February 8, 2013 By

Licensing Foundation Repair Contractors Texas

Licensing of foundation repair contractors is needed for Texas home owners, especially in the Dallas area.  Texas HB 613 legislation has been proposed by Rob Orr, R-Buleson, TX for the 2013 legislative session.

HB613, House Bill 613 would create the Texas Foundation Repair Contractors Act. Plumbers, auctioneers, dog breeders and others are licensed in Texas, but not foundation repair.

Updated April 19 2013: House Bill 613 has come out of committee, to the floor for consideration,  and is now being reviewed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

Texas Senate Bill 802, known as SB 802, is in committee. SB 802 mirrors HB 613 to  establish a process to license foundation repair contractors.

Granite Foundation Repair strongly endorses legislation in Texas to require licensing for foundation repair. As a contractor, we hear too  many stories of homeowners being bilked by disreputable  foundation repair contractors.   As Rob Orr stated ” anybody can get into the (foundation repair) business by hanging a shingle”.

You as a homeowner can do your part by contacting Rob Orr’s Austin office at 512-463-0538 and reporting any problems that you have encountered with foundation repair contractors.

The Texas Foundation Repair Contractors Act for Licensing would entail:

House Bill 613 (HB613) is needed to protect the consumer.  In the 2011-2012 Texas Legislative Session,  The Foundation Repair Association, of which Granite Foundation Repair is a member, led a licensing movement in the form of Senate Bill 1399 (SB1399), which died in committee. HB613 contains the essential protections of last year’s SB1399.
In the absence of this legislation, we recommend that homeowners:
  • Seek references for foundation repair contractors
  • Check with the BBB, FRA or Angie’s List

 

 

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August 12, 2010 By

Does Granite Foundation Repair carry Liability Insurance?

As a member of the Foundation Repair Association, Granite Foundation Repair is required to carry Liability Insurance.   The Association insists upon the annual receipt of evidence of insurance.

In the event of a catastrophe, liability insurance protects both the company, and the homeowner.

A Granite Foundation Repair employee can provide you with a certificate of insurance at the time of evaluation, or have our insurance company provide you with a named certificate prior to the beginning of work.

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August 11, 2010 By

What is the Foundation Repair Association?

The Foundation Repair Association is a national organization of foundation repair contractors and engineers.

To quote from its website: “The Foundation Repair Association, Inc. exists to promote high ethical standards in the practice of foundation repair and to promote cooperation between the foundation repair industry and government.”

Requirements to be a member of the Foundation Repair Association include:

  • In active foundation repair business for a minimum of three years
  • Satisfactory BBB report for the business.
  • Satisfactory credit references from three major suppliers or a Dun & Bradstreet report with a satisfactory payment history.
  • Minimum of at least $500,000 of General Liability Insurance, verified annually.
  • Maintenance of workers compensation insurance or employee accident insurance, verified annually.
  • Adherence to a Code of Ethics in advertising and business practices.
  • Approval into the Association by a majority of the members.

Granite Foundation Repair is a member in good standing of the Foundation Repair Association.

Filed Under: Foundation Repair Information Tagged With: ,
August 11, 2010 By

Is Foundation Repair Licensed by the State of Texas?

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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September 16, 2009 By

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

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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September 13, 2009 By

How do I find a licensed foundation repair company?

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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