How Much Does Foundation Repair Cost in Houston?

Wondering how much it costs to conduct a foundation repair in Houston? We have all the answers! Regional Foundation Repair is at your service 24/7. In this guide, we cover common questions like:

• What is the cost of various foundation repair methods in Houston?
• What factors determine the cost of foundation repair in Houston?
• What are the signs that your foundation is in need of repair in Houston?

And more!

Keep reading and discover everything you need to know about foundation repairs for your building.

What Is the Cost of Various Foundation Repair Methods in Houston?

The cost of foundation repair in Houston is dependent on various factors that can only be determined after a proper assessment by a foundation specialist. One of our Houston foundation repair professionals must begin by assessing the current situation of a slab foundation and surrounding factors before proceeding to quote a price.

Below are the most common repair methods and their estimated cost:

Cost of Repairing Foundation Cracks

Depending on the underlying cause, a minor foundation crack repair costs between $250 and $400. However, significant cracks can go up to $800. Small cracks are cheaper since they do not cause any major damage.

The $250 covers the cost of labor and epoxy or polyurethane foam used to fill in those cracks. For large cracks, the cost increases due to the number of hours and material required to fill in the cracks.

Cost of Repairing Foundation Leaks

Leaks in your foundation could be a sign that the structure has an underlying drainage issue that is letting water seep through the foundation. We always recommend sealing the foundation from end to end before repairing the water leak. This job takes a lot of time and material, making it between $2000 and $7000.

This cost estimate covers the hours of labor, equipment needed to dig and handle repair material, new flooring to hide repair points, concrete to fill in cracks, and waterproofing material to prevent further leakages.

Cost of Piering

Piering involves raising the foundation to install piers in the blank spaces that are making the foundation sink. The process begins with the contractors identifying points to dig. They then dig through the ground and place steel or concrete piers in strategic points under the foundation. They then raise the piers or concrete pilings using hydraulic lifts until the foundation is levelled.

This process needs professional equipment and plenty of workforces, making it slightly expensive compared to the other repair methods. The price ranges between $1000 to $3000 per pier. The number of piers needed depends on the size of the structure and the extent of sinking experienced in the structure’s foundation.

What Factors Determine the Cost of Foundation Repair in Houston?

You have probably seen some signs of foundation issues in your house and are trying to see how costly the repair might be. Well, keep reading as we will get deep into the factors that determine how high or how low the cost of Houston foundation repair can be.

Before we jump to the factors, it is important to understand that each and every repair job depends on the history of work done on your foundation from the day it was laid. We always perform a pre-evaluation on the foundation to see how the initial construction may have contributed to the existing problem.

The factors that determine the cost of foundation in repair in Houston include:

Foundation Type

The type of foundation that your building currently sits on will determine how much you pay when repairing foundation damages. The main types of foundations are: slab foundation, concrete foundation, beam foundation, pier, and piling foundation. Each type of foundation has its own design and material, some being more complex than others.

If a foundation is complex and expensive to install, chances are high the cost of repair will also be costly compared to simpler versions of foundations. Structural engineers can determine what materials were used in installing the foundation to repair it with similar material.

Quality of Soil

By now, you have probably understood that soil is a crucial factor when it comes to foundations and their related problems. The quality of soil largely determines the stability of the house foundation.

The Houston area and most parts of Texas have a lot of clay soil which makes foundation problems quite common. Clay soil tends to hold moisture for long and has poor drainage, which is not healthy for foundations. It also expands and contracts a lot, so, when the expansive clay soil does not have a crawl space, cracks become an everyday thing.

The ability of the soil to settle also determines the stability of the foundation. When the soil drains poorly, erosion takes place, leaving gaps that make the foundation sink. Soil that drains poorly automatically increases the average cost of repair.

Type of Building

The size and purpose of the building determines the material used to build it. The kind of material used to build a school is not the same material used to build a house due to stabilization matters. A school bears a lot of weight compared to a home.

For complex structures, foundation repairs tend to cost more as they require complex material to handle the weight of the building.

The severity of the damage

The more damaged the foundation is, the more expensive it is to fix. Highly damaged foundations require extraordinary levels of skills, time, and quality materials to get them back in shape. Some damages require a complete foundation replacement which costs a lot.

Position of damaged parts

How accessible are the damaged parts? Some foundation problems are located too far down, requiring a lot of drilling, which is time-consuming and expensive. Also, suppose there are utility lines like cables and gas pipes near the area being fixed. In that case, it is going to be a hazardous and time-consuming operation that needs to be handled with professionals.

What Are the Signs That Your Foundation Is in Need of Repair in Houston?

Warning signs should never be ignored for buildings, as minor problems could lead to life-threatening accidents. Therefore, it is advisable to get the house inspected and all damages fixed as soon as the first signs show.

Houston’s clay soil expands and contracts a lot depending on the climate and water content in the soil. These movements in the soil gradually bring damage to the building’s foundation. These damages can be identified by observing the signs around the building.

The following are signs that your Houston’s building foundation needs repair:

1. Cracks in Walls

Simple cracks caused by natural foundation movements are mostly harmless and are usually fixed by plaster and a coat of paint. However, severe cracks with spaces wider than ¼ inch should be a sign that your foundation is experiencing damage and needs attention.

