Foundation repair can be overwhelming for many. There is often uncertaintity and concern over the cost of the repair, how long it will take, and if it will be done correctly. Great care should be taken in selecting a company that is reliable, reputable, and honest. When considering how they may care for your home, there is no greater way to measure a company's dependability than by the satisfaction of their past customers.
How many companies provide potential clients with references? Only the good ones. It doesn’t mean that every job was done perfectly. In fact, as is the case with most construction jobs, there will sometimes be miscommunications or errors made. But what separates a reputable company from one that you should avoid is how the customer was treated throughout the process. For this reason, WCK Foundation Repair maintains an extensive reference list.
We have repaired thousands of homes in the Baton Rouge and surrounding areas, and we have many references available from those jobs. We even have a standard list of satisfied customers who have requested to be used as referrences, along with their contact phone numbers.
Additionally, WCK goes the extra mile with the ability to provide references which are located nearby your own home. We realize that it may be important to you to have a referral from someone in or around your neighborhood, so WCK does the extra research to find these customers for you. Of course, we value the privacy of all of our clients and will always obtain permission before giving out phone numbers. We strive to make all of our customers, both past and future, happy.
We also understand that some clients like to see our crews in action before their job begins. For that reason, we even provide addresses where repairs are underway, so you are able to see work as it is being completed. As long as you keep within a safe distance, you can stop and visit one of our worksites anytime. This will give you a good idea of what to expect, while also being able to see our great employees at work.
If you are considering a foundation repair in the Baton Rouge area, contact WCK Foundation Repair for our references. We understand that this may be a stressful process for you. Our goal is provide you with quality work and peace of mind.
Foundation Repair can be a big job. Our aim is to partner with you so we can get the job done with the least amount of damage to your landscape and the interior to your beautiful home. We have developed a quick checklist that you, the home owner, can help us to prevent any type of major damage or headache for you.
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Protection of Plants and Landscape - While not always the case, there are many instances where we are able to maneuver our equipment into tight spaces to allow for the conservation of nearby plants and trees. Because of the nature of our job, we certainly have to be near the edge of the foundation of homes. However, we make every effort to maintain the beauty of the current landscape of the home. Also remove and patio furniture and other yard items that could be obstruct the repair
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Remove All Items From The Wall – Your prized plague, the favorite painting from your niece, and all other treasured items should be removed from your walls. The walls will get a bit shaky as we repair the foundation of your home. We try to do the least amount of damage to the outside of your home as possible, but we also want you to consider the inside as well. By removing all items from the wall, we can do our job without you worrying about the family portrait above the mantle that you care so deeply about.
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Utility Damage Prevention - Obviously, when a foundation repair company starts a job at the property of a homeowner, the utilities and power lines become a concern. At WCK Foundation Repair, we are able to install our piers into the ground without any damage to the utilities. This prevents any additional headaches on the part of the home owner.
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Post Project Clean Up - This is a major complaint of many homeowners towards the foundation repair business. When the average foundation repair company is done with the repair of a home, they walk away with numerous dirt piles still on the homeowner’s property. This leaves extra work on the part of the resident and often times leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the homeowner towards the foundation repair company. At WCK Foundation Repair, we not only consolidate all your dirt into one neat and central pile, we will also haul it away for the homeowner. With this act, we will leave the homeowner's property nice and neat, and more importantly, we will have a happy customer at the end of the project.
WCK is always ready to go the extra mile to be a full service foundation repair company for your job. We promise to not just show up, make a mess and leave you to deal with clean up. With this simple checklist, you can have peace of mind for you, your pocessions, and your property will be well taken care of. For any questions about our process, call (225) 664-5956 to speak with one of our experts. You can also download a quick guide to see if your home is in need of foundation repair.
Some signs of a foundation needing repairs are obvious. Problems such as a slanted floor, for example, can be caused by little else. However, a variety of issues with your house can indicate a problem with the foundation, not all of which are obvious. Only a professional can tell you whether your house has a foundation problem, but knowing what signs to look for can help you fix any foundation problems quickly.
