Having just hired Eldar and his team on a 3-week project, I absolutely recommend The Foundation &…read moreDrainage Repair without reservation.
This was the best experience I've ever had working with a contractor, and I've worked with some really excellent ones both in LA and the Bay Area, as well as some true scumbags who amounted to fraudsters (hence my anxiety surrounding this project and my meticulous due diligence).
Eldar is honest, experienced, and so very kind. He knows what he's talking about, he explains the issues thoroughly, his solutions are logical, and his prices are reasonable. Women, especially, take note: he won't talk down to you, and he won't bullsh*t you or waste your time. He stays positive and friendly, even when new challenges like huge, invasive roots up against and under the foundation reveal themselves as the project progresses. He communicates clearly, sets realistic expectations, and provides comprehensive progress updates at the beginning and end of each day, and sometimes more if urgent matters come up. He listens to clients' needs and expectations, and is very good at working with anxious customers.
His team is professional, punctual, super friendly, and incredibly hardworking. They went above and beyond every single day, kept the worksite clean and tidy, and ultimately left my yard much cleaner than it was when they started.
So, to sum up my experience: These guys are fantastic. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. You'll be in great hands.
Now, if you want all the dirty details of my cracked slab and water intrusion saga:
I had several different foundation/structural companies come out (yes, even the usual suspects in sponsored search results) and look at my foundation over the past few years, and I got vastly different suggestions on what I should do to solve my problem, with a range of very high prices. I was overwhelmed because none of the solutions seemed right to me, and I was worried some would actually end up causing other problems down the road because they went overboard on foundation support, but didn't address drainage.
After my first meeting with Eldar, it was clear to me his solution would be the most effective for my problem, which was 99% caused by a lack of drainage around my property. The rest of the problem was caused by a very shallow free-pour foundation on one side of the house (1950s construction), which Eldar and his team uncovered during the excavation process, and supported by making some very solid, high-quality footing extensions, which they waterproofed. Expansive clay soil and a slope behind my house also factored in.
I had so much anxiety about hiring a contractor who would take the wrong approach along with all my money that I basically sat on this problem for four years. Bad idea, I know. I'll spare you the details of my insanity every time it rained, but let's just say lots of stress, dozens of shop towels and multiple Quick Dam flood barriers were involved. I was seriously losing my mind with every new crack in my slab and walls.
Now that Eldar and his team are done installing deep french drains, waterproofing, footing extensions and a sump pump, I feel such a sense of relief. I'm confident that I'm going to survive this year's anticipated El Niño storms while maintaining my sanity, and I feel so lucky I found The Foundation & Drainage Repair when I did.
I'll update and post videos of my beautiful new sump pump in action when the rains come.
