How We Got Here

How We Got HereEvery business journey is interesting and unique. Our journeys tell the stories of our struggles and triumphs, the lessons that we’ve learned and the amazing community of teammates and customers that we continue to amass along the way. Think of some great examples… Apple is the first that comes to mind. Steve Jobs was undoubtedly smart and promising, but he had to deal with the politics of everyone around him, ultimately leading him to have to leave the business for a while. That one ended up working out alright; after all, how many of us own iPhones or Apple products these days? There are others that haven’t fared so well, but that’s not an issue you’ll ever have to worry about here.

As you probably assume, the Victorian Foundation Repairs team is no different than Apple in some respects. We started with a simple idea – that we wanted to reinforce your foundations and do so, so that you would never have to go through the process again… at least not for a very long time. Restumping, reblocking, underpinning – we do it all, and we do it well.

We do it well because there are a few different ways that we got here. Let’s share some of the details:

  • We believe in our products. We believe in the products that we started with and we believe in the products that are newly available in the industry. We would never share a product with you that we wouldn’t use on our own properties. And that will always be the case.
  • We do not mind putting in a hard day’s work. Or a hard night’s work for that matter. Reinforcing the foundation of your home is no joke, and anyone that impacts your home should take it very seriously. While we always aim to work around your schedule, know that your schedule should always work around us.
  • We want to learn. We talk about this all of the time on the blog. Complacency is the greatest enemy of improvement and enhancement – two things that we value heavily at Restumping Homes. We don’t see our business as a “check off” or a place where we can get to where we believe that we really know everything. We never will. And we don’t want to. But, part of our enthusiasm and passion is just that – that we want to learn. We have conversations with each other every day. We read all of the associated materials about your dream home. And we go to all of the events possible. We want to touch, feel and learn about materials and processes that will only make your life easier.
  • We will never stop trying. That’s the bottom line. Constructive criticism is our friend and we will always appreciate it. Bring it on – the complaints, the compliments, all of the above. The Victorian Foundation Repairs team will always be here to keep making your home better and better.

October Home News

Home News OctoberWelcome back to the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog! We know that you are here because you care deeply about your home or business – your property at large – and ensuring that it is the best in the area and for the longest time. We feel the same way about our blog. It needs to be the best in the area and for the longest time. How does one accomplish this for their customers? It is done through a variety of sorts of compelling, engaging, entertaining and educational information. All of these elements come to a head during our monthly news round-ups, because they check all of these boxes. We are not just talking about restumping, we are not just talking about reblocking, we’re not just talking about underpinning – we’re talking about all the things that reinforce our passion to design and support the best homes possible. Here we go for the best-of-the-best of articles found on the Web this month:

Should Your Real Estate Agent Give You Referrals When You’re Buying or Selling a Home?

The first part of this deals with relationships. Moreover, the most important relationships at that. Think about joining a union with someone that you care most about. Chances are good that you want to be a part of their lives for many decades. Chances are good for the relationship that we are about to highlight, that you want them to be an important part of your life. Maybe not for decades, but definitely in an impactful way. We’re talking today, specifically about real estate agents. Should you give them referrals? Should they give you referrals? Find out the point-of-view of experts in the business right here on this link.

These Are the Top 10 Cities Where Millennials Can Afford to Buy a Home

The second part of today is taking a really solid look at where you should be living, especially if you have lower income than you anticipated. Buying a home can be a challenge, no matter what your income or point of life is. Fresh out of University? Well into your retirement? Neither of these are a confirmed reason on why and how you should be able to purchase or rent a particular home. Both of these, however, are the best reason for you to take advantage of articles like this one. Win the real estate game and read this article now.

Level Home Raises $71M For Smart Locks

The trifecta today is protecting the hard work that both your family and our business have completed. Your hard work probably encapsulates a dozen different projects and a laundry list as to projects that need to be completed in the coming years. Our work focuses on your foundation, but in the most metaphorical sense, our work sets the foundation (no pun intended) for all of the other projects that you have on your list.  That’s why “smart locks” are such a big deal, and why they’re becoming such a large sector of a growing market in the safety of your home. The trick is to know exactly why they’re so important and the best way to navigate them. Stay safe and check out this article now.

What the Environment of Construction Looks Like

What the Environment of Construction Looks LikeNo, we’re not talking about the road or the environment in which construction takes place physically. We’re talking about the past, the current and the future, before we know that construction is in a good place. Victorian Foundation Repairs is a company that is dedicated to ensuring that the environment that we create is one that’s diverse, and ever-growing.

