New Construction Consultation From a Foundation Repair Specialist, Not a General Contractor

Epp Foundation Repair is a foundation specialist, not a general contractor. Epp does not pour new foundations, does not install waterproofing membranes during the construction sequence, and does not act as a builder. What Epp does on new construction is the work a foundation repair specialist is uniquely qualified to do: pre-construction soil assessment, engineered helical pier installs on questionable sites, and engineer-coordinated foundation consultation when a builder or homeowner anticipates trouble. Epp does not waterproof homes during construction; waterproofing is only available once the home is complete and occupied. The perspective Epp brings is 30-plus years of seeing what fails 20 years after construction. Dave Epp founded Epp Foundation Repair in 1994, and the crews have re-piered, waterproofed, and stabilized thousands of homes across Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Every one of those homes ends up calling a foundation repair contractor within 10 to 20 years. Epp would rather consult on the front end.

Rural acreages on loess hilltops

Loess. The wind-deposited silt that covers much of eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and northern Missouri. Is collapsible. When saturated for the first time after construction (often by a new septic field or downspout runoff), loess can collapse 6 to 18 inches under building load. Epp consults on rural builds across this region by reviewing the geotechnical report (or recommending one if there isn't one), identifying whether the building pad will sit on intact loess or on a collapsible lens, and specifying engineered helical piers driven past the collapsible zone if needed.

New builds on old fill or quarry sites

Urban infill lots in Lincoln, Omaha, Topeka, and Kansas City sometimes sit on old quarry pits, demolition debris, or undocumented fill from highway projects in the 1960s and 1970s. The lot looks normal at grade. The geotechnical report. If anyone ordered one. Reveals fill of unknown compaction extending 8 to 20 feet down. Epp's recommendation in this scenario is almost always engineered helical piers driven through the fill to native bearing strata.

Pre-emptive piers in known-bad clay neighborhoods

Epp consults with builders across the high-PI prairie clay belt covering eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Where seasonal soil expansion and contraction can move a slab or perimeter footing 2 to 3 inches between wet spring and dry late-summer. Engineered helical piers driven to load-bearing strata 20 to 35 feet down isolate the structure from the active clay zone. Epp coordinates with the builder's structural engineer on pier spacing, load assignments, and the pier-to-footing connection detail.

Epp does not pour foundations. Epp does not install waterproofing membranes during the construction sequence. Epp only installs waterproofing on completed, occupied homes, never during the construction window. Epp does not coordinate the overall construction schedule, does not manage subcontractors outside its own scope, and does not act as the general contractor or builder of record. Builders looking for a one-stop construction partner are looking at the wrong contractor. Epp's value is foundation-specific.

Epp Foundation Repair runs new-construction consultations in a structured sequence. The inspector reviews the lot's geotechnical report, or recommends one from a regional geotech firm Epp has worked with for years. Walks the site, evaluates surrounding topography and drainage, and produces a written foundation recommendation. The recommendation either says the standard footing or slab specified by the architect is appropriate, or it specifies engineered helical piers with pier count, depth, spacing, and load assignments. Engineer-coordinated foundation design work above the basic consultation is billed hourly.

Waterproofing is not part of Epp's new construction scope. Epp waterproofs completed, occupied homes only, not homes still under construction. Homeowners and builders should plan on a separate waterproofing conversation once the home is finished.

Engineered foundation design coordination above that is charged hourly. Customized Repair Estimate after on-site inspection reflects your scope.

Epp Foundation Repair has held the BBB A+ rating and won the BBB Integrity Award in 2011 and 2016. The same standard that keeps Epp from selling unnecessary re-piering on existing homes applies to new construction consultation. Some pre-construction consultations Epp performs conclude that the standard footing or slab specified by the architect is fine. No helical piers needed. Epp says so in writing and bills only for the consultation. Builders and homeowners get the analysis, whether or not it leads to work.

Epp Foundation Repair offers pre-construction consultations across Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, Norfolk NE; and St. Joseph MO. Call the closest office to schedule. Site visits typically run 60 to 120 minutes including geotechnical review, and the written recommendation follows within 3 to 5 business days.