The phone call
Who answers the phone?
A foundation repair business from the Chattanooga area, separate from this site. The site makes the introduction and steps back. The page on how it works sets out each step.
Am I committed to anything by calling?
No. Hear them out, let them inspect, take the written proposal and decide afterward. A second proposal is sensible for any large repair.
What should I have ready when I call?
Your address, the type of foundation if you know it, what you have noticed and roughly when it started. Photos help once someone visits.
Is there a charge for the inspection?
That is set by the company, and practice varies. Ask when you book the visit, before anyone drives out.
The house
Which cracks matter?
One look will not tell you, or anyone else. Width, offset and change over time are what matter. The page on cracks in brick and walls shows what to note, and an inspection puts numbers on it.
What happens if I leave it for now?
Some movement stops by itself and some continues. Marking and measuring a crack through a wet season and a dry one tells you which you have. Bowing walls and anything that changes quickly should not be left to wait.
Do we have to move out while the work is done?
Rarely. For most pier, wall and crawl space work, families stay put. Expect noise, digging beside the house and workers under the floor. Ask the company about any days when water, gas or a room will be out of use.
Can you tell me whether the house is safe?
Not from a website, and this one will not try. That judgment needs someone examining the building, and a structural engineer is the person to ask. If something is moving suddenly, leave and call 911.
The work
How many days should I plan for?
That turns on the method and the access. A handful of piers on an open side of a house is a short job; a basement wall rebuild or a full crawl space renewal is a longer one. The company's proposal should give a duration.
Is a permit needed?
Yes, structural repair is permitted work here. Inside the city the Land Development Office issues it; outside, the county or the town does. See the permits guide.
What license should a company have?
In Hamilton County, a state contractor's license or a Home Improvement license, depending on the size of the job. Both can be looked up online. Details are in choosing a company.
Does homeowner's insurance cover this?
Often not: settling and earth movement are common exclusions. Your policy wording or your agent has the answer. The repair company does not decide what an insurer covers.
Is waterproofing the same thing?
No. Keeping water out of a basement is a separate trade from holding a house up, though some companies do both. The page on water by the house explains the difference.