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
Best Pricing On Labor and Materials
Professional, Efficient, and Friendly Service
Licensed Structural Engineers On Call 24/7
Flexible Payment Plans & Financing Options
Laser Level Measuring Practices
Worry Free Warranties On All Services
Madison, Wisconsin offers residents an urban lifestyle, beautiful views of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, four distinct seasons, and easy access to larger cities like Milwaukee and Chicago.
As desirable as the city is, it does come with its downsides. Unfortunately, home foundations in Madison and the surrounding area are at unusually high risk of damage and water intrusion.
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 Madison. Our pros have years of experience and are familiar with the nuances of Madison 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’ll discuss why foundation issues are so prevalent in Madison, the effects they typically have on your home, and the best way to limit the damages and the cost to repair them.
We’ll also go over the most common foundation repair services in the city and provide average pricing for each.
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: Madison, WI
Description: Hello, we need to have a crack in our basement wall checked out. Thank you.
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Madison, WI
Description: I am a prospective home buyer looking for a ballpark estimate on cinder block basement structural inspection and repair, on a home I am considering to buy.
Date of Request: 05/31/2023
Location: Middleton, WI
Description: Our house backs up to a conservancy that has been saturated since the August of 2018 storm. Our sump pump runs almost constantly and we are hoping to have a foundation inspection, as well as an outlook if there could be foundation-risk in the future. Thanks in advance for your help!
Date of Request: 05/28/2023
Location: Stoughton, WI
Description: under home crawl space / foundation needs support beams replaced. possible foundation concreate repairs.
Date of Request: 05/25/2023
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Description: I am looking to have concrete poured for foundation, footings, and flatwork. We have received the permits and would like to begin relatively soon. I am interested in working with your team. Please let me know how I can assist you in pricing our project so that we can move forward together. Form and Pour new Concrete Foundation (footings, walls, etc.) as per plan with brick shelf - 3000 psi mix - Include basement windows (if applicable) Strip all formwork and foundation ties New basement slab as per plan New Garage Slab as per plan - with fiber mesh - trowel all floors to a smooth finish - pitch floor to garage doors for drainage - saw cut new slabs for crack control Install all necessary sleeves for all utilities that apply (water, sewer, gas, electric, radon, etc.); so they can run their conduit into building
Date of Request: 05/23/2023
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Description: We need to have a foundation inspection done for refinancing our home.
Does Foundation Movement Affect Madison, Wisconsin?
Foundation movement is a significant risk in Southern Wisconsin. Property owners in Madison, Verona, Janesville, Milwaukee, Watertown, and other cities in the proximity will likely experience issues with their foundation at some point during their homeownership.
What Causes Foundation Problems In Madison, Wisconsin?
Numerous things related to the geology and climate in Madison are to blame for the widespread foundation problems. We’ll explain each of these factors in-depth below and the effects they have on the concrete under your home.
The soil throughout Madison and the rest of Dane County is varied, but much of Dane County falls in the Batavia-Houghton-Dresden soil association, which is poorly drained and considered expansive.
Other areas are underlain by silt loam, which has a higher ratio of clay and silt and little sand to aid in drainage. Expansive soil swells and shrinks when it gets wet due to its abundance of clay, and the resulting ground movement can create instability under and around your foundation.
During rainfall, runoff soaks between the fine clay and silt particles and causes the ground to expand.
The swelling soil places excessive pressure on your slab and foundation walls, often creating enough stress to crack the concrete and cause structural damage and even foundation failure.
During the drier winter months in Madison, the soil shrinks and can pull away from the concrete, leaving it without support.
This process rarely occurs uniformly beneath your home, so your foundation regularly sinks into the earth unevenly when the soil dries at varying rates. The result is differential settling, which can cause significant foundation damage and necessitate structural repair.
Lastly, Madison’s silty and clayey soil absorbs and retains water readily, as capillary action keeps water suspended in the gaps between the small particles.
The moisture from runoff is held against your foundation for prolonged periods and eventually seeps through cracks or pores in the concrete. Once it enters your under-home area, it causes water damage, promotes mold growth, and contributes to several other moisture-related problems.
The problems with expansive soil are made significantly worse with excessive rainfall and cyclical rain patterns when the ground moves from wet to dry and back again rapidly. Unfortunately, both of these conditions are present in Madison.