There are two types of cracks that signal the need for a foundation repair in Houston:

Wall cracks

Long horizontal cracks running across walls in a horizontal direction mean the foundation is damaged. Also, cracks that grow wider and longer over time should not be ignored. Drywall cracks that keep reappearing after being plastered or fixed are also an indication that there is an underlying issue that requires attention.

Ceiling cracks

You might wonder how the ceiling is related to the foundation. An interesting fact is that cracks in the ceiling actually signal an existing foundation problem. Dangerous ceiling cracks are vertical and mostly extend across the whole ceiling. Such cracks indicate that foundation shifts are quite vigorous and might be affecting the stability of the building.

2. Window and Door Frame Issues

The most common signs that your house is experiencing foundation problems are sticky doors and windows. You might notice your window or door frames pulling away from the wall and leaving spaces in your Houston home. Chipped concrete is left bare when the frames separate from the wall, and it is almost impossible to ignore the damage.

3. Crooked floors

An unlevel floor is a sign that your house is sinking and experiencing foundation problems. If you see any bent boards, bumps on the floor, or just crooked parts of the floor or concrete slab, it is advisable to get a foundation repair specialist. In most cases, the direction towards which the floor slopes or the house is leveling indicates where the foundation is damaged.

Uneven floors may be an indication of either a sinking foundation or an upheaval, and mudjacking or slab jacking is required. A sinking foundation has sinking parts of the floor forming dips, but an upheaval creates bumps on the floor. An upheaval happens when the soil expands or has too much moisture.

How Can You Save Money on Foundation Repair in Houston?

House repairs, especially with Houston’s pre-existing soil issue, can be quite expensive. There are different rules set by the regulatory bodies in Houston to ensure service providers work within certain standards to protect homeowners.

1. Scheduled Home maintenance

Prevention is always cheaper than waiting for damages to become major. It is important to have regular maintenance for your home as a way of preserving the foundation and ensuring it has a good resale value. Also, during maintenance, ensure a foundation inspection is done to check if there are any potential foundation problems as early as possible before they cause costly damages.

2. Smart Landscaping

Before landscaping, homeowners are advised to research what should and should not be done to avoid making costly mistakes. Planting trees away from the home’s foundation is recommended as growing roots may crack the foundation.

Also, trees may take all the moisture from the soil under the foundation during dry seasons. This leaves the soil dry, and the foundation can crack as a result. It is advisable to ensure the tree’s branches don’t touch the house- that way, you will know the tree is far enough.

When building downspouts, ensure they are directed away from its foundation to avoid flooding when it rains. Keep gutters clear to allow a smooth water flow when it rains.

3. Positive Sloping

Your compound should slope away from the house to ensure flooding does not happen near the home. Remember, too much water makes the soil expand, causing an upheaval of the foundation.

4. Check Your Sewer System

If your sewer line or drainage system is broken or leaking, the water can erode the soil, leaving gaps that lead to sinking. Even when erosion does not happen, leakages from the sewer will keep the foundation constantly wet, exposing it to cracks due to seeping.

When Should You Call a Foundation Repair Expert?

You already know when to call a foundation repair expert from the above signs of a foundation problem. All signs of a foundation problem should be taken seriously. The most important step is to contact a foundation repair company for a thorough inspection to be done. It is also possible to inspect your own house before calling an expert.

When conducting an inspection, below are some of the key indicators that a foundation repair expert is needed:

• Stains and mold. When your floors or walls are constantly wet, they will start having mold, which leaves stains. Check for white powdery residue or orange patches. Walls may also begin to flake. All these are signs of a drainage issue which means a foundation expert is needed to determine the cause and possible solution.
• They have slanted floors and walls. When your walls look slanted and your floors feel uneven, chances are high you already have an underlying foundation problem. Protruding bulges on concrete are also a sign.
• Dampness. A damp basement that always has water droplets or looks wet even when no water has been poured is an indication that moisture is seeping through cracks in the foundation from the soil beneath.
• Bugs and insects. When the foundation is cracked, bugs like centipedes and ants will often find their way into the house from the dump soil.
• Sticky windows and doors. When a house is experiencing foundation issues, the doors and windows may start sticking as concrete moves, depending on the weather.
• Damaged drywall. If you have installed gypsum or sheetrock in your house, you may notice wetness or rotting with time. This means there is a water leak from the foundation that may be seeping through the walls.

Conclusion

As foundation repair specialists, we are able to offer pricing based on your budget and the needs of your foundation. There are different government programs and financial institutions that assist homeowners by providing financing options for the cost of home repairs with an aim to promote home safety in the state.

Regional Foundation Repair will offer a professional evaluation that involves inspecting your property and creating a solution plan based on your property’s foundation problems. We also provide a warranty with our services, assuring you value for your money. What are you waiting for? Contact us and let us take care of your building’s foundation!

Read More Foundation Repair Guides

• Are Helical Piers The Right Fix For Your Foundation?
• Basement Survey: Hopes, Fears, Trends, and More
• Can A Sinking Foundation Be Fixed?
• Cities With the Best and Worst Rated HOAs, According to Yelp
• Common Foundation Problems in Ft. Worth
• Common Foundation Problems in Houston
• Concrete Leveling Cost
• Concrete Slab Foundation
• Do Cracked Bricks Mean You Have A Foundation Problem?

Sam Smith Foundation Repair Consultant

SHORT BIO: Hey, I'm Sam Smith. I'm one of our service techs here at Regional Foundation Repair. I'm here to help you learn more about your home's foundation. I've been doing this for a while, so I have a few insider tips and tricks to share!