17 Dec Can You Live in a House During Foundation Repair? 

You’ve seen the warning signs, and you’ve had professionals assess and evaluate your house, in particular, your foundation. The verdict: You need to have your home’s foundation repaired.

Now, as the scheduled repair job is approaching, you’re busy with the necessary preparations. You’re clearing the work area, ensuring there’s access for the crew, securing valuables, and protecting your belongings. Neighbors have already been notified, and you’re coordinating with the contractor.

But, as you’re trying to determine where to stay for the duration of the repair, you begin to wonder, “Can you live in a house during foundation repair?” You’d like to be on hand to coordinate access for the contractors, ensure that protective barriers remain in place and  delicate items remain secure, and monitor progress.

The short answer: Yes, it is possible to remain in your house as the foundation repair is ongoing. However, there are certain things you have to keep in mind.

When You Can Stay

For most projects, it’s usually safe to live in a house during foundation repair. For instance:

• Minor foundation problems, such as minor differential settlement and water intrusion, might allow you to safely stay in the house.
• Or, if only perimeter or exterior work is being done, there should be no problem staying in your home, as the repair team will not likely require access inside your house for the majority of the project.

The rule of thumb is this: If your home is currently habitable and safe, then you can most likely stay during the repairs, unless you’re dealing with severe damage. In this case, you must move out immediately for your own safety.

When You Cannot Stay

While most of the time, it’s safe to stay in your home while a foundation repair job is in progress, there are some instances when you absolutely cannot.

• Interior support work, which is messy, loud, and too disruptive for most people, would require you to move out.
• Utility disruption means some or all utilities are disconnected, which is typically required in extensive repairs like elevation. This would make living in your house difficult, so it would not be advisable for you to stay in your home in this case.  
• Major structural damage, including sinking foundations, differential settlement and collapsed foundation walls, could cause a full or partial structure collapse, which means your home is not safe to live in. You should move out immediately and only return to your house when all the repairs have been completed.
• Other major damages, such as large, uneven cracks or issues resulting in poor indoor air quality, would mean that it’s not safe for you to stay.

How to Determine If You Can Stay in a House During Foundation Repair

The possibility of being able to stay in your home depends on safety. That is, is it safe for you to stay inside the house while the foundation is being repaired?

Consider the following:

• Foundation type. 

The type of foundation dictates the type of repair method or methods contractors will use, which will, in turn, influence how much disturbance there will be. For instance, fixing a slab foundation entails excavation, which means there will be disturbed soil from a lot of digging. Meanwhile, repairing a pier and beam foundation typically requires access to crawl spaces.

• Extent of the repair. 

Foundation repairs that only tackle minor issues might allow you to continue staying in the house even when work is ongoing. However, for certain types of repair jobs, you’ll have no choice but to vacate the premises temporarily. For instance, elevation entails all utilities to be disconnected, so it doesn’t make sense for you to stay from a safety and convenience standpoint.

• Structural stability and other safety considerations. 

Before any foundation repair job, contractors will conduct an assessment and inform you of the best recommended action. They will usually advise you to stay out of the house if the repair work poses risks, for instance, of structural instability, extreme damage, exposure to harmful chemicals, or other hazards.

Other Factors to Consider

Aside from safety concerns, you should also consider other temporary inconveniences and potential hazards. These can be minor for some, but might not be something others want to put up with.

• Access details. 

Contractors will need the areas where they work to be cleared of furniture, fixtures, and other items which may obstruct them from doing their job. However, while they have unrestricted access to these areas, you won’t.

Whether you’re dealing with interior or exterior foundation work, there will be certain areas of your home that will be off-limits when repair is ongoing. If your normal daily routine involves those areas, you should be prepared for some or a lot of disruption. This is especially true for frequently used areas of the house.

• Noise and dust. 

With machinery, equipment, and crew around, there’s bound to be a lot of noise and a significant amount of dust and debris. While there’s nothing you can do about the noise, aesthetics, and functionality of the cordoned-off area, dust and some debris may find their way inside your home, which means you’ll need to regularly clean areas of the house where you’re staying to keep it habitable.

If these don’t sound bothersome to you, great! However, for those who dislike loud noises or have allergies or respiratory issues, moving out while foundation repair is ongoing is the best choice.

• Vibration and movement. 

Besides noise and dust, some foundation repair techniques can produce vibrations, creaking, and minor movements of the house. Vibrations can be unsettling for some people and may result in cosmetic damage to your home’s interior.

If you decide to stay, you should be prepared for these. For instance, you should secure valuable items so they’re not damaged during the repair job.

The bottom line is: Foundation repairs are disruptive, so only stay if (1) it’s safe to do so and (2) you can put up with all the disruptions it comes with, i.e., construction noises, dust and debris, vibrations and creaking, temporary utility shutoffs, and contractors monitoring the progress of the repair job.