The city receives just over 36 inches of rain annually, which is only slightly above the national average.
However, the summer months bring more than double the monthly average rainfall the rest of the year. The concentrated precipitation from April to September keeps the ground saturated for long periods, increasing the risk of the ground swelling and placing undue hydrostatic pressure on your foundation.
Additionally, the rain in the winter is minimal, and the average temperatures below freezing keep the snow from melting and saturating the soil.
As a result, the ground is given the opportunity to dry, which contributes to the risk of differential settling. The cyclical nature of the soil’s moisture content throughout the year is detrimental as well, as the frequent changes promote ground movement and foundation instability.
Flooding is a problem throughout much of Madison. The concentrated rainfall in the summer and early fall can easily overwhelm the city’s storm drains and back up to the surface. Heavy rain can also overfill Lake Mendota and Lake Monona, causing an overflow.
The strip of land between the two bodies of water is at the most severe risk of flooding, but much of the rest of the city experiences flooding regularly as well.
Flash floods saturate the soil to the extreme, causing maximum swelling and stress on your foundation.
Additionally, floods contribute to leaking under your home. Most houses in Madison are built with basements because the frost depth is so deep, and basement walls and slabs are naturally prone to water intrusion.
Flash flooding increases the risk of water and water vapor accumulating in your basement or crawlspace, causing a variety of potentially severe problems.
Lastly, home foundations in Madison are often affected by frost heave, which is when the moisture in the ground freezes, expands, and places additional stress on your foundation walls.
The frost line in the Madison area is between 48 and 60 inches deep, meaning the ground freezes to a depth of at least four feet throughout the city. The additional pressure created by the solidification of the soil’s water content can promote structural cracks and stability issues under your home.
What Are The Signs of Basement Foundation Damage In Madison, Wisconsin?
Foundation damage can present itself in various ways, and the symptoms you see throughout your home generally depend on the underlying cause of the problem. Below, we’ll review the most common signs of a foundation problem and the most likely source of the damage.
Foundation cracks appear in most homes. While they often develop because of normal and healthy concrete settlement that occurs following new construction, they can also signify severe structural problems. The gap’s position and size can help identify the severity.
Your crawlspace or basement floor will almost certainly have some cracks spreading out over the surface. If they’re thin and level, they’re likely from harmless settlement and should just be sealed to avoid water and moisture problems.
However, they could be the start of frost heave if they form long after your slab was poured, so monitoring them for growth is crucial.
If the cracks in your basement floor widen significantly or have one edge of the concrete pushing above the other, your foundation is likely either suffering from differential settling or frost heave.
Frost heave is most easily identifiable by a circular pattern of cracking, indicating the area suffering from the most intense upward pressure. Regardless of the source, these broader or unlevel floor cracks almost always require stabilization and structural repair.
Cracks that travel vertically up your crawlspace or basement wall commonly occur during foundation settling. If they’re less than ⅛” wide, a foundation repair contractor will generally just need to apply an epoxy sealant to resist water intrusion.
Wider fissures may require some stabilization but still seldom indicate structural damage.
Horizontally-oriented cracks on your concrete block walls develop if you have a problem with swelling soils on your property. The expanding ground can push the wall inward until it cracks, compromising your foundation’s structural integrity.
This type of crack should be stabilized as quickly as possible by a foundation repair company to prevent wall collapse.
Step-shaped fissures on your concrete block wall are among the most dangerous, and unfortunately, they are common in Madison.
They appear when the shrinking soil under your slab leaves your foundation without the support it requires to hold up your home. These gaps typically necessitate the most expensive foundation repairs.
The expansive soil throughout Madison and the concentrated seasonal rainfall make the risk of water intrusion and moisture accumulation under your home exceptionally high
There are various symptoms that can develop as a result of water or water vapor problems.
Liquid water can seep through foundation cracks and generally leads to extensive basement flooding.
You’re likely to find standing water under your home, puddles developing on the floor during rainfall, water visibly trickling in through cracks in the concrete, and water damage to building materials if you have a finished basement.
Water vapor is sometimes more challenging to identify until it becomes a significant problem because it accumulates in the air.