Causes of Foundation Problems Foundation problems are caused by instability of the soil which lies underneath your house; the soil sinks or rises unevenly, causing the house to move unevenly along with it. The most common causes of foundation problems are:
- Under slab plumbing leaks occur in cast iron or concrete pipes, which are more common in old houses; this type of leak can create a gap between the soil and the slab foundation
- Poor compression of soil during the building process will usually cause problems within 1-5 years
- Clay soil can continually swell and shrink as it becomes inundated with water, causing foundation problems; clay soil is dominant in Louisiana, and most of the foundation problems we see are caused by this issue
Signs Foundation problems can be seen in either the floor, the walls, or other structures, and either inside or outside the home. If you notice the following issues in your house, you should contact a professional regarding house foundation repair and diagnosis:
- Slanted or uneven floors
- Trouble opening, closing, or latching doors and windows
- Cracks in the walls or moldings
- Separation between wall and ceiling or floor
- Caulking, wallpaper, or sheetrock that curls or cracks
- Cracks in the bricks on the outside of the house
- Uneven posts or puddles of water in the basement or crawl space
While some of these issues can be caused by other problems in the home, such as wood rot, they all warrant further investigation by a professional.
House Foundation Repair The earlier you catch a house foundation problem, the better. House foundation repair is quite effective, and can prevent further damage to the frame. Once the issue is repaired, the house regains its initial market value, making repair a strong investment for homeowners.
The longer a foundation issue goes unaddressed, the more extensive damage becomes and the more repair is needed. Choosing an excellent house foundation repair company is key when you are looking to address this problem.
WCK Foundation Repair is always here to keep you informed and protected against foundation problems. If your home is showing signs of foundation problems, call
(225) 664-5956 to take the first step towards repairing your home's foundation. You can also download more information by clicking on 7 signs of foundation repair below.
A warranty on the foundation of a home is offered, because it is common for the home to experience minor movement after the foundation is stabilized. This does not mean that the foundation repair job performed was ineffective. Every home has minor movement from time to time. Foundation repair is needed when movement is significant, causing major foundation failure over a period of time. Our repairs bring the foundation back or as close to original grade as possible.
Having a Lifetime Warranty on our drilled shaft piers means that if you experience any movement on the piers installed, WCK will return to make future adjustments free of charge. This is a rare occurrence but still, it is covered. This gives you peace of mind, knowing your investment in WCK Foundation Repair will be a permanent solution to home movement.
If you ever sell your home, there is no fee charged for transferring the warranty to the new owners. The home could change hands 10 times and it will still be covered. WCK Foundation Repair’s home warranties are filed under the home’s street address, not the homeowner’s name. This makes it easy to keep our files organized.
In years prior to 2002, WCK offered a limited warranty. This means that the piers installed prior to that year had a small fee associated with warranty work. The other homes that have a limited warranty would be homes that are 60+ miles from our office location. This is to cover fuel and driving costs associated with warranty work.
We want you to feel secure and confident in our ability to repair the home in the most effective way possible. We also want you to have the longterm backing of our work. We aren’t here to make a buck. We appreciate having customers refer us because of our quality of workmanship and customer service. So when choosing a company to repair your home’s foundation, choose WCK Foundation Repair.
Truly knowing if your house needs foundation repairs can be tricky. Trusting someone with your number one monetary investment can be just as hard of a decision.
Here are some signs that your foundation may need some work:
- Doors and windows that drag, stick, or have problems latching and locking.
- On the interior you may see cracks in the sheet rock, wrinkles in wallpaper or patching, gaps between the wall and moldings or floors that are sloping or uneven.
- On the exterior you may see:
-cracks on exposed sides of slab
-excessive sloping on sidewalks, driveways, and other foundations
-uneven gaps or joints or around doors and windows
-gaps between fascia boards at corners
If you think you may need home foundation repair, use these questions to help you pick the right team for the job!
