If you’ve got a sinking foundation or cracks in your home’s foundation, you’ll want to contact a structural engineer, fast. The longer you wait to deal with foundation problems, the more expensive and harder to fix they get. But how much will repairs cost?
Step 1: Hire a Structural Engineer
The first thing you need to do is determine the extent of the damage. A structural engineer will examine your home and give you a report that tells you exactly what’s going on and what you need to do to fix it. Make sure you find an independent engineer who isn’t attached to a repair firm.
That way, anything he recommends is his unbiased, professional opinion. Once you’ve got your report, you’re ready to find a professional repair contractor. A full foundation inspection costs about $300-500. There may be additional fees for inspecting crawlspaces and other add-ons.
Step 2: Find a Plan of Attack
The actual cost of foundation repair varies from $500 to over $10,000. The average cost is about $4,000. Most homeowners can expect to shell out between $2000 and $6000.
Why so much variance?
The methods used to repair damaged foundations vary greatly. Fixing small cracks might be a quick and easy job. If your foundation needs to be placed on hydraulic piers, you’re looking at thousands of dollars worth of labor and equipment. There are two common methods for lifting a sinking foundation.
#1 Piering:
When a foundation is piered, your foundation repair firm digs deep below the foundation and anchors hydraulic devices called piers underneath your house.
These devices are dug into the earth and then activated to lift the foundation of your house. The larger the repair, the more piers are necessary. Piering is viewed as a stable, long term solution for a sinking foundation. In some cases, it may increase the value of your home.
#2 Slabjacking:
To slabjack a house, your foundation repair firm will pump grout underneath your foundation to lift it up and shift it back to its original position. Slabjacking doesn’t hold up as well as piering to further settling or shifting of your foundation. It is, however, much cheaper.
You’ll need to talk to your repair professional to come up with a solution for your foundation that fits your needs and budget. If you’re planning to sell soon, remember that you need to disclose any foundation repairs. A higher house foundation repair cost could translate into more money for your home if it means the buyer is more confident in the stability of your home.
Assigned category: Foundation Repair
