Guide
Choosing a foundation repair company
The company you reach by calling the number on this site is independent, and so is any other company you ask for a second proposal. Checking them is up to you. Florida makes the first check easy.
Check the licence
Under Chapter 489 of the Florida Statutes, a person who is paid to repair or alter a building for others is a contractor and has to be licensed. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) issues the licences. General, building and residential contractor are the classes that cover building work on houses.
Look the company up on the DBPR licence search by name or licence number. Check that the licence is current and active and that the name matches the one on your contract. If a salesperson cannot give you a licence number, stop there.
| Word on the licence | What it means |
|---|---|
| Certified | A statewide licence. The contractor may work anywhere in Florida. |
| Registered | Limited to the cities or counties where the contractor holds a local certificate of competency. |
Ask for insurance certificates
Ask for certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance, sent to you by the insurer or its agent and not photocopied by the salesperson. The City of Orlando asks contractors for proof of workers' compensation before it issues them a permit, so a company that obtains its own permits will have it to hand.
Questions about the warranty
A warranty is only as strong as the company behind it. The number of years printed on it matters less than who will pick up the phone when you call about it.
- Who stands behind it: the installing company, a manufacturer or a third party?
- What exactly is covered: the piers staying put, the house staying level, cosmetic cracks?
- How long does it run, and from which date?
- Does it transfer to a buyer, and is there a fee or a deadline for the transfer?
- What voids it? Plumbing leaks, drainage changes and tree removal are common exclusions.
- If a pier settles, does the company adjust it at its own expense?
- What happens to the warranty if the company closes?
The contract and second opinions
Get the scope in writing with a drawing, the permit named as the contractor's job, the price and what can change it, and what is restored afterward. Take the contract home before you sign it.
For a large repair, two proposals from two companies are a reasonable minimum. For an opinion from someone who sells no repairs, hire a structural engineer. The inspection guide explains the difference.
Questions about choosing
Does this site check the companies?
No. Orlando Foundation Repair Help does not license, inspect or vouch for any company. The checks on this page are yours to make before you sign.
How can I tell if someone is working without a licence?
Search for the person or business on the DBPR licence search. The same state portal has an unlicensed activity search.
Ready to have the house looked at?
Only someone standing at the house can tell you what is going on under it. Call, explain what you have noticed, and ask for an inspection.
Describe the problem, book an inspection
Say where the cracks or dips are and when you first saw them. The independent local foundation repair company you reach can set a time to look at the house.
Call (407) 598-8829The call may be recorded. See how referrals are paid for and what happens to your details.