Do I receive an analysis of issues after inspection?
A comprehensive report is important in comparisons between companies and can provide insights into capabilities and experience of a foundation contractor. A thorough analysis should be performed on key interior and exterior areas, with particular notations of signs of stress.
WCK provides complete written report in the free estimate for your records and comparison to other foundation contractors. WCK wants all customers to make an informed and educated decision in their foundation repair hire.
Do you provide references?
A list of references should be readily available from any quality contractor, providing full insight into work history and past client satisfaction. Many companies highlight their "wins" in client testimonials, but an honest company will also explain that they occasionally experience project set backs and provide full disclosure on steps taken to resolve customer and project issues.
WCK has a lifetime warranty on their work, so any future issues and headaches are covered in the work done and paid for once. WCK will gladly provide a list of references and we pride ourselves on our ability to maintain quality relationships with past customers through excellent work and customer satisfaction.
Are you a member of the Better Business Bureau?
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is a consumer and contractor protection organization, providing mediation and resolution services for issues or complaints raised concerning a business.
The BBB ists business contact info, license numbers, how long they have been a BBB member, and their standing or rating according to the BBB best practices rankings. Previous complaints and resolutions can be viewed for any company in the BBB database.
WCK is a proud member of the BBB, and we certainly strive to attain the highest levels of customer satisfation in our daily dealings with clients and to have that reflected in our BBB score.
Do you offer a Lifetime Warranty?
A lifetime warranty is great for peace of mind. Ask to see a copy of the contractor's lifetime warranty and find out what extra costs (if any) may be involved in obtaining a lifetime warranty.
WCK offers a lifetime warranty on the work performed on your home or business. A copy of the warranty can be viewed here.
Is the Company Insured?
Insurance is one of the most important considerations to make in choosing your foundation repair company. If something does go wrong, insurance provides protection. General liability and workers compensation insurance are a must and contractors should be able to produce proof of insurance at your request- prior to commencement of work.
WCK is fully insured with General Liability and Workers' Compensation and can furnish such certificates upon request. WCK foundation repair is locally owned and operated. WCK is extremely proud of our reputation, built client by client and job by job, over the years and the work history that we have.
WCK wants all people struggling with foundation issues to make an informed decision in the process of hiring a contractor to repair your damages. We would hope that these basic yet intgrally important questions will lend a bit of perspective in interviewing, obtaining extimates/reports, and eventually hiring a foundation contractor. WCK will gladly provide a free estimate, after detailed analysis of your structure's foundation issues.
For more information on signs that indicate a need for foundation repair, click the buton below and fill out the form. We will happily shoot the whitepaper over to your inbox for use in evealuating the needs of your foundation and in the contractor hiring process. We do not share your personal infomation- respect for our customers is paramount.
Louisiana soil is fairly varied, but in the Baton Rouge area the soil is classified by the LSU Ag Center as "Southern Mississippi Valley Loess." According to An Update of The Field Guide to Louisiana Soil Classification by David C. Weindorf with the LSU Ag Center, "Some Areas are used for urban development,which is expanding near the metropolitan areas. The major soil resource concerns are water erosion, maintenance of the content of organic matter and productivity of the soils and managements of soil moisture."
Baton Rouge and surrounding areas experience many wet seasons and soil changes throughout the course of the year. Depending on the year, Baton Rouge may experience prolonged periods of drought or constant deluges of rain, all of which can be problematic for a homeowner if foundation instability turns into foundation damage. These shifts in moisture and soil instability are the most common cause of foundation failure.
So, if you have a suspicion that your home or business needs foundation repair, it may be helpful to see why WCK, a southern Louisiana born and bred company, provides and specializes in drilled pier foundation repair.
