Lake Engineers & Constructors

Can’t get a hold of them! Email, phone, website contact request, nothing!!! Are you still open? We bought our house that had work done by this guy with a «lifetime warranty» attached to some work he did but I have been trying since oct to get him to come out and check the house that has been shifting again. I call a number that is listed on his paper work and it goes silent after a few rings– no voicemail option. Try the number listed here was able to leave a message but still no response to my request to call back. How do you suppose I cash in this warranty?

Originally we had some trouble reaching them because their inbox was full, but after calling for a couple of days, we were able to get in touch. They scheduled an inspection and came out as planned. I received a rough estimate at the end of the inspection and was told that I would be receiving an emailed quote later that day, after we verified that they did have the correct email and contact information.
Only, we never received a quote. We assumed they were probably booked and gave them a few extra days to get the estimate together. Four days later, we still had not received a quote. We then called numerous times, emailed, and left at least three voice messages within the next 2 weeks. Still nothing. We cannot speak about his work because we never heard from him past the original inspection. If he was too busy to take the job, it would have been courteous and professional to at least inform the customer.

My husband and I love working with Clint. The first time we called Clint, he inspected a house we were under contract for. Instead of acting like there was a huge emergency with the foundation, he said that some work should be done in the next 5 – 10 years, but since the house had been so nicely remodeled, it would be a shame to crack the floors and walls.
We didn’t end up purchasing that home, but we did purchase a home that Clint had previously performed work on. When we noticed a crack in the wall, Clint came out to check on the house as part of the lifetime warranty. He thoroughly measured and showed us the amount of variation that’s normal vs. what we had. Fortunately we were well within the normal range, but the peace of mind was worth the call.
Clint is really kind, honest, and stands behind his work. I highly recommend!

Clint did EXCELLENT JOB. I just arrived home and could not wait to spread the word. We managed to make an appointment within 2 business days to get our «future house» (we’re under contract to buy it) checked out.
He arrived on time, had a professional manner. He took the time to go all over the house, checked each corner and inches to see what’s going on.
He told us the present conditions and also suggestions, how can we maintain and improve the condition of the house. All that was free.
We wanted an engineering report about it and he’ll e-​mail it for us for a reasonable price no later than tomorrow.
All I can say is it was a great experience, I highly recommend them and I’ll definitely be back whatever kind of engineering or construction jobs we’ll need to get done.
This is a company you can trust and what they tell you will give you, on time.
Great job! Thank you so much, Clint!

Clint was very responsive in checking out a house we were buying. He was able to schedule in very short order and was great at coordinating with the realtors. He put us at ease regarding some movement/​cracking, didn’t try to sell us on work that wasn’t warranted, and gave us the option to have an official letter, or not.
Will not hesitate to use Lake Engineers for future projects!

I am a Realtor in Austin and have recommended Clint to a number of Clients over the years.
I never have to worry because Clint always provides a detailed inspection and only recommends necessary repairs.
Recently I have used Clint to do work on a rental house I own. He is reliable, on-​time and cooperative with tenants. His pricing was reasonable and I know his guarantee is ironclad.
I expect to continue recommending Clint to clients and fellow agents.
Jim Schaffrath
REMAX 1

Read the reviews here and thought I would give Clint a call to check out what is proving to be a difficult diagnosis at my home. He was quick to make time in his schedule to come see the house, and even called to let me know he was running late! I am not used to getting home contractors that tell you an exact time and then sticking to it, or being courteous enough to let you know they are running slightly behind.
Anyway, he gets here, walks the outside of the house for visual inspection, comes inside and takes measurements at all the exterior/​interior walls and then proceeds to tell me that he doesn’t think I have a foundation issue. He noticed the tile is warm at one of the corners, and suggests that I have a plumbing company come take a look and do some testing. He even recommended a couple of firms that he inspects the work of and gave me their numbers!
At the end of this project, whatever it ends up being, I am going to make sure that Clint is part of the final inspection process because after 30mins with him, I trust his word and knowledge.

Used Clint and his crew after reading the great reviews. Had a great experience. Clint clearly knows what he’s doing, and the fact that he is a professional engineer is just icing on the cake. The crew that came out to dig, etc., were tidy and made the whole experience so much better. I’m happy to give a a great review!

