So you’re either in the process of getting your foundation repaired or are about to. You’re already thinking ahead to what’s next after the foundation repairs are done. Seems like the best thing to do here is tell you what many other homeowners have chosen to do after their foundation problems have been handled.
Time to bring on the top 4 projects to complete after your foundation is repaired.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we have been inspecting and repairing foundations in Bryan, College Station, and the surrounding Brazos Valley communities like Navasota and Caldwell for the past 35+ years. We know what projects homeowners tend to tackle once their foundation repairs are complete because they often mention their plans or ask for recommendations from us.
This article will review the 4 most common “next projects” that homeowners choose to do after foundation repairs and why. We will close with some recommendations for locating the best contractors to help you with your next repairs.
Is There Anything Else I Need to Do After Foundation Repairs?
This is a tricky question: Is there anything you NEED to do after foundation repairs?
The answer is “well, no” because you don’t HAVE to do anything else if you don’t want to. Many homeowners opt to get the foundation repairs completed, but don’t want or don’t feel a strong desire to do anything further at the time. Just having the foundation stabilized and secure is enough for them.
But, the raising and leveling process of foundation repair will not fix every last flaw in your home that may have been caused by your foundation problems.
So even though your foundation has been repaired, there still could be other cosmetic repairs that you choose to do afterward that are not included in foundation repair services. Many people really want to get some other stuff in shape and looking perfect once the foundation repairs are done.
So you don’t have to do anything, but you might WANT to do some cosmetic stuff that would make you happy.
4 Top Home Projects After Your Foundation Is Repaired
The top home projects that people tend to want to do after foundation repairs are all cosmetic in nature. You might choose to:
- Get Your Drywall Repaired,
- Repaint Damaged Walls, Full Rooms, or all interior walls,
- Update Your Flooring, or
- Update Everything with a Full Renovation.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these project types and discuss.
1. & 2. Drywall Repairs and Painting
The first two popular choices here are the most common because foundation problems do tend to cause wall cracks. Foundation repair companies do not repair drywall or do the painting. Many people want to make those cracks disappear with both drywall repair and either touch-up painting or new paint in full rooms or more.
These two particular wall-related repairs are the kind that we really recommend waiting to get started as any other movement or adjusting in your home can create more wall cracks.
You should also keep in mind that simply covering up wall cracks might not make them go away for good. There are graduated “levels” of repairing cracks in drywall from *cheap and easy* to *extensive and expensive*. Take your time to decide which approach you want to take in handling drywall cracks so that you choose the method with the best chance of keeping you happy with the results.
3. Updating Flooring
Your flooring is generally not affected by foundation repairs (unless you need interior foundation work, which is not the majority). But people just tend to like making updates to their homes and flooring upgrades are a common choice so it is ranked third in our list of top projects to do after foundation repair.
Especially if you are replacing tile, vinyl plank flooring, or any other rigid floor material, it’s a good idea to do these after foundation repairs when the surface of your floor has been stabilized. Carpet installation is not affected by your floor elevation one way or the other.
4. Full Remodeling
You could decide that a full remodel is what you want. After foundation repairs are completed is the optimal time for a complete renovation. This way, all your new finishes like trim, cabinetry, and fixtures will be placed on the most level and well-stabilized foundation, just like when your home was first built.
Obviously, most people are not going to do a full renovation after foundation repairs, so this is a distant 4th on the list of top projects. But for those that have foundation problems and want to also do extensive remodeling, right after foundation repairs is the perfect time to get your major reno underway.
How Long to Wait After Foundation Repairs to Start Projects
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that you should wait a bit before starting wall crack repair projects and painting. Once a home has been through the foundation repair process, it still might be adjusting for a little while to its *new normal* position.
It’s better to allow time for your home to settle in again before moving forward with other stuff. You don’t want to have any of the wall crack fixes (and the paint on top of them) to be affected or “undone” by further movement during this adjustment period.
We recommend that you wait 2 to 3 months before moving forward with wall repair projects if you can. If you can’t wait that long, wait as long as you are able to. Waiting until the next major weather shift is a good idea to give your home time to respond to seasonal foundation settlement and moisture changes.
We really don’t want you to move forward too quickly and then have to re-do any wall projects you choose to take on because another crack popped up.
For Structural or Hard Surface Projects
You don’t need to wait at all for rigid material repairs or updates. Things like flooring, new siding, new windows, countertops, and backsplash updates can all be started immediately following the foundation repairs. Doing those structural and hard material repairs right away following foundation work is the very best time to get those done or installed.
Do You Have Any Recommendations for Selecting Contractors?
We knew you might ask this question about where to go for drywall, painting, or flooring upgrades and we already have a few places to send you with our recommendations. If you need drywall repair or painting, check out the article we prepared about drywall contractors in the Brazos Valley. We also have a list of the best local flooring installers to check out.
At Anchor Foundation Repair, we are all about making sure you have all the information and resources you need to navigate through your foundation problems, into the repair process, and beyond. We know what you’re going to ask next because we get similar questions all the time.
When selecting a company for any type of repairs or remodeling after your foundation project, we have some tips to help you hire just the right contractor.