Best 5 Foundation Repair Companies in Altoona, PA

Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Altoona

A few common reasons why Altoona homeowners encounter foundation issues include:

• Standing water: Pooling water around your home can threaten your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't protect.
• Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plummet, topsoil freezes rapidly and lower layers can't expand, forcing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
• Aging plumbing: Altoona has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1950. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't performed properly could lead to your foundation settling.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through cracks, and may create stress that causes your foundation cracking, pipes rupturing, and overall structural weakening.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

Your home's foundation is vital to its stability, so it's important to work with a quality foundation repair firm. Evaluate each provider using the following factors:

Licensing and Experience

According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General, foundation contractors must register with the commonwealth if they make between $5,000 and $50 million in annual revenue. Registration doesn't involve exams, but it does show a contractor meets bond, insurance, and background check requirements. Talk to representatives to gain more insight into a company's experience. You should ask about local building codes, inspection processes and permit ordinances.

Contractor websites are some of the best places to do your research. Typically, a company will show how long it's been in the industry. It might also share blog posts to help potential clients.

Customer Reviews

Before choosing a company, examine its online profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can examine both positive reviews and complaints. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. You want to discover how a company responds to them. If the management team proactively and consistently resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, has an abundance of negative feedback, and doesn't communicate well, you should avoid working with it.

Lastly, we recommend you search additional sites, such as Trustpilot and Google, for other reviews.

Foundation Repair Cost in Altoona

The price of foundation repair can range widely depending on the extent of the issues and what's necessary to resolve them. For minor foundation fracturing and settling problems, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is significant damage, the normal cost falls at about $2,800. More intricate projects involving excavating, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost upwards of $6,800. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.