By Crystal McGough, sponsored content
When one thinks of foundation repair, one usually does not think of it as a “woman’s business.”
Parrot Structural Services, LLC is a Calera-based Foundation Repair and soil stabilization company that holds a Women-Owned Business certification. Vice President Mike Maas has over 40-years’ experience in the foundation repair business.
“My husband and I started Parrot as a woman-owned business in 2004,” Joan said. “I was in the financial industry when the business first started. After 18 years in the financial industry, we decided that I would take over as president of the company.”
According to Joan, taking over the company gave her the opportunity to get a deeper knowledge and understanding of the business, as well as work with her husband.
Parrot provides services throughout the state of Alabama, Florida and is licensed in Mississippi, as well. Some of the services they offer include basement and wall repair, concrete leveling and lifting, epoxy injection, helical piers, helical tiebacks, mine void stabilization, mudjacking, new foundation helical piers, polyfoam, pressure grouting, sinkhole remediation and soil stabilization.
“We provide foundation repair and soil stabilization for residential, commercial and industrial companies,” Joan said. “Our focus is on helical piers and grouting, which we use on existing structures that need repair. We also install new construction piers. The new construction piers are used prior to the construction of the structure. For example, if a customer is aware they are building on bad soil, we install the new construction piers prior to construction starting.”
Whether taking on a project for residential housing or as large as a hospital, Parrot remains focused on its mission and commitment to excellence.
“Our mission is to stabilize soils and structures with integrity and professionalism, and our commitment is ensuring our customers’ complete satisfaction,” Joan said. “I want to be sure our customers know we are thinking about their needs.”
So how would one know if they are in need of structural repair services?
Joan said some clues to look for include stairstep cracks in the bricks on the outside of the home, and doors and windows sticking.
“This usually calls for our helical products,” she said. “If your concrete slab, whether it is your patio, pool or driveway, seems to be unlevel, you may have a void underneath. We can (most of the time) raise the unlevel portion back to its original height. Those are the major signs. We also repair brick steps and chimneys that may have cracks or seem to have pulled away from the house.”
Joan said that it is important to call a professional as soon as you notice any of these signs. These issues do not go away on their own. The longer you wait, the more extensive the damage will become.
“The cracks or voids may get larger, and it will become more expensive to fix the longer you wait,” she said.
Joan and Mike Maas also recommend that property owners take preventative measures before problems occur.
“The main cause for a foundation to fail is water drainage,” Joan said. “If your drain is emptying close to your foundation, our suggestion is to move the drainage away from the foundation in order to redirect the water further away from the home.”
Parrot Structural Services offers free inspections, so if you think you have any cause for concern, do not hesitate to reach out.
“We are honest with our customers,” Joan said. “We will not try and sell you on a solution, we give you the facts and may suggest you contact a structural engineer to draw up a plan for us to work from.”
In addition to their Woman-Owned Business certification, Parrot Structural Services, LLC is insured. They have a home-builder’s license and are members of the Birmingham Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, the American Society of Civil Engineers, Structural Engineer Association and the American Institute of Architects.
Having been serving Birmingham for over 30 years and in the foundation repair and soil stabilization business for over 40 years, the Maas’ have built relationships with many architects, engineers and real estate agents. As a result of this and the special care they take with their customer satisfaction, the majority of their referrals come from word-of-mouth.
“We just want people to know that our focus is on the satisfaction of our customers and the safety of our men,” Joan said. “We are committed to ensuring your complete satisfaction while providing the highest quality of service.”
You can contact Parrot Structural Services for your free inspection through their website, www.parrotstructural.com. You can also call them at (205)668-2626 or email them at info@parrotstructural.com.
