Our Credentials, and How to Check Them
Texas does not license foundation repair contractors. That means anyone can start one tomorrow, and it means the burden is on us to show you something verifiable. Here is everything we can prove, with the links to check it yourself.
Is foundation repair a licensed trade in Texas?
No. Texas licenses electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors at state level, but there is no state licence for foundation repair. Bills to introduce one have been filed and have not passed. In practice that means a person with a truck can advertise foundation repair in Waco tomorrow with no exam, no bond and no oversight, and nothing about that would be illegal. Since the state will not vouch for anybody in this trade, the only sensible approach is to check what a company can actually evidence.
What you can check about us, and where
Every row below can be confirmed by somebody other than us. The links go to the source, not to our own marketing.
| What | Detail | Verify it here |
|---|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ rating. We are not a paid BBB Accredited Business, and the A+ is the rating rather than the accreditation. | BBB profile |
| Trade association | Member of the Heart of Texas Builders Association, the local home builders association for the Waco region. | HOTBA directory |
| Years in business | The Foundation Doctor started trading on 9 May 2020. The BBB independently records the business start date and years in business. | BBB profile |
| Customer rating | 5.0 average across 13 Google reviews, and 4.7 across 12 on Hibu. We publish each platform separately rather than blending them. | Our reviews page |
| Engineering | A professional engineer works in house rather than being subcontracted when a job or a home sale needs a structural letter. | Engineering services |
| Owner’s background | Ronnie Wiethorn holds an architecture degree from Texas A&M and worked as a home inspector before founding the company. | Owner profile |
| Warranty | Platinum, Gold and Silver tiers, transferable to the next owner, registered to the house rather than to you. | Warranty terms |
What we do not have
A credentials page that only lists strengths is a brochure. Here is the other half, so you can weigh it.
- No state licence, because none exists. Any foundation company claiming to be “state licensed” for foundation repair in Texas is describing something that is not a thing. Ask what licence, issued by whom.
- We are not BBB Accredited. We hold an A+ rating, which is the BBB’s assessment. Accreditation is a paid membership programme and we are not in it. Those two things get blurred in advertising and they are not the same.
- No industry awards. We have not won any, and we would rather say so than dress up a directory badge as a trophy.
- We are younger than several competitors. The company started in 2020. Firms in this market have been going since 1978, 1987 and, in one case, 1933. Ronnie’s own career in and around foundations is considerably longer than the company, but the company itself is six years old and we are not going to imply otherwise.
How to check any foundation repair company in Texas
Run this on us and on every other bid. It takes about fifteen minutes and it is the closest thing to protection the state gives you.
Ask for a certificate of insurance
General liability and workers’ compensation, sent directly from their insurer or agent rather than a photocopy. If a crew member is hurt at your house and there is no workers’ comp, that can become your problem.
Look them up on the Secretary of State
Texas business filings are public. Confirm the legal entity exists, is in good standing, and matches the name on the contract you are being asked to sign.
Check the BBB profile, not the logo
Anyone can put a BBB graphic on a website. Open the actual profile and read the rating, the complaint history, and whether “accredited” is claimed accurately.
Read the warranty before the estimate
Ask for the document, not the sales description. Check what voids it, whether adjustment visits cost money, and whether it transfers to a buyer.
Ask who is actually doing the work
Employees or subcontractors, and who supervises them. Then ask who you call in three years if something moves.
Get the engineer question straight
Ask whether engineering is in house, subcontracted, or not offered, and whether an engineer’s letter costs extra. Some home sales require one.
One more, and it is the most revealing. Ask what happens if their inspection concludes you do not need the repair. Listen to how quickly you get a straight answer. A company that has never walked away from a job has never had a reason to tell a homeowner the truth.
Credential questions
Do foundation repair contractors need a licence in Texas?
No. Texas licenses electricians, plumbers and HVAC contractors at state level, but there is no state licence for foundation repair, and bills to create one have not passed. Anyone can advertise foundation repair in Texas without an exam, a bond or any state oversight. That is exactly why you should check what a company can independently evidence.
Is The Foundation Doctor BBB accredited?
No, and we would rather be precise about it. We hold an A+ BBB rating, which is the BBB's own assessment of the business. BBB Accreditation is a separate paid membership programme that we are not part of. Advertising often blurs the two; they are not the same thing.
How long has The Foundation Doctor been in business?
The company started trading on 9 May 2020, which the BBB records independently on our profile. Ronnie Wiethorn's own career in architecture, construction, home inspection and foundation repair runs considerably longer than that, but the company itself is six years old and we do not imply otherwise.
What trade associations do you belong to?
We are a member of the Heart of Texas Builders Association, the local home builders association for the Waco region, and the listing is public in their directory. We do not claim memberships we cannot show you.
Have you won any awards?
No. We have not won industry awards, and we would rather say that plainly than present a paid directory badge as a trophy. What we can evidence is a BBB rating, an association membership, a verifiable start date, and published customer reviews on two platforms.
How do I check that a foundation repair company is legitimate?
Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly by their insurer covering general liability and workers' compensation, look the legal entity up in Texas Secretary of State filings, open the actual BBB profile rather than trusting a logo, read the warranty document before the estimate, and ask whether the crews are employees or subcontractors. It takes about fifteen minutes.
Is your work insured?
Ask us for a current certificate of insurance and we will have it sent to you. We recommend you request one from every company you get a bid from, and that you ask for it to come from the insurer or agent rather than as a photocopy.
Do you have an engineer on staff?
Yes. A professional engineer works in house rather than being brought in as a subcontractor, which matters when a repair needs engineered design or when a home sale requires a structural letter. See our engineering page for what that covers.