Are you looking for information about Anchor Foundation Repair or looking over reviews of foundation repair companies in the area? That’s great! We are so happy that you are considering our foundation repair services, thank you. Perhaps you have already noticed that we have the following review scores (all out of 5-star scaling):
4.9 on Angie’s List
5.0 on Google
5.0 on Better Business Bureau
We’re pretty happy with those reviews and encourage you to read them. These homeowners have valuable feedback about our services from their perspective.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been serving the Bryan, College Station, and greater Brazos Valley communities for over 35 years. We have another perspective on what makes our customers ultimately happy and it has to do with our unique repair technique and features.
There are four specific things about our services that set us apart from other foundation repair companies in the area:
- Using the Bell-Bottom Pier Method for Foundation Repair
- Performing a Hydrostatic Pressure Test after Foundation Repair
- Mud-Pumping Under the Foundation for Extra Repair Support
- Communicating Throughout the Foundation Repair Process
Yes, we do foundation repair, and yes we are biased about the quality of our techniques and process. I mean, we probably should be right? However, we want to explain these service features to you in a factual way so that you can understand better what makes us a little different from anyone else. Let’s *review* what sets Anchor apart from the competition.
1. Using the Bell-Bottom Pier Method for Foundation Repair
In the world of slab on grade foundation repair, there are two basic methods available here. One is the pressed pile method which has several variations. The other is the bell-bottom pier method of foundation repair.
When choosing a foundation repair contractor in our area, you are also choosing a method of repair. Each foundation repair company around here either does one or the other, no one does both in the Bryan-College Station area. Each method has its own merits, pros, and cons. Some homeowner situations work better with one over the other.
The bell-bottom pier method’s key features include:
- Wide bell-bottom footing resists uplift and anchors the pier in the ground
- Pier shaft reinforced with a 3-piece ½” steel rebar cage
- Pier poured on-site making one solid piece of concrete
- Hole drilled on-site for guaranteed depth and true vertical placement
- Steel-reinforced concrete pier cap
These features make the bell-bottom pier system strong, straight, and long-lasting. Homeowners who love their home, plan to live in it for a long time, and want a top-of-the-line foundation repair tend to choose this method.
We have an article that provides a full explanation and comparison of bell-bottom piers vs. pressed piles that you may want to check out if you are interested in more details.
2. Performing a Hydrostatic Pressure Test after Foundation Repair
Houses have plumbing underneath them that runs up through the foundation and into your home. When a foundation is raised back to its original position, sometimes plumbing lines can get pulled out of alignment causing a compromise or leak.
You may even have known plumbing problems associated with the foundation settlement already. This is the case in about a third of homes that need foundation repair.
You want to make sure that a.) no leaks are present that you didn’t know about already, and b.) all the compromise points have been identified and no other sneaky leaks are present.
Before all the holes and voids under your home are filled back in after the raising process, plumbing would be checked to make sure you don’t need a plumber to come out. Once the plumbing is repaired, things would be checked again to make absolutely sure that nothing under the home is leaking.
This is something that Anchor does for all foundation repair projects. We don’t want to leave your home with leaks under it that could cause further damage and the need for more repair. Pressure testing is also a needed preliminary action for the next step.
Could a contractor use the bell-bottom pier method of repair without completing a hydrostatic pressure test? Sure, but it doesn’t seem like a great idea to us since it might leave a homeowner with another problem that might not be discovered for years.
You don’t notice underslab drain line leaks until they have been going on for quite some time. They surface when they start to impact your foundation and that could take quite a while. It would be better to make sure there are no unlocated leaks at the time of repair.
3. Mud-Pumping Under the Foundation for Extra Repair Support
Now your home has piers under it, and it has been raised to the appropriate elevation. Plumbing lines have been checked and repaired if needed. What’s next? It’s something called mud-pumping.
When a home is lifted back up from a settled position, there are voids or spaces now under the home’s foundation. These voids can become points of weakness for your slab and also can make cozy homes for critters. These things are not desirable and should be addressed.
To fill in this space, a technique called mud-pumping is employed to fill in every air pocket and void under the slab. A liquid-like mixture of water, topsoil, and Portland Cement is pumped under the foundation which hardens into a solid mass, filling all open areas.
Mud-pumping locks in extra support and structural integrity under your home and thoroughly fills in any gaps. This enhances the overall strength of your foundation repair and eliminates unsupported areas. This is a way to minimize the opportunity for interior settlement down the road.
We have even seen homes where another company had done previous foundation repair without mud-pumping that resulted in the need for further repair on the interior because it was not well supported under the interior of the home.
Could a contractor use the bell-bottom pier repair method without mud-pumping? Certainly. Only the way that the piers are made and installed gives that method of foundation repair its name.
Anchor Foundation Repair includes this finishing step in all slab-on-grade foundation repairs because it adds another layer of stability and security to your foundation. Every feature we use is purposefully selected to ensure the longest-lasting repair.
4. Communicating Throughout the Foundation Repair Process
Do you ever wonder what exactly is happening when you have a repair crew at your home? Do you ever feel like you’re not sure what they are up to? I know I have felt that way on occasion when contractors have worked on my own home.
It’s not a great feeling when they don’t talk to you, especially when you are spending a considerable sum of money on their services.
Homeowners like to know what is going on with their home, in their yard, and prefer to see progress when a large project is happening. Homeowners want to know if any problems come up and how a contractor plans to overcome them. This seems like a pretty normal thing but it’s surprising how often a repair contractor can fall short in this area.
Homeowners get periodic updates and communications by email, phone call, and video messaging from Anchor Foundation Repair leading up to the start of a project to keep you apprised of start dates or work delays. Articles important to your project will be shared when appropriate to help you prepare for the next step happening with your home.
A communication system called Buildertrend is used with every homeowner. This is a way that photos and videos of work milestones can be shared with you through the entire foundation repair process. This way you can see the progress that happens underneath your home where you are unlikely to venture.
This is where Anchor Foundation Repair really stands out from the rest. We don’t know of any other foundation repair company around here that prioritizes homeowner communication the way we do. Not really trying to toot our own horn over here, it’s just a fact. But that doesn’t stop us from being proud of it!
Our Lifetime Warranty for Foundation Repair Sets Us Apart Too
I guess I could have said that we have 5 features that set us apart, but the four listed above are things that happen during the active foundation repair process. The lifetime warranty is something that keeps on happening long after our foundation repair team has left your property.
Not all foundation repair businesses offer a lifetime warranty and service agreement. Or if they do, other companies can make it hard for homeowners to receive warranty work when needed. Some contractors also have loopholes in their service agreements making it nearly impossible to get follow-up services. That’s just not our style.
This is a major bonus feature not offered equally by other foundation repair companies. It’s the secure feeling that you have in knowing that Anchor Foundation Repair will be there for you should warranty work be needed in the future. We don’t make it hard on you and we prioritize warranty service as much as possible.
We’ve got a whole article that tells you much more about the lifetime warranty and answers all your possible questions in detail. Check it out!