to replace it before you move in. You never know what’s been on it, how often/if it’s been cleaned, etc. One thing you can do is buy a black fluorescent light, turn the lights out, and walk around the carpeted area with the light. Any stains on the carpet will show up in the black light. Be prepared, though. It might creep you out! This happened to me!!
  
  Hope this helps!
QUESTION:
My best friend is purchasing a house. And congrats to me everyone I have purchased my first house.?
Any ways the house has be winterized (the water) she asked me what it meant I did not have a clue. What ever it means is it good or bad.
- ANSWER:
  Basically it is how you make a house ready for winter. Here is a better detail from about.com:
  
  Getting the House Ready for Winter
  It’s time to think about winterizing your house, no matter whether you’ll be there all winter or plan to be away for an extended period. The tasks aren’t overwhelming when you prepare for winter one step at a time, and if you plan to be home, you’ll be glad you did, because the steps you take will protect your property and save you dollars in heating costs.
  Seal Leaks around Doors and Windows
  
  Add or replace worn weather-stripping around doors and windows.
  
  Caulk gaps where necessary.
  
  Replace worn door stops at the bottom of doors.
  
  If you have them, install storm doors and windows. Don’t forget to winterize basement windows.
  
  Replace old windows with energy efficient windows.
  Seal Other Leaks
  
  Use caulking and weather-stripping around entry points for all pipes and ducts that travel through an exterior wall.
  
  Install insulating kits behind electrical plugs that are on a wall with an exterior side.
  Is the Insulation Adequate?
  
  Proper attic insulation keeps your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Ask the staff at your local home improvement center how much insulation is recommended in your area, then check your attic insulation to make sure it’s adequate.
  
  Some homes benefit from additional wall insulation. Home improvement center staff will explain types of insulation that can be added to existing walls.
  
  Heating System Checks
  
  Have a heating professional do a routine-check before cold weather arrives.
  
  Vacuum the vents and other heating components.
  
  If it has one, replace the furnace filter. Make future replacements as needed or directed by your furnace manufacturer.
  
  Consider installing a setback thermostat. It regulates the temperature, allowing the home to be cooler when you are away or asleep.
  
  Fill oil or propane tanks.
  Check the Fireplace
  
  Have the chimney inspected and cleaned.
  
  Close the fireplace damper when not in use.
  
  Read more about woodburning fireplaces and gas log fireplaces.
  Check the Roof & Its Neighbors
  
  Replace loose shingles.
  
  Make sure the flashing around the chimney or vent pipes is watertight.
  
  Check the bricks and mortar.
  
  Install a screen at the top of the chimney to keep leaves and other items out.
  
  Clean drain gutters and point downspouts away from the house.
  
  Trim tree limbs that are hanging over or touching the roof.
  Winterize the Plumbing
  
  Take care of known issues with pipes that freeze. Heat tape can be used to keep them warm during extremely cold weather.
  
  Learn how to turn off water at its source so that you can stop leaks immediately if they start.
  
  Drain water from outdoor faucets when you think a hard freeze is coming.
  Winterizing Outdoor Items
  
  Give decks an additional coat of sealer.
  
  Check the foundation and siding for cracks or gaps. Repair as necessary.
  
  Drain garden hoses, roll them up, and store them inside.
  
  Close and cover the swimming pool.
  
  Prune shrubbery and add mulch to perennial flower beds.
  
  Cover outdoor furniture or store it inside.
  Collect Emergency Supplies
  
  Candles and matches or a small butane lighter.
  
  Flashlight and batteries.
  
  Fill propane tank or buy charcoal for outdoor grills.
  
  Battery operated radio or weather radio. Buy extra batteries.
  
  Snow blower, shovels, and/or chemicals to melt snow.
  
  Containers of bottled water. Non perishable food to last a few days. Be sure you have a hand operated can opener.
  
  Paper plates and plastic eating utensils. Paper towels.
  
  Extra firewood. Fuel for your generator. Kerosene and kerosene heater (use with carbon monoxide monitoring strips).
  That’s a start! There may be additional winterizing duties that are important for your area. If you’re new to town, ask your neighbors how they prepare for winter.

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