Common warning signs include noticeably damp air, mold growth, musty odors, efflorescence on the walls, and ongoing issues with insects or rodents infesting the area.
Severe moisture or water problems can evoke symptoms in your living space.
Humidity moving upstairs from under your home can make the air feel colder in the winter and warmer in the summer, so uncomfortable temperatures in your living area can suggest you have a leaky basement.
Mold spores can seep upstairs as well and be inhaled by you or your family members. As such, unexplained allergy symptoms indoors can be a sign of basement moisture build-up.
How to Find Signs of Foundation Damage In Madison, Wisconsin?
Your home’s foundation is under continuous stress from your structure’s weight and the surrounding soil, so any damage or instability tends to worsen and become extreme with time.
Below, we’ll detail a home inspection routine you can complete to monitor your foundation for problems. We recommend completing this examination every three months to identify issues as early as possible.
You can begin by checking the concrete under your home for signs of cracking. Examine the visible portion outside as well as the interior walls and slab if you have an unfinished basement.
Keep a detailed report of the location and size of any gap so that you can identify growth or expansion over time.
While you’re beneath your home, look for symptoms of water problems, including efflorescence or water stains on the walls, mold growth or resulting musty smells, puddles, standing water, pest infestation, and damp or heavy air.
Next, move into your living area and look for symptoms of shifting or bowing wall framing and floor joists, which commonly occur in response to foundation movement and differential settling.
Check for cracks in the sheetrock, nail heads pushing through the drywall, cabinets and countertops separating from the wall behind them, walls that aren’t plumb, sloping floors, and any other damage to your flooring, including buckling or bowing sections.
We recommend comparing your recent heating and cooling bills to those from past years to look for increases that may suggest a moisture issue affecting the air in your home.
Additionally, you can ask your family members if they’ve experienced unusual allergic reactions inside the house, which can also signify a moisture and mold problem in your crawlspace or basement.
Finally, walk the outside of your property and look for signs of foundation movement on the exterior of your home. Check for cracks in the siding or chimney and wavy or sagging roofing, all of which can result from dangerous foundation movement.
Your landscaping can help you identify if expansive soil or inadequate drainage could affect your foundation.
Look for unevenness across your yard, gaps between the earth and your concrete during the winter when the soil is dry, and puddles on the lawn during rainfall, especially in the summer when precipitation is most abundant.
Cost of Basement Foundation Repair In Madison, Wisconsin?
Foundation repair costs Madison homeowners approximately $5,500, on average, but the total can vary quite a bit, depending on the service required and the underlying issue. We’ll provide typical costs for the most common foundation solutions in the area below.
Non-structural foundation cracks generally just require sealing to minimize the risk of water intrusion, a prevalent problem in Madison. General contractors usually charge between $300 and $800 for this crack repair.
Wall anchors are the best solution for horizontal wall cracks. They can pull your wall back to its original position and help resist further movement going forward.
They cost around $1,000 each for equipment and labor, and you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 total for this basement or crawlspace repair.
Some foundation repair specialists will opt for carbon fiber supports inside your wall to stabilize it.
This service is about half the cost of wall anchors at just $2,500. However, it’s not a permanent solution in Madison, where expansive soil is so prevalent, so it rarely includes a warranty.
Differential settling from shrinking soil is typically fixed with underpinning, a repair solution that uses push piers as supports beneath your foundation.
The pilings cost between $1,000 and $3,000 each, depending on whether steel piers or helical piers are more appropriate. You can expect your total for this crawlspace or basement repair to fall between $5,000 and $20,000, on average.
Minor settlement problems may be rectified with mud jacking, a type of concrete lifting that raises your slab’s sunken sections with a cementitious solution. This service is best reserved for areas with minimal structural load, like garage floors or driveways, as it isn’t a permanent solution.
Most foundation repair experts treat under-home water and moisture issues with a basement waterproofing system. The setup can include exterior drainage systems, sump pump systems, drain tiles, floor drains, dehumidifiers, crawlspace encapsulation, vapor barriers, gutter systems, and more.
Your basement system will need to be customized for your property, so the cost ranges from approximately $2,500 to $10,000.
The average price for waterproofing services is $6,000, as most properties in Madison require extensive protection from water and moisture in the soil.
