Remodeling is only a natural part of owning a house. Part of the circle of life, shall we say. Or at least, part of inhabiting a home. Many times remodeling comes from wanting to refresh things; to change or alter structures, forms or styles. Sometimes these changes can be merely aesthetic, sometimes a bit more functional.
Sometimes because things have looked the same for a while now and you want to try something new. Sometimes because a little change here and there can prove beneficial in functionality. Sometimes it works as a bit of makeup to cover slight imperfections.
It is not uncommon to find homeowners using remodeling to cover up imperfections brought upon by foundation damage. So the question is: is it recommended to remodel before fixing your foundation?
There was one occasion specifically in which we repaired a foundation; we raised the house a few inches. Turns out that the owners had previously remodeled one of their bathrooms. The door frames had been twisted out of shape and a large crack had appeared in the bathroom wall, so naturally in order to hide these signs, they had remodeled the bathroom. The problem was that when the foundation was repaired and the house was leveled back, some of the new tiles naturally broke. They of course complained about the matter, but we explained to them that this would’ve been impossible to avoid; it was either preserving the tiles or repairing the foundation.
So the lesson here is; if your foundation is damaged, avoid remodeling before repairing the foundation, as it may cause some damage. Cracking or breaking of new countertops, floors, tiles, sheetrock and more could definitely happen, so it is imperative that the foundation is lifted back into place before starting any remodeling process.
You also have to keep in mind that the same applies to plumbing. Plumbing repairs done before fixing the foundation can be undone as it is fixed. And this would only bring about more issues in the future.
So, having gotten that out of the way, we must ask ourselves; how long after foundation repair can I go about my remodeling? In general, a time window of 6-8 weeks before doing any remodeling is ideal. This is because your house needs to self-adjust after having the foundation repaired. As the foundation is moved, framing will move with it. Therefore some of the frames might become unleveled and it may or may not take a while for them to return to normal.
For this reason it is best to allocate a time window to allow things to settle down before making any cosmetic repairs. Sheetrock cracks, gaps in floors and windows and ever countertops need tome to readjust after leveling a house.
If you go about repairing doors and windows too soon you risk that, even after the repairs, doors and windows might continue to shift given the the foundation continues to settle and you will be back to where you started. Well, almost.
Flooring should also wait until the 6-8 weeks time period has passed. Installing new flooring too soon can cause bowing, gaps and other issues while the house continues to settle. Same thing apples to roofing, and plumbing for that matter. Regarding your roof, the changes in pressure to the shingles might cause new issues not present before. This is specially true if the roof had been replaced prior to repairing the foundation. While having your plumbing repair before time, you run the risk of it cracking due to the pressure of the shifting foundation.
So, as you can see, a little patience goes a long way in order to ensure the best possible solution to your foundation and remodeling alike. Having waited those few weeks you can then proceed with your remodeling projects in a safe manner.
And remember that in case you have any doubts or are uncertain to proceed with any remodeling because you might suspect some degree of foundation damage, don’t hesitate to call us and book a free inspection. We will make sure to clear up all your doubts and provide the best tips and recommendations for your remodeling project and/or foundation repair.
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