DRILLED PIER METHOD
For foundation repair in Baton Rouge and surrounding area soils, WCK and countless structural engineers and builders recommend using the drilled pier method. It is the only form of foundation repair used by WCK. The drilling method is used by almost ALL commercial operations, from roads to airports, highways and byways. In fact, the drilled pier method is the only form used in high-rise buildings. We think that if it's good enough for a skyscraper, it's good enough for your home.
The piers are actually "drilled" into the bedrock and may sustain a whopping 3,000 pounds per square inch. This allows for your home to have less structural resistance and repairs are PERMANENT. The piers extend well below active soil depths so they are not affected by moisture variations which is the most common cause of foundation problems.
The drilling method is float resistant due to widened portion at the top of the pier. The support of the foundation is concentrated at the bottom where the soil is far more compressed and dense. In light of these soil condition and moisture fluctuation impacts, the drilled pier method of foundation repair is by far the most optimally suited for area homes and businesses in and around Baton Rouge.
DRIVEN or PRESSED PIER
In the very expensive driven piers method, pilings are pushed into the ground with a hydraulic jack or in some cases using the weight of the house against itself. The piers may or may not reach the bedrock or stable ground. Furthermore, there is no way to verify whether or not the pilings are in fact, straight.
If the soil is dry and hard, the pipes cannot be pressed to adequate depth, and the foundation may begin to rise. The use of much smaller pipes is required with the driven piers method, and they have no conical friction capacity.
SPREAD FOOTING METHOD
This form of foundation repair is very shallow in comparison to the drilled or pressed method. It is a concrete pad approximately 2' square by 1' thick. As it only extends to a depth of 2' to 3', it will not reach below the active soil nor is it resistant to moisture variations. Most engineers consider it to be a temporary solution, as it is far less effective than the drilled pier method of foundation repair.
So, whether you live in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Zachary or any of the surrounding areas, WCK Foundation Contractors know how to combat the impacts of the soil conditions on your foundation and how to repair damage with the drilled pier method.
We have compiled a whitepaper with the 7 signs of foundation repair that we will gladly shoot over to your inbox for your permanant reference. We respect your privacy and will not share your contact info. If you are ready to make the appointment for your free estimate, you may do so by clicking here or calling us at this number.
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The Baton Rouge area is currently experiencing some very long and consistent rainfall that seems to have no end in sight. The long and never ending wintery rain in Louisiana can certainly play a significant factor in foundation problems for your home. The most common cause of foundation failure is when changes in moisture and the density of the soil occur.
In a blog that we had written in the spring of 2012, we discussed the impact that the steady spring rains have on the Louisiana soils and the foundation of our homes. In Louisiana, the soil conditions are unique. For thousands of feet below the ground, there is no solid rock or ground present. The soil consist of very expansive clay, which is usually titled smectite clays, which are a family of clays that swell when immersed in water. According to the map on Geology.com, over fifty percent of the soils of South Louisiana consist of clays with high swelling potential.
So, during heavy and consistent rainfalls (exactly like we are experiencing now), the Louisiana soil will expand rather signficantly. This expansion will cause lifting of a building during this period of heavy moisture, which can potentially cause significant damage to the home.
At WCK Foundation Repair, our goal is to educate everyone on the possiblities of foundation damage during the long periods of rainfall. The first step to ensuring that your home does not experience significant foundation damage is by simply being aware of the main signs of foundation damage.
If you feel you may have foundation damage or simply want us to provide you with a free estimate, please click here. At WCK Foundation Repair, Louisiana is our home state. So, we take pride in knowing the conditions of our soil and how they affect the foundation of a home. If the heavy rainfall does create a foundation problem for your home, WCK Foundaton Repair wants to help you.
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It always interesting to look back at successful companies and discover their humbling beginnings. My dad started working for W.C.K. in 2000, when I was about 7 years old. The company was really small back then, probably doing about 1-2 jobs a week.
My dad earned his start in the foundation repair business through an apprenticeship granted to him by a family member, Uncle Chuck. With this opportunity, my dad was able to learn how to lift houses and repair concrete slabs correctly.
