How Do You Use Concrete?

While walking around the outside of your house, you may have noticed that there are several areas on the surface of the foundation which are starting to crack. Because you do not want to wait for to it be repaired, you may be considering purchasing the supplies to patch the concrete yourself.

However, repairing your home's foundation cracks requires more than simply applying cement over the damaged areas. There are a couple of reasons why you should not try to patch the cracks yourself, and instead, hire a foundation repair professional to do the work for you.

1. Leads to Further Damage

One reason why you should forget about patching the cracks in your home's foundation yourself is that you may cause further damage to the structure. While applying a patch will cover the cracks and may prevent surface crumbling, it does not address the underlying issues that lead to the damage in the first place.

If water is infiltrating the concrete, for example, covering the cracks may lead to a build-up of pressure that could cause catastrophic damage to the concrete's structure. However, a professional will know how to find the cause of the cracking so they can address it before patching the superficial damage.

2. Voids Coverage

Another reason why you should not attempt do-it-yourself (DIY) repairs on your home's foundation is that you could void its coverage on your homeowners' insurance policy. Because your home's foundation is an integral part of maintaining the stability of the house, the insurance company usually puts in a clause that requires a professional to do any repair work.

If you try to patch the foundation and doing so creates more damage, your insurance company will most likely not cover the current or any future damage. However, if you hire a professional with the needed knowledge, skills, and experience, you can avoid having issues with your coverage.

When your home's foundation is cracking and needs to be repaired, having a professional perform the work can help ensure that the underlying issues which caused the damage are addressed to help prevent further cracking and crumbling of the concrete. It also helps ensure that the coverage from your homeowners' insurance policy remains intact because someone with the proper experience and skills has completed the work. Contact a foundation repair contractor to schedule a time for them to inspect the structure and come up with a plan of action to fix any issues they may find.

For more information, contact a foundation repair contractor near you.