Foundation FAQ

How often should I water my foundation?

When the soil starts to “shrink away” from the foundation, it’s time to water. The south and west sides of a structure will normally need more watering than the north and east sides due to the exposure to the hot, afternoon sun. Also, many large bushes and trees require lots of extra moisture…so their presence can be a major factor in how much you need to water.

Are all engineer reports the same?

No, There are 3 different types of engineer reports. They are:

LEVEL A

  • Make visual observations during a physical walk-through.
  • Observe factors influencing the performance of the foundation.
  • The Engineer may provide a written report, containing the following:

LEVEL B
All of Level A, plus

  • A determination of relative foundation elevations in sufficient detail to represent the shape of the foundation or floor adequately.
  • Provide a drawing showing the relative elevations.

LEVEL C
All of Level B, plus

  • Additional services, testing and related reports which may include:
  • Site specific soil sampling and testing
  • Plumbing testing
  • Material testing
  • Steel reinforcing survey
  • Description of factors that affect soil moisture
  • Observations of cut and fill
  • Tree survey
  • Photographs
  • Detailed distress survey
How is a plumbing test performed?
There are 2 simple tests performed

First a pressure gauge is attached to a faucet and the faucet is opened. As long as all water use is stopped, the gauge will show the pressure at which water is delivered from the street. Next, the water meter is turned off. If there are no leaks, the pressure on the gauge will remain constant. If the pressure falls, it means that water is escaping from the lines under the house.

Second, the sewer line is blocked off with a balloon where it comes out from under the foundation at the clean-outs. Next the sewer is filled with water. Given that the sewer is blocked off from the main, if the water level in the sewer drops, there must be a leak.

What is a root barrier?
Root barriers can be solid objects, sheets of material, zones of chemically treated soil or any other barrier that keeps roots from growing into areas where they are not wanted.
What is a moisture barrier?

Moisture barriers are vertical layers of plastic that are buried in the ground. As water flows up against a moisture barrier, it is stopped and prevented from getting under a home.

How do I know if I have heaving?

When a foundation heaves, it moves upwards. The best way to identify heaving, is to do an elevation survey of your foundation, and then prepare a contour diagram. In many cases, the contour diagram will produce information that can help in seeing where a have is and how high it is.

What is a french drain?

French drains are trenches that contain a perforated drain pipe which is surrounded by gravel.  Either the entire trench is lined with filter fabric, or the pipe is wrapped in filter fabric.

Can trees cause my foundation problems?

We have found that any large tree or bush can cause foundation settlement of a slab foundation. Some of the worst Trees for your foundation are: Weeping Willow trees, Cottonwood trees, Mulberry trees, Pecan trees, Maple trees, Ash trees, Bradford Pear trees, Red Tipped Phontinias and Wax Leafed Ligustrums.

Are drainage repairs important and necessary?

Yes, improper drainage can ultimately cause foundation problems. Even if you’ve had foundation repair work done, it is important to correct the drainage issue, so that additional foundation problems do not occur.

How do foundation repairs affect my plumbing?

Any time a slab foundation settles the plumbing pipes which are underneath and attached to the foundation can be damaged. They can also be damaged when you lift a house back towards its original position.

Will fixing my foundation close the existing cracks or open new ones?

It is possible to do both. The goal of foundation repairs is to return the house to as near its original position as possible while trying to limit damage to the home.

How long after the repairs should I wait to fix my cracks?

Your wait will depend on how much the house has been lifted. The slab should not move after it has been lifted but the walls may need time to adjust to their new position. A general rule-of-thumb would be to wait one month after repairs are completed.

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What Our Customers Say

THANK YOU! Steve and Mandy for the excellent service that you provided in repairing my foundation. I am very pleased with the price. Service was super your people did a very neat and clean job. Thank you for understanding my situation and helping me out.

Karen, Mesquite

Thank you for the excellent service that you provided in repairing our foundation. I was pleased with the price, the courteous service, and certainly with the efficiency in which the job was done. Thank you again

Jeff, Mesquite

I have used Metro-Tex Foundation for the past 8 years on multiple projects, because they deliver honesty, clarity, and confidence in every job performed. Their expertise in identifying the source of the problem (when it is sometimes not so obvious), along with offering successful solutions for any foundation type (even when it means not performing foundation repair) makes me trust who I am using. If you are rehabbing houses in North Texas, you are eventually going to need foundation repair. When you do, why not select the best resource available and call Metro-Tex Foundation.

Mike, Dallas

I’ve had Metro-Tex repair the foundation on 2 different houses for me. The service has been excellent and very professional. I would highly recommend these guys to anyone. Keep up the good work!

Rita, Garland

Steve you have done several jobs for me and my family and you are awesome. I want to thank you for taking the time to explain to me about my foundation problem and which repair solution I should use. What you taught me saved me thousands of dollars. Again, I cannot thank you enough for your honesty, generosity and patience.

Diane, Rowlett

I used your company twice and I appreciate the fact that it never seems to be about money. Your company always tries to find a way to do it the least expensive way without cutting corners.

Tom, Sachse

We want to thank everyone with this company that worked so hard to repair our foundation. We watched the entire time you were at our home and saw how everyone that worked at our home was respectful of our property. All the mess was contained and cleared by the men that repaired our foundation. The owner Steve Sutherland is generous and fair about everything he does. We thank you so much for all you did to fix our problems.

Kenny, Arlington

I just wanted to say thank you. After our foundation was inspected, we were told that we had a maintenance problem not a foundation problem. We had gutters put on the house, took out the metal edging surrounding the flower beds and this solved our problem. Again, thank you so much for your honesty and time. It really means a lot to us.

Jimmy, Richardson

I wanted to thank all of you at Metro-Tex Foundaiton. My house was in very bad condition, I had several foundation companies come out. I even had an engineer report. When Steve came out there was no pressure to use him and he knew exactly what my engineer report said without even seeing the report. I used Metro-Tex because I could tell ou were very honest. I have recommended Metro-Tex to several friends that were just as happy as I was with the work done. Thank you again so much. I will continue to recommend you.

Tonya

Metro-Tex did a great job at a fair price!! All my questions were answered. The work was done quickly & with very little distruption . They even did extra work spreading some dirt that plumbers had left in a pile. A great company! Will call them anytime.

Rhonda G.

CONTACT US

Collin/Dallas/Denton County:   972-758-1213
Tarrant County: 817-253-4775

2520 K Ave #283  | Plano, TX 75074

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