In need of foundation repair? Our foundation repair specialists are ready to help.
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 30, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 27, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 24, 2023
Another company said that our foundation was too far gone and needed to be replaced. That’s when we found Regional Foundation Repair. They helped save us thousands! Great service, will recommend!
Andrew Y. | May 30, 2023
We’ve had water in our basement countless times since we moved in. This service sent a contractor who spent a few days installing a waterproofing system and bam - no issues since! Thank you so much!
Eddie W. | May 27, 2023
Finally a foundation company that responds, helps gets the job done, and offers a warranty for the work! Will use again, and recommending to friends and family.
Jessica B. | May 24, 2023
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Houston has been experiencing a housing boom over the past several years, with more Texas and out-of-state residents relocating to the city than ever before. While it’s a popular and desirable place to live, homeownership in Houston isn’t without its potential downsides. Unfortunately, there are several common factors in the greater Houston area that contribute to a high risk of foundation damage.
Regional Foundation Repair is one of the nation’s largest provider of foundation repair service. We have 1,000s of expert technicians ready right now in Houston. Our pros have years of experience and are familiar with the nuances of Houston soil conditions so you can be sure your foundation gets fixed the right way the first time. Gone are the days of worrying about shoddy craftsmanship, overpriced service, and unqualified pros.
During the job, our technicians are trained to explain their progress throughout the day and clean up properly before leaving the jobsite.
Depending on the availability of our technicians, we can generally get your job scheduled within 2 days. To start the process just submit your information in our form and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours with a pricing quote! In some cases we may need more detail to properly quote your project, so we will reach out via phone to schedule a free onsite inspection. Depending on your location we also offer virtual quotes!
For your benefit, we’re going to discuss the underlying causes of foundation problems in Houston and how the damage typically shows up in your home. We’ll also offer some tips on identifying problem signs early, and we’ll go over the average cost of foundation repair in Houston.
Pier Foundations
Concrete Slab
Basement Foundations
Crawl Space Foundation
Wood Foundation
- Erica J.
- Suja K.
- Dan T.
What Causes Bowing Foundation Walls & How It Can Be Corrected?
Foundation Crack Repair: Costs & Repair Options
Foundation Cracks
Foundation Installation Costs
Foundation Leak Repair
What Are The Common Signs Of Foundation Problems And When Should You Be Concerned?
Foundation Repair Methods
What Is Foundation Spalling & When Should You Be Concerned?
How Does Foundation Waterproofing Protect Your Home?
Date of Request: 06/01/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: I have a very old, much neglected, cottage type house in Opelousas, La that I want to keep and renovate but the floor joist are rotted out. I need someone to tell me if they can be fixed and if so is it worth the cost.
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: hello, I'm a Realtor and I have a client who's buying a house that needs the foundation repair. let me know when can be the next available time for you . Thank you.
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: Tile buckled in a 1ft x 6ft section. The home has a concrete foundation. Not sure of the cause. Could be tree roots, but not sure, based on location of trees in front yard and the run line of the buckled tile.
Date of Request: 05/28/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: Is it normal for my apartment building foundation to raise and lower automatically looks like it has been leveled by some means because there are square patch spots every 10 or so feet outside of all apartment buildings on site thank you
Date of Request: 05/25/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: I need a quote on foundation repair. I purchased my home 10 months ago and I believe I cracked foundation. There is a hairline crack running across my tile from the front door to the dining room area.
Date of Request: 05/23/2023
Location: Houston, TX
Description: found some cracks on exterior bricks and inside of walls and ceiling ...house was built in 1974 and may need some foundation job. When can you come out for a free quote? Thanks!
Does Foundation Movement Affect Houston, Texas?
Unfortunately for homeowners in Houston, foundation problems in the city and the surrounding areas are prevalent. Experts maintain that homes in the Texas area are among the most likely in the country to experience damaging foundation movement.
What Causes Foundation Problems In Houston, Texas?
Foundation damage can occur in any area of the United States, but there are several factors that leave Houston homeowners at higher-than-average risk.
Expansive soil is dirt that naturally has a high concentration of clay. Clay absorbs water more readily, meaning the ground retains moisture, and it expands when it gets wet. Houston and the nearby cities of Katy, Pasadena, and Sugar Land are afflicted with a high ratio of clay. In fact, Houston’s soil is referred to as “Houston Black” and is recognized as one of the most expansive in the world.
Expansive soil presents three severe problems for foundations. First, they readily absorb water during rainfall. Wet clay soil is heavy and expands in volume, placing immense pressure on your concrete block walls or concrete slab. As the pressure increases, foundations can bow inward and quickly crack to relieve the stress. These cracks can lead to structural instability in your home.