I still remember like it was yesterday how my dad would come home from a long day of work in the foundation repair business covered in mud and extremely worn out. As my brothers grew older, they started helping my dad out. In 2002, my uncle Chuck moved to Texas where he started up another foundation repair company. So, my dad started running WCK on his own, with the only assistance coming from the help of my brothers. If the job was large enough, my dad would outsource skilled laborers to help he and my brothers on the project.
It took many years of hard work, but the business really started to grow. When I turned fifteen, I started coming into the office for a few hours every week to learn some of the office skills. After I graduated from high school, I started working full time in the business.
My dad taught us to have high standards for our quality of work we do. I remember him always saying "Its quality, not quantity." So when you call W.C.K and ask for a free estimate you get to talk to me, Katie Wall.
When it comes to repairing and stabilizing a home or building with a concrete foundation, the price can vary dramatically depending on access and severity of the settlement. Our exterior piers usually range between $400.00 - $600 per pier for a standard 12" diameter, 8-9' deep. Our interior piers usually range between $1000.00 - $1,400.00 per pier. Some foundation problems are minor, for example if only one corner of the house is effected and is caught at the early stage of settling it may only require 4 piers. On the other hand if the entire house is unstable depending on the size of the house it could need 30-50 exterior piers and a few interior piers. Here are a few reasons why the price could fluctuate.
-Landscaping, it can take more time and labor to work around a well kept flower bed to make sure we do not damage plants and sprinkler lines with our equipment
-Easy access, if there is open access and open work area for our equipment it can save time for us and naturally save money for our customers
-Utilities, gas, water, sewer and cable lines in the working area cause more time and labor to locate by hand before we can install our piers
-Multiple concrete breakouts, to access the foundation it's common to break a 2' x 2' section of concrete to install our pier. Breakouts are commonly required inside carports, garages and patios. We repair whatever concrete we breakout.
Interior piers can be more expensive if the house still being lived in. Much more care is taken when installing interior piers where there is furniture and flooring nearby. And of course easy access or tight areas will cause prices to fluctuate.
As with any business sector, prices are really dependant upon each situation. Unfortunately, no two homes are built alike, so each home presents a unique set of challenges. The
expert team at WCK Foundation Repair will do everything within our power to ensure that we are offering the fairest price and the best service available to you.
The old saying in life is, "It is far better to give than to receive". At WCK Foundation Repair, we certainly take pride in providing the best service to our clients. Because Lousiana is our home, we take pride in helping our fellow Louisiana residents. We have no plans on moving around from state to state, as our roots are right here in Louisiana.
From time to time, a certain job or project may require us to go beyond our call of duty. And these are the instances where we are able to really provide that extra gift of service to our customers.
Recently, there was a customer who wanted to improve his drainage. Through our discussions we found that improving the drainage would protect his home from any future foundation repair challenges. But, our customer was in a minor dilemma of sorts, as he did not have the appropriate tools or equipment to get the job started. Normally, the drainage jobs are not our line of expertise. But, on this day, we had happen to have the appropriate tools and time to give him an extra hand.
So, as you will see in the picture below, the service crew at WCK Foundation Repair went the extra mile and broke apart the concrete, so that the home owner may access the drainage near his home. In the long run, this small act of kindness will save this homeowner so much time and money. With a little extra time and work on our end, we know we have saved this homeowner countless hours and dollars on his future drainage improvement project.
We know that offering out service like this will come back to us in the long run. We know that going the extra mile for our customers will result in positive feedback from our fellow Louisiana residents. And, ultimately we know that as our acts of kindness will spread around the state, and WCK Foundation Repair will be known as the HOME TEAM for foundation repair in Louisiana.
Thank you so much for all of your support. If you have a foundation issue with your home or if you just have a question regarding foundation repair, please click here.
A drainage project that we helped start for our foundation repair customer.
The WCK Foundation Repair Team