So, let’s look at the support. Let’s look at who is being integrated into the current work environment and why.

We’ve already heard about the #metoo movement. It’s no joke, and no question that it’s an important issue around women in the workplace. You know what the great thing is? Women in the workplace are more prevalent than ever, and especially with the team at Victorian Foundation Repairs. In fact, we celebrate them. On a daily basis, and today – that means that we discuss their role in construction not only here, but around the globe. Read on for more information:

Here are some fun stats –

Just in the UK alone – let alone the other countries around the world, the Construction Industry Training Board, also known as CITB, female employees are a slim 14.5 percent population of construction workers.

Even better, women in manual trades are only two percent.

Remember the recession, yes – women in these areas did flourish during this time… in fact, up to 18 percent around the world. But while one may always be on the horizon, this one is a long time ago.

Here’s a current statistic, thanks to Refinery29, “According to the UK’s Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), only 14.5% of construction workers are female.”

Heads up – their article is one to check out. It chronicles some of the best women in the business and how exactly they’re smashing the glass ceiling for women in the construction industry. Check out more information here.

Enough about that. What can we do? What are the best ways to diversify the landscape of those that are participating and creating change in the construction industry? It’s easy enough to put your name on something and to say that you want to create change, but that’s not enough. Here are our best practices and ideas:

  • Attend as many talent recruiting events as possible. They’re the best way to determine the best and the brightest of the future – and more often than not, those are women.
  • Do your research. If you work in the construction industry, or if you are looking to get into it, take a gander at the different businesses around you, and what they’re looking for. Look at their values, look at the population of employees and look at the gaps in which you want to slot your best offerings.
  • Finally, show up. If you’re a woman in construction, we want to hear from you. We’re pretty sure that you have something to bring to the game and that other companies around us feel the exact same way.

With all of the above, reach out! Questions? Comments? The Victorian Foundation Repairs team can’t wait to hear from you.

Home News for September

Home News For SeptemberThe weather is getting warmer, right? We know that you’ve been waiting forever… for another installment of the home news that you like best. How else are you supposed to plan for the upcoming season? Our seasoned veterans know that there is no better way to be on you’re a-game than to check out the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog. Our newer visitors, (welcome!) will quickly learn that our blog is an extension of our passion for the business as well as a go-to resource to answer your questions, educate you on all of the industries that we touch and hopefully entertain you in the process. Here we go for the month:

Neighbors Fed up with 24/7 Construction Noise in Downtown SLC

This first article may make you roll your eyes, but we can’t stress the importance of it enough. We talked about it in a recent blog post – in fact, we’ve talked about it in many posts – but it’s just one of those broken records that we can’t stop playing. Speaking of playing, this article is about playing well with your neighbors. A major construction project is causing stress for the neighbors around it, and they’re not afraid to be vocal about it. There are a bunch of different takeaways for this article… they range from the importance to doing your homework to the best ways to play with your neighbors. Check out this link for more information.

Best Decorative Rocks and Stones for Landscaping

On to the next. Yes, our services reinforce the foundation of your home’s structure, but what do you see first? The landscaping of course! It’s time to rock. We know how corny that may sound, but we have no problem leading into the importance of rocks in this age to ensure that your landscaping is the trendiest (and still classic) on the block. That’s a touch award to win. We have Pinterest, we have the World Wide Web, we have word-of-mouth through social media. These can always be dangerous, (thanks to fillers) because you can depict your life in any way that you please. But with Victorian Foundation Repairs, you will always know that we’re authentic and helpful. And that is why we’re sharing this article today. Check out this link for more information.

Seven Creative Ways To Finance Your Home Purchase

Finally, it’s always our duty to discuss the best ways to set you, and your home, up for success, before you decide to take advantage of our services. What’s the magical word here? Finances. This isn’t a word that we normally like to deal with (unless we’re making a lot of money), but it’s just one of those words that we have to know. Luckily, when you scour the Web and find the information that you need to know, you stumble upon articles like this one that allow you to become creative. Seven tips, seven ways to not stress as much about the ways that you will find the funds for your dream home. Check out this link for more information.

Spotlight on Famous Buildings: Here Comes Amazon

Image courtesy of Scott Lewis.