I’m a Realtor and have had occasion to have many foundations inspected for my clients. I prefer to use Lake Engineers because they don’t try to sell something that’s not needed. They are generally available within 24 hours, show up on time, do a thorough inspection and provide a report on the spot. Written follow up will follow, but the oral is always comprehensive.

We were worried that with the drought and the soil conditions in east austin we were on a path for certain foundation trouble. I gave Clint a call and he set up a time the very next day to come out and take a look.
After a making his assessment, he informed me that we were doing the right thing with using soaker hoses around the foundation and that we would not need the services of his foundation repair business.
What a relief! And how refreshing to not have someone come at you with the hard sell. Clint was very professional, took plenty of time to explain things and offer advice and then left after refusing any sort of payment for his visit.
I can’t recommend him highly enough. If it turns out that I do need repairs on my foundation in the future, I know exactly who I will call.

Kimberly K. is spot on about Mr. Clint Butts of Lake Engineers.
We were in a heightened state of worries after discovering a very noticeable crack in the house. Sure, we had your run-​of-​the-​mill cracked tiles, but this one looks decidedly sinister and angina conducive. That along with doors that are slightly harder to open and close and other minor cracks in and outside of the house and you have churning stomachs. Posthaste we sought advice from friends and fellow Unilocalers. To start, we called 2 of the top rated foundation repair companies — we planned on more, if necessary. Both were exemplary. Mr. Butts particularly impressed us. He was very careful in his inspection (clipboard for sketching — check; yellow box for elevation reading — check; calm, professional, trustworthy demeanor — yep, yep, and yep). Mr. Butts gave us his evaluation, answered our questions, advised us on the soaker hose. No sales push. No scare tactics. Just an honest assessment. He’s great.
There are reputable and reliable foundation repair services available (I know because fellow Unilocalers tell me so). Do your research or ask around. But if you lack the time, seriously, you really will not go wrong with Mr. Butts and Lake Engineers. At the very least, include them when looking for estimates.
(And, yes, I did check — he is a licensed engineer and has a good BBB rating.)

«Lifetime Transferrable Warranty»… if the foundation companies you are talking with do not offer this, do not move forward with them. As anyone who has ever gotten married knows, ONE year is much much much different than a LIFETIME.
«Licensed Structural Engineer»… same thing. Ask them who will evaluate your foundation. Just because dude can wield a shovel or is head of the marketing department does NOT mean he should evaluate your foundation.
Foundation is the basis, the first step, the thing on which all else is built. Do not mess with it. If the foundation is shifting, the evidence will show up in the rest of the house… unsightly cracks, doors not shutting tightly and windows not opening.
In Austin, our soils either suck or they don’t. If they are clay-​like and suck up water and humidity and moisture in the wet seasons then they will dry out and crack in the drought. You may have started with a solid foundation but some shifting or settlement may have occurred over time especially if you have the «right» soils for that. The sucky ones.
Clint Butts, licensed structural engineer, is intelligent, calm, and honest. He has shown up — free of charge– to give an evaluation at 5 different projects of mine regarding the integrity of the foundation.
He is old school and shows up with a clipboard of graph paper and a small yellow box that has a coiled long tube of water that helps him read the elevations at different points in the home. Then he adds the information to the plan, sketches out the results and talks with you about whether a 3 inch change in foundation is acceptable or not.
When the foundation needed work, he gave his professional opinion of what needed to be done, how much it would cost, and how long it would take. If nothing is needed to repair or alter a structure, he will let you know. In both cases where work needed to be done, his guys showed up on time and the projects were completed on budget.
An engineer’s report may be needed for a home addition, a home purchase or sale, insurance, mortgage/​loan information… you just never know. In my experience of doing what I do for the last 15 years in Austin, I have found that having Clint in your back pocket can be a lifesaver. I have worked with 4 – 5 different structural engineers — all really great and really smart.* But they do not all have foundation repair companies.
I have compared other foundation repair company bids with his and I have found his to be competitive, reasonable, and solid. He will stand by his work. For most people, foundation repair work only happens once. If the unpredictability of Austin soils means that the foundation work needs to be revisited, I always want a «Lifetime Transferrable Warranty» in the drawer of important documents.
*An engineering report from a structural engineer can run anywhere from $ 200 – 500. The fact that Clint will show up and GIVE you a report is, in my opinion, the beginning of a relationship of trust.