Guides
Choosing a foundation repair company in Texas
Calling the number on this site puts you in touch with an independent company. It does not vouch for that company, and the footer of every page says so. Checking who you hire is your job. This guide lists what can actually be checked in Texas.
Check the credentials that apply
Texas licenses electricians, air conditioning contractors and a number of other trades through the Department of Licensing and Regulation. Foundation repair is not on its list of regulated programs. Ask which authority issued any licence a company mentions, and verify it with that authority. City registration and an engineer's licence are different credentials.
That leaves local registration, the engineer's licence, insurance papers and the contract itself.
What you can check, and where
| What | How |
|---|---|
| City registration | Austin requires a registered general contractor on every building permit. Ask whether the company is registered with the city where your house is. |
| The engineer | If a plan is sealed by an engineer, look the name up on the state engineering board's roster. |
| Insurance | Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance sent to you directly by the company's insurer or agent. |
| A real address | The Attorney General suggests choosing a contractor with an established physical address, so you can find them if problems arise. |
| References | Ask for recent customers with similar jobs, and call two. |
The contract
The Texas Attorney General's home improvement guidance is blunt about contracts. Insist on a written one that states what will be done, when work starts and when it will be finished. Make sure everything you were promised is in it. Never sign one with blanks, and do not let anyone hurry you.
The same guidance explains liens. A contract for work on your homestead must carry a specific warning notice about your ownership rights, and suppliers or subcontractors who are not paid by your contractor can file a lien against the property. Staged payments, and proof that each stage was paid onward, reduce that risk.
Questions about the warranty
Warranties on foundation work vary more than the piers do. Read the document, not the brochure.
- Who stands behind it: the installing company alone, or a separate insurer or manufacturer as well?
- What is covered? Often it is adjusting the piers that were installed, and not new piers elsewhere.
- How long does it run, and what does a phrase like “life of the structure” mean in the text?
- Does it transfer to a buyer, and what must be done, by when, to transfer it?
- What cancels it? Plumbing leaks left unrepaired and poor drainage are common exclusions.
- What happens if the company closes or is sold?
Sales behaviour to be wary of
- A price that is good only if you sign today.
- A plan with no drawing and no floor readings.
- A refusal to say how deep the piers are expected to go.
- A request for full payment before work begins.
- Talk of danger meant to hurry you. If a house truly cannot be lived in, an engineer should say so in writing.
Questions about choosing
Does this site check the companies it refers to?
No. It is a referral service and does not warrant any contractor's work, licence or insurance. Use the checks above.
How many quotes should I get?
The Attorney General's advice is to get bids from more than one business. For a large job, three is reasonable.
Is a big national brand safer than a local firm?
Size alone tells you little. The plan, the contract and the warranty text are what you can compare.
Want it looked at?
Phone, say where the house is and what has changed, and you will be speaking with an independent local foundation repair company. It can book a visit to measure the floors and tell you what it finds.
Calls may be recorded. Austin Foundation Repair Help refers callers and repairs nothing itself, as the referral disclosure sets out. Call details are handled under the privacy policy.