Second, expansive soils shrink in volume when they dry. Although the clay in Houston holds moisture for longer than typical Texas soil, it loses volume when it eventually dries and can pull away from your foundation. This process can leave sections of your foundation unsupported entirely. They tend to sink into the ground to meet the soil. When this happens at different rates across your home – in a process called differential settling – your foundation can crack, leaving an unlevel base for your house.
Lastly, expansive soil holds moisture for long periods after rainfall and expands to press against your concrete walls or slab. Liquid water from the ground that is held against the concrete often leads to water seepage into your basement or crawl space. This occurs readily through cracks, but water vapor can wick through undamaged concrete and evaporate into your home. This process can happen anywhere, but the clay soil in Houston makes it more common.
Like we just mentioned, expansive soil can contribute to basement water problems. This issue is made even worse by Houston’s wet season. The city experiences a dry season from around October to April and a significantly higher amount of rainfall from April or May to September.
The wet season in Houston commonly brings flooding and extensive ground swelling in response to the runoff. In combination with the city’s expansive soil, this type of weather often puts incredible pressure on foundations that results in cracking and rapidly worsening damage.
The wet season in Houston gives way to the dry season come September or October. The dry season is characterized by long periods of drought. Houston is considered to be at moderate risk of drought, and weeks without any rainfall are not uncommon.
Drought results in dry soil, and all dirt loses volume when the water evaporates out of it. However, expansive soil in Houston loses excessive volume when it dries.
Dry clay soil can shrink away from your foundation and leave portions of it unsupported.
Under this kind of pressure, foundations regularly crack and sink into the ground until they find support from the ground below.
The cycle of shrinking and expanding clay soil during the dry and wet seasons in Houston has a compounding effect that leaves foundations in the area highly prone to damage and failure.
Large tree roots in any area can grow into a foundation and put undue pressure on concrete walls or basement floors. This is a risk in Houston, but nearby trees present another issue: they soak up even more moisture than usual from the surrounding earth and contribute to the adverse effects of shrinking soil during dry periods.
Houston has experienced a housing boom in the past decade, which has done wonders for the local economy. Unfortunately, contractors in the area have taken some shortcuts to meet the growing demand for new homes. Rapid development in the region has resulted in poor soil preparation and compaction prior to foundation pouring.
Although no foundation in expansive soil is safe from problems, improper compaction during the construction process leaves the completed home at a significantly higher risk of foundation problems.
Additionally, the demand for housing has led to builders developing in areas that are unsuitable for construction, given the soil quality. In a regular market, building is often restricted to the highest quality soil based on foreseen issues with ground movement, but these are regularly overlooked when new construction is in as high of a demand as it has been in Houston. Couple this with expansive soil and drought, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Some Texas contractors offer a lifetime transferable warranty on their work, which often indicates that construction was done responsibly. However, these are less common in highly desirable areas, like Houston.
What Are The Signs of Basement Foundation Damage In Houston, Texas?
There are numerous signs in and around your home that indicate your foundation is damaged or is at high risk of running into severe problems.
Foundation cracks are the most common sign of damage. There are a few types of cracks that can indicate different underlying problems.
Thin cracks in your basement walls that run vertically are usually caused by natural foundation settling and seldom indicate structural damage. Similarly, hairline cracks in your crawl space or basement floor aren’t much cause for concern and can be sealed with an epoxy or polyurethane to prevent water from seeping into your under-home area.
Gaps that run horizontally on your concrete walls are caused by hydrostatic pressure from the expanding soil outside. Unfortunately, these are very common in Houston, given the soil quality. They typically suggest a loss of structural integrity and need to be inspected and repaired by a foundation contractor immediately.
Cracks that form in a stair-step pattern on your foundation walls are usually caused by differential settling of the surrounding soil. Especially during Houston’s dry season, soil can shrink away from the foundation and cause sections to detach from your home and sink to meet the support of the retracted earth.
Stair-step cracks are severe problems and require immediate intervention from a foundation repair company.
Although concrete is relatively rigid, it can flex a bit in response to the soil’s hydrostatic pressure outside your home. Basement or crawl space walls bowing inward is a good indication your home is suffering from the effects of expansive soil, and they suggest that the wall will soon crack to relieve the pressure. This foundation problem needs immediate repair to prevent the loss of your home’s structural stability.
