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Foundation repair in Winthrop, MA
Winthrop is nearly surrounded by salt water. That shapes the ground under its houses and the questions the town asks before foundation work starts.
Where is the house?
Upland or floodplain
Upland
The hills
Cottage Hill is among the drumlins named by the U.S. Geological Survey. Its dense glacial till gives good support. On a hill lot, check the downhill wall and where the roof water goes.
Lowland
The floodplain
The town's own flood resilience guidance says the mapped floodplain takes in close to half of Winthrop's land. The guidance links to a map where you can see whether your lot is inside it.
Town rules
The flood resilience checklist
Winthrop asks owners to complete a Flood Resilience Checklist and hand it in as part of the building permit process. The town wrote it for new construction and for substantial improvements to homes, and says it is also useful reading for smaller projects.
A foundation repair may or may not count as a substantial improvement. The Building Department decides. Raise the question before the company finalizes its design, since work below ground in the floodplain can come with conditions.
Who applies
Permits in Winthrop
Permits are applied for online through the portal linked from the town's Building Department page. The town's permit FAQ says building permits are issued to construction supervisors licensed by the state.
It adds a warning for owners who would rather apply themselves. A homeowner can get a permit for a one- or two-unit dwelling they live in, but may then be liable for the contractors on the property and is not eligible for the protection of the state's home improvement contractor law. For structural work, let the licensed contractor hold the permit.
Winthrop has a single ZIP code, 02152. Give it when you call.
Questions from Winthrop
Salt water came into the basement in a storm last winter. Should the foundation be looked at?
If the walls and floor look as they did before, start with cleanup and drainage, which are other trades. Have the foundation inspected if you find new cracks, a wall that has shifted or a floor slab that has lifted or dropped.
Our house is on a hill, well above the water. Do the flood rules still matter?
Probably not for the permit, but check your lot on the town's map to be sure. Frost, roof water and the slope itself are the usual causes of movement on higher ground.
Foundation repair in Boston
Have a Boston foundation company take a look
Give the street, the kind of building and what has changed. The company settles a day to visit, and afterwards you receive its written account of the cause and what it would charge.
Ready to have it looked at?
Phone and say what you have seen. The firm on the other end is a Boston-area foundation repair company, independent of this website, and it can book a visit to your home.
Call (617) 555-0111You speak with an independent company, not with this website. See the referral disclosure.