There’s no better way to be inspired about the work that you do when you work in construction, than by experiencing what the evolution of architecture has become. There was nothing wrong with mud huts – I mean, look, yurts are more popular than ever, but that’s just one piece of an ever-changing puzzle. The Victorian Foundation Repairs team is no stranger to change and growth over the years, but one thing has remained constant… we will always reinforce the foundations of your homes.

We do so in a few different ways – namely restumping, reblocking and underpinning. Each uses different materials and processes but have the same results. Each have the same benefits as well – your home is safe and sound, your curb appeal skyrockets, and it’s one more thing that you can check off of your to-do list.

We work on homes of all shapes and sizes, but it’s safe to say (so far), that we haven’t worked on something quite of this magnitude. Anyone familiar with Amazon? If not, you may have been living under a rock. If so, you definitely know the way that they’ve skyrocketed as a business, just in the last twenty years. The sky is the limit for their business and it definitely seems to be the limit for the first distribution centre that they constructed.

That brings us back to buildings that inspire us, and this is certainly one. It’s located in Upstate New York and only about two years old.

It wasn’t constructed without conflict. Nearby neighbours were affronted that a one-million square-foot facility would impact what was previously a quiet and calm area. Concrete was poured for more than three weeks, before the builder ran into roadblock (literally) and was unable to blast away bedrock. That particular area required 45-days heads up before any blasting should have taken place.

This is just another great example of why it makes sense to have solid relations with anyone involved with your dream home. We’re talking about all sorts of stakeholders, but the most important ones are your neighbours and local governments. With the former, you want them to be on your good side, so that you hopefully build strong relations over time. With the latter, as you can see with the example of Amazon, you can be entirely shut down or at least have to pay a lot more money out-of-pocket than planned.

There is important reasoning behind why Amazon continues to aim to expand its reach physically. With their one-day delivery promise, as well as day-of food deliveries, the demand is starting to exceed the supply. What a tough problem to have, right?

Well, you won’t run into it as a problem with the Victorian Foundation Repairs team. Questions? Comments? We want you to reach out. We can promise customized service and the level of expect and quality that you deserve.

A Day in the Life at Victorian Foundation Repairs

A Day in the Life at Victorian Foundation RepairsWe get this question all the time. More and more in fact. It’s a huge testament to the work that we’ve put into the last few decades of our passion here, and you better believe that there is far more to come. But today on the blog, our team at Victorian Foundation Repairs is celebrating the work that’s been completed and our never-wavering sense of urgency to continue to be the best! Why else do you think that we started this blog? We knew that there was an appetite to showcase why you choose us to reinforce the foundation of your homes and equally as importantly – to explain how and why. There’s a simple answer all around. People.

Yes, you come first. You will always be our valued community of friends, not customers. But one of the reasons that we like you so much, is that you care just as much about us. You have questions, you have comments, and the biggest one tends to be – what on earth does your job entail?

We thought we’d have some fun with this one. Read on for a day-in-the-life of a Victorian Foundation Repairs employee.

6:00 a.m.: yes, this is the standard wake-up time, if not sooner. After a hearty breakfast, we’re on the road. Depending on the season and depending on your needs, this may be the best time to show up, get any sort of work started, and not disrupt your day. Of course, that being said, we’re flexible and can show up any time that works the best for you.

8:00 a.m.: If we’re not immediately at your home for a job, it’s likely that we’re at the home office, scheming about the best ways to help you. Someone may have found an amazing new sustainable material for the posts in your foundation and someone may have heard feedback that a certain process didn’t work its best in a specific area around; either way, it’s all about the brainstorming and camaraderie.

All day long: You can’t put a timeframe on this one, because once we get going… we get going. We’re on the phone with current and prospective customers, we’re doing site checks to discern if you need restumping support and how, we’re continuing the conversation to ensure that you’re as happy as possible with the work that’s been completed and we’re celebrating each other’s wins. We’re only as strong as our weakest teammate and it’s a true honour to say that we don’t have any of those around here.

End of day: What on earth is that? All jokes aside, here at Victorian Foundation Repairs, we value work-life balance AND put you first at the same time. Shocking, right? You’re always guaranteed that we’re giving you our 124 percent, and that you’re represented by a company that loves our families, each other and what we do.

Sappy enough? Send us some questions or comments. We’re excited to hear from and work with you.