Differential settling of the soil is very common in Houston because of the high concentration of clay in the dirt and the frequency of droughts. These factors cause the ground to pull away from your concrete, leaving it without support. The slab can easily crack and sink into the ground in response, leaving you with unlevel or sunken floors in your basement, crawlspace, or living space.
Expansive soil holds moisture against your home’s foundation for a longer time than dirt with less clay. When porous or cracked concrete is exposed to moisture for extended periods, liquid water or water vapor tend to make their way into your home.
Settling cracks in your foundation are easy access points for runoff suspended in the ground, but even undamaged concrete can allow water to wick into your under-home area.
You may notice puddling in your crawl space or basement, heavy or moist air when you enter the area, or mold growth, which is common in humid parts of your home.
You might also see efflorescence on your foundation walls, which is a white, powdery substance made up of salts and other minerals left behind on the concrete after water that has seeped inside evaporates.
A natural process called the stack effect regularly leads to air from under your home making its way up into your living space. High levels of humidity can make your upper floors less comfortable in both hot and cold weather.
It may lead to an increase in your utility bills as you put more stress on your heating, cooling, and dehumidifying systems.
If you have mold growth under your house as a result of moisture problems, the spores can seep up into your living space as well. These may cause allergic reactions for you or your family members, as well as difficulty breathing.
How to Find Signs of Foundation Damage In Houston, Texas?
The climate and geology in Houston make foundation problems severe and can cause them to develop rapidly. The best way to catch them early and prevent astronomically expensive restabilization repairs is to identify foundation issues as quickly as possible. Below are some tips for carrying out your own home inspection.
Sings of foundation damage can develop rapidly, so inspecting your foundation once every other month for problems can help catch them before they become significant.
Head down into your basement or crawl space every 60 days or so and check for changes.
Look for new or developing cracks in your concrete walls and slab, and record them or mark them to keep track of growth. You can use a long level or straight edge to check that your walls are plumb and not bowing inward. Additionally, look out for unlevel flooring or sinking portions of the slab.
While you’re down there, pay attention to any signs of water intrusion, including puddling, heavy or moist air, efflorescence, or mold growth.
Next, check the outside of your foundation for cracks, crumbling, or sinking, especially if you have a slab foundation and can’t access the area under your house. Damage on the exterior often occurs around the corners of your home, so focus on those areas in particular.
Your entire home is supported by its foundation, so problems below your structure generally cause damage inside as well. When you carry out your bi-monthly foundation inspection, check your living space for problems as well.
Foundation movement can cause warping or bowing of your home’s framing, so keep an eye out for drywall cracks around windows and doors or in the corners of rooms. You should also check for windows and doors that are stuck or challenging to close, unlevel or wavy flooring, walls that aren’t plumb, and countertops or cabinets pulling away from the wall in your kitchen or bathroom.
Lastly, check your yard for signs of soil movement, as this can help predict foundation problems.
Cracked soil, especially near your foundation, is a good sign that the clay has shrunk in response to drought. Gaps between the ground and your concrete can indicate the same.
During Houston’s wet season, soggy sections of your yard can suggest that the soil has expanded and is putting undue pressure on your foundation. A proper drainage system near your foundation may mitigate this problem, so check all areas of your yard.
While you’re outside, check for wavy or unlevel roofing, chimney separation from the house, and cracks in brick or stucco facades.
Cost of Basement Foundation Repair In Houston, Texas?
Most homeowners in Houston, Texas pay an average of $4,000 for foundation repair services. However, the price can vary greatly depending on your problem and the extent of the damage. We’ll break down the average pricing by repair type below.
Sealing a single crack that is less than ⅛” wide usually costs around $500. Wider gaps may need more extensive repairs can cost up to about $1,000.
Sinking sections of a foundation or stair-step cracks usually need underpinning to restore structural stability. Concrete pilings cost around $1,000 each, while helical piers can run about $3,000 each. Severe sinking or cracking may need five to ten pilings, often totaling over $10,000. You may need to add the cost of a structural engineer’s inspection, which can average around $400.
Horizontal cracks require fairly extensive foundation repair methods, including restabilization and sealing. Earth anchors are a common fix and cost an average of $1,000 each. Long cracks may need five or more anchors. Sealing will usually be an additional $500 to $1,000.
Earth anchors can also be used to stabilize bowing walls and prevent cracking.
If you have recurring moisture problems under your home, you may require basement waterproofing. Most Houston homeowners pay an average of $5,000 for the process.
The typical price for mold remediation is approximately $2,500. This can increase if you have a large basement, a particularly bad mold problem, or if the area under your home is challenging to access. Mold remediation is best followed by waterproofing to prevent ongoing issues.
