Buyer Beware!
These people are merely salespeople they have little or no knowledge of construction or the causes of your problem they only want to sell a pier. It may as well be a car or a ham either way they are just selling a product. They are a one trick pony in an industry littered with them. This is the first service call I had to address my issue and it has definitely set the tone, they did and said everything I had read about. I have researched this issue extensively and had read and seen many articles, posts, and videos warning that this industry in particular is plagued with charlatans and con men. They were right! Some of the opinions came from knowledgeable contractors and some came from homeowners who had paid $1,000's and sometimes $10,000's of dollars to get screwed. Many times the procedure of installing piers only results in more problems structurally to which most times if not all the company is in no way liable for them. In fact they will come out and try to stick it to you again by adding even more piers. Many of these people also experienced cracked windows, cracking or cracked floors, roofing problems, as well as plumbing and electrical issues. All of which these companies are not liable for! The only warranty is for the life of the pier itself: that is it. I'll give you a direct quote from this company's contract (the one that you need to sign today that will save you so much $) at the end.
The salesman I got had no knowledge or info about how this would affect my plumbing, electrical, the rest of the structure or anything. The only thing he said when I asked him about possible damage was, "oh, it will be fine". Literally that was his answer to me nothing more. And he certainly had no knowledge or information about of how being perched on the side of a slope more like a cliff with poor drainage might have caused this problem. Any time one of these companies is unwilling to address the root of the problem RUN! They are salesman nothing more.
The salesman didn't even use a ruler to measure the cracks or make any assessment about them whatsoever except to start counting how many piers I needed to install. In fact they don't even seal or water proof your cracks they just install piers. And you can sign a contract to install that day for a mere $8,500. But I had to act today to get that price otherwise it was going to cost $11,000. Wow what a bargain. Anyone who wants you to sign immediately and commit today now, now, now, is a con artist! To be fair the $8,500 quote is in line with industry cost for this type of work if you even need it. About $1000 to $1500 a pier is normal based on my research, they suggested 8 for my home.
Look I am not saying you may not need piers. May be some people do but certainly not as commonly as it is prescribed. Heck maybe I do. I don't know yet but I will because I am going to hire a structural engineer for a couple of hundred dollars to give me an unbiased, knowledgeable and educated opinion. I suggest you do too. If you want to scare the heck out of these salespeople just tell them you are going to hire a structural engineer they will crap themselves or maybe even lie and say they are one. My salesman did! But fortunately I have my doctorate in bulls#*t spotting. He also told me the company had been in business for 17 years but I just checked the BBB and it says they opened in March 2013!
Integrity and Truthfulness Rating F
Knowledge Rating F
Was money paid or were services performed? ABSOLUTLEY NOT!
Directly From their own contract
Exclusion to this warranty section
"Customer should be aware that damage can occur to the structure during a lift operation and that contractor is not responsible for such damages".
4) "Damage to personal property of any type"
5) "Utility line breakage"
8) "Damage done during a lifting operation"
9) "Basement water seepage"
10) "Heave or any damages caused by it"
11) "Damage caused by lateral movements and forces of hillside creep, land sliding, or sloping of fill soils"
Items for which customer is responsible for section
1) "Making full payment to crew leader upon completion of the work"
2) "Preparing the work area for installation"
3) "Any finished carpentry, painting, paneling, landscaping, etc. that may be necessary after contractor's work is finished"
This is a largely unregulated industry with no liability for any damage they cause to your property! Think twice do your research I implore you! read more