How to Make Your Landscaping Look its Best

How to Make Your Landscaping Look its Best You may think that our work ends with your foundation, but that’s simply not the truth. In fact, the team at Victorian Foundation Repairs is passionate about all sorts of matters related to your home – including your landscaping. It surrounds your property, and if it looks bad, chances are good that no one will want to visit… or purchase your home in the future. On the flip side, if your landscaping is especially premium, you’re set up for success – with both visitors and potential future homebuyers.

We could wax lyrical all day long about the best ways to make your landscaping look good, but that’s not the focus of today. The focus of today… is photography.

We live in a digital age. We’re sure that you understand that, especially as you visit the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog. That has its pros and it has its cons. It also has a ton of lessons that you need to be aware of, so that you navigate it successfully. Let’s think through the latter. Read on for more information. ’

First up – lighting. Mike Dixon and FStoppers have all of the right cues. You can check out this link for a very helpful video that can make a huge difference in your work. He references Mark Denney and shares that blue and orange lighting can be especially impactful when you photograph your property. If anything, they’ll turn out as beautiful photos – with especially kind lighting. And if you’re looking to put your home on the market any time soon… there’s research that says that customers are really drawn to these two styles of lighting.

Adobe has always been known to be an expert in this field. After all, they’re home to many of the tools that the best of the best use to take, and then manipulate photos. So, what do they think? They want us to understand focal length… focus in on what really mattered. Do you have fantastic plants or flowers that line the perimeter line? Or do you have an amazing vista view from any angle of your property? Either way, be strategic about it. While the Victorian Foundation Repairs team loves our foundations, we also love all of the above.

One other tip that the Adobe team brings to mind is to not dismiss night photography. While we know this can make shots of your landscaping more difficult, it can also ensure that your home is lit up in its best scenario. Give it a try. The worst thing that happens is that it doesn’t work out.

Questions? Comments? We’re here for you. From your foundation and up, the Victorian Foundation Repairs team is here to be your partners-in-crime, no matter what your needs or requests may be.

Rain Water and Your Foundation as Seasons Change

Rain Water and Your Foundation as Seasons ChangeWe forget the epic impacts that every element of weather can have on your home. After all, once you sign your name on the dotted line, you probably think that most of the work of being a new homeowner is over and done with. The Victorian Foundation Repairs team wishes that that was the case, but unfortunately it’s not. And while the weather may be getting warmer, this news is evergreen.

The purpose of the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog will always and forever be to be your advocate in everything that’s going on in the home renovation industry. That means landscaping, that means the inside of your home, and that means everything in-between. As we transition seasons, that’s exactly what we’re focusing on. Namely, in 2019, how does rainwater effect your home’s foundation?

It seems like a minor disturbance, especially when you’re outside. Most likely, you’re simply excited to arrive home and shake off the weather. But what we forget, is that that damage follows us home, and here’s how:

First off, a simple check on assumptions: just because you see minor damage, like cracks in your walls, floors or ceilings, doesn’t mean that you necessarily have a problem on your hands. The key number is here is less than one-eighth of an inch. Those are super common in foundations that have been created with poured concrete, so don’t let them get into your head.

That being said, you always want to be ahead of the game – right? So, despite knowing that cracks that small may not be a problem, they could easily be the catalyst for problems in the future. It never hurts to be vigilant. Cracks can lead straight to leakages, simply because groundwater WILL find a way into your house, however it sees fit – and this can include minor foundation cracks.

That was minor rain damage, but as many of us know, you can’t avoid heavy rain damage… depending on where you live. When you see a ton of rain damage, it can quickly lead to your foundation either settling or sinking. That’s just a domino effect of a problem, spreading throughout the house. Want to know how? Heavy rains lead to soil moving lead to the foundation spreading. Equally, when a drought follows, then you see the soil shrink, which means holes and chasms that the foundation can very easily sink into.

Never fret, as always, the Victorian Foundation Repairs team will always have the signs that you should look for. Here are the highlights:

  • Any leaning chimneys
  • Cracks that you find in and around doors and windows
  • Cracks in drywall or concrete floor
  • Doors and windows that jam and stick
  • All of the major cracks in the areas that we’ve discussed

Looking for bonus points? You’ll find them when you notice that the soil has moved and caused the foundation to swell all the way up until the point that it provides THAT much pressure on the foundation.

Like we said? Stick with us and you’ll be in good shape. Reach out to the Victorian Foundation Repairs team with any questions.

