How to get foundation holes fixed
September 3, 2019 8:47 AM Subscribe
What kind of professional will find and seal holes in or around our foundation? We have a hole in the ground next to our cement front stoop, maybe four inches in diameter. The house is suburban, fewer than 20 years old, and is a split level with several doors.
We have had a few small animals get in over the years: two mice, one salamander and one toad. The mice were years apart, so probably not related, but it could be same hole. We suspect one mouse came into the basement from a crawl space near the hole. We want to take steps to lower the chances of this happening. We also want to be sure the holes are not a structural issue, so maybe two different people? I don't want a lecture about just living with the problem.
We have had a few small animals get in over the years: two mice, one salamander and one toad. The mice were years apart, so probably not related, but it could be same hole. We suspect one mouse came into the basement from a crawl space near the hole. We want to take steps to lower the chances of this happening. We also want to be sure the holes are not a structural issue, so maybe two different people? I don't want a lecture about just living with the problem.
4"? Does it look like it was dug by a critter? Or like the ground just went away? Washed out by a downspout?
If not dug by an animal or downspout, Home inspector or structural engineer - they are not selling repairs.
Broken drain lines can carry off soil making little sinkholes. If it was a broken water line you'd most likely see flowing water.
posted by rudd135 at 9:47 AM on September 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
If not dug by an animal or downspout, Home inspector or structural engineer - they are not selling repairs.
Broken drain lines can carry off soil making little sinkholes. If it was a broken water line you'd most likely see flowing water.
posted by rudd135 at 9:47 AM on September 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
ruud135 is on the right track. It's important to figure out what caused this, because dirt doesn't just vanish. You might need an exterminator, a plumber, a cement contractor. If you have a handy friend who understands houses, they might see something that you're overlooking. Failing that, a decent handyman or general contractor should be able to figure it out.
posted by jon1270 at 10:35 AM on September 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by jon1270 at 10:35 AM on September 3, 2019 [2 favorites]
Oh, very good call on finding a home inspector. They definitely have the expertise to judge how serious the issue is, and they'll likely know some contractors who would be able to go the work.
posted by tobascodagama at 10:41 AM on September 3, 2019
posted by tobascodagama at 10:41 AM on September 3, 2019
Response by poster: I would guess downspout/sinkhole before critter, but we got a lot of rain yesterday and that might have smoothed it all out.
posted by soelo at 4:07 PM on September 3, 2019
posted by soelo at 4:07 PM on September 3, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
You'll want to find out if your area requires contractors to be licensed or not. If so, obviously you want a licensed contractor. The relevant government authority probably even has a database of licensed contractors. If your area does not require licenses, what you want to do instead is check that the contractor you talk to is insured.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:06 AM on September 3, 2019