Archive for the ‘Permit and License’ Category

Is Foundation Repair Licensed by the State of Texas?

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Sadly, the State of Texas does not have a licensing process for foundation repair. This is a totally unregulated industry.

When a foundation repair contractor advertises that he is licensed, he is simply stating that he is registered with a municipality as a contractor.  Registered, not truely licensed.

Plumbers are licensed in the art of plumbing. Sprinkler installers are licensed in the art of sprinkler installation. AC companies are licensed in the trade of AC. Foundation repair companies in Texas are not licensed in the art of foundation repair.

The Foundation Repair Association (FRA) has worked to fill the licensing void by developing a training, testing and continuing education program leading to the title “Certified Foundation Repair Specialist / CFRS“. Even after passing the CFRS exam, a specialist must have 8 hours of annual continuing education, plus ongoing employment with an association member foundation repair company.

The FRA prevents its member companies including Granite Foundation Repair, Inc. from using the misleading term licensed in any form of advertising.

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Posted in Foundation Repair Association, Permit and License | No Comments »

Why do I have to pay for a building permit to fix my foundation?

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

To shave the bid price, or to save money, some foundation repair companies fail to include a building permit in the bid, and will not obtain a building permit to repair a foundation.

A few cities require no building permit, such as Rowlett Texas and Rockwall Texas.

In Fort Worth a building permit must be purchased and displayed prominently the day before any foundation repair work begins.

Permits aren’t cheap. In addition to the building permit price of $40 to $250, there is the cost of the foundation engineer’s pre repair and post repair reports, which adds another $500 to the cost of the foundation repair.

The problem with failing to get a permit when required is that each city has its own fine structure for the property owner and contractor.  And the city will stop a non-permitted foundation repair until all of the paper work is correct.

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Posted in Cost of Foundation Repair, Discount Foundation Repair, Foundation Engineer, Permit and License | No Comments »

Why should I hire a foundation repair company that is a member of the Foundation Repair Association?

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

There are over a hundred companies in the Dallas Fort Worth area that advertise foundation repair services.     So who can you trust?

There is no licensing of foundation repair companies in Texas. Buyer beware when an ad states Licensed

The Foundation Repair Association is a professional national organization that exists to promote high ethical standards in the practice of foundation repair and to promote cooperation between the foundation repair industry and government.

Here are some of the criteria that the Association members must adhere to:

  • The maintenance of a minimum of $500,000 of General Liability Insurance ( verified annually).
  • The maintenance of Texas Workers Compensation Insurance or employee accident insurance (verified annually).
  • An active foundation repair business for a minimum of three years.
  • Satisfactory BBB report for the foundation repair business.

Granite Foundation Repair is a member of the Foundation Repair Association.

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Posted in Insurance - Liability and Workers Compensation, Permit and License | No Comments »

How do I find a licensed foundation repair company?

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

Sorry to say that in the State of Texas, there is no license available for foundation repair.  Electricians, plumbers, and sprinkler installers are licensed. Remodelers who perform repairs in excess of $20,000 are licensed and fall under the regulations of the TRCC.

Any company which advertises that it has a license has a license to do something other than foundation repair and is misleading in its advertisements.

In most Dallas Fort Worth area cities, there is a requirement for a foundation repair permit. As a condition to obtain a permit, the repair plan must be approved and stamped by a registered professional engineer.

The Foundation Repair Association has worked to fill the licensing void.  Since the program’s inception, over 70 foundation evaluators nationwide have studied, tested, and earned the right to be called Certified Foundation Repair Specialists.  These people are required to take annual classes in order to retain certification.

As a degreed engineer, I obtained the Certification a few years ago and can attest to the level of study required to pass the exam.

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Posted in Foundation Engineer, Permit and License | No Comments »