Let’s Ask the Expert

No, we’re not talking about us. Although, we should be. The team at Victorian Foundation Repairs is pleased as punch to be as good at what we do and still love it as much as we do. It didn’t come easily – it took *decades* of hard lessons, takeaways and brainstorming about how to be the best in the business. But it was worth it – every single minute. And you know what one of the biggest takeaways was? That you always need to learn from the expert.

The expert can be anyone. And there’s a reason that we’re not putting it in capital letters, because we believe that everyone can be an expert in their own right. Some are born with it, some learn with it, and some say that they want nothing to do with it. The biggest reason that we started the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog is that we knew we had expertise to share with the world. The biggest reason that we’re starting this series, is that we know that we’re not the only ones who have something to share with the world.

Enter… Let’s Ask the Expert. Check out our first, someone who truly knows what he’s doing in the home renovation space.

We’re starting with a topic that can cause us great heartache – and that’s the weather that can impede the evolution of your homes. So, cheers as an industry to Home Value Renovation… just one example of why choosing local can make all of the difference in the world.

Straight from Carmel Magazine:

“Mike Redman, president and owner of HVR, is a local contractor with more than 20 years of storm damage and home remodeling experience. He is a trusted business owner and reputable contractor in his industry. Redman looks to educate homeowners before they are in dire need of his services and expertise. He said it really begins with educating homeowners about how to shop for property or homeowner’s insurance.

“Educating people before they buy insurance is the ideal situation,” Redman said. “In a perfect world, we would start the conversation at the point where the homeowner is shopping for insurance. Typically, people just call the agent and company that they’ve been with the longest and get a quote for a homeowner’s policy to cover a major catastrophe and to satisfy a mortgage company’s requirement. Homeowners will ask for a $500 or $1,000 deductible policy quote but may not ask anything else—for instance, what, if any, exclusions are written in the policy regarding wind or hail damage? What most people don’t realize is that storm damage can come with exclusions and a 1% deductible, which is different than the $500 or $1,000 deductible that is stated in the policy.”

He makes all of the right points, and only serves as the jumping-off point for this series. Stay tuned for much more information about those in ALL of our industries, who are truly making a difference and paving the way.

How Does Your Foundation Affect Your Plumbing?

Did you think that we meant to swap the subjects in the title? It’s true – your plumbing (or challenges within) can impact the quality and maintenance of your foundation. But a little-known fact is that the reverse can be true as well! Welcome back to the Victorian Foundation Repairs blog! We’re experts at underpinning, restumping and reblocking – all of which ensure that the place that you call home is safe and comfortable.

There are many different elements that you need to think about maintaining when it comes to your home. There’s no set cadence, but the best practice is… as often as you deem fit! For a foundation, all of the signs are there. The same is true for plumbing. But did you know what a relationship there is between the two? Read on for more information:

Foundations can seem like a headache, but they’re far simpler than you may think. In essence, they’re giant slabs of concrete that serve as the go-between between the house itself and the ground underneath. If we’re taking it to the next level, they’re the conduit between the home’s water fixtures and whatever local water supplies and sewer systems are in the immediate area. In fact, though we’re partial to foundations, generally anything to do with plumbing and sewage come first. Only then can whatever concrete makes up the foundation, be poured around all of these.

In a perfect world, anything to do with the structure of your home would be good for life. Unfortunately, we don’t live in this “perfect world,” and plumbing needs to be updated. If you live somewhere that’s very cold, the pipes can freeze or burst. If you live somewhere warm, you may deal with over-usage of any elements of your system. Regardless – your plumbing becomes damaged. And where does it live? Ah, the foundation. So, if the pipes crack, they’re going to leak and cause immediate damage to the foundation. Think about where the foundation is. There’s nowhere for the water to go, is there? That just means the pressure will mount – ultimately causing the foundation to crack under it.

We know that we mentioned earlier the focus on plumbing, but we also must mention the way that your foundation can negatively impact your plumbing. If there is any shrinking or if your soil starts to swell, it’s going to immediately cause your plumbing fixtures to bend. And then, they leak. So, it’s basically a chicken and an egg cycle.

We know that this may seem overwhelming, but as with any challenge that we describe – you’re in luck. The Victorian Foundation Repairs team has your back in every way. Be it sharing information, answering questions, or simply having conversations about your dream home, you’re in safe hands.

Questions? Comments? Let us know! You can email, call or visit us in person. It’s time to ensure that you are as proud of your house as we are proud of the work that we do.