How Much Does Sinking Foundation Repair Cost?

How much does it cost to repair a sinking foundation? Here is a guide detailing the cost breakdown.

Structural defects can be observed in many forms.

These could include inadequate ventilation that could lead to excessive moisture in crawlspaces, sagging floors, cracked walls and foundations as well a host of others. Of particular interest to us is the sinking foundation.

If you have a sinking foundation, you might wish to know how much it will cost to fix.

How Much To Fix A Sinking Foundation

In this article, we’re all about providing vital repair information as it relates to pricing. For a lot of people dealing with sinking foundations, this piece of information is important.

It involves budgeting and the right information is needed to plan adequately for a sinking foundation.

Watch Out for any of these Signs…

Sinking foundation issues don’t just happen. They leave subtle signs that most times might not be noticed by the homeowner.

In other words, the home or property owner is oblivious to the developing problem until it starts to get worse. Before we get into the cost specifics of fixing a sinking foundation, let’s first highlight the early signs of the problem.

Examples of early signs of a sinking foundation include slanted floors, cracks on foundation walls, and cracks appearing around window frames, doors, and walls.

Other tell-tale signs of a sinking foundation include sticking windows and doors. With one or more of these signs noticed, it’s time you take immediate actions to address the problem.

The Cost Can be Significant

Foundations are built to carry the entire weight of a structure. This means any defects will likely affect the whole structure. Now, addressing this situation understandably attracts significant costs.

The cost of the procedure is mostly determined by the method adopted. There are two approaches used.

Foam-jacking or mud-jacking is one method while the other involves the installation of piers as critical supports for the structure. The approach adopted will be determined by your budget, as well as how bad the situation is.

In terms of costs, this could range anywhere from $1,000 to $25,000 or more.

• What Do the Concepts Foam-Jacking & Mud-Jacking Mean?

When a foundation is foam-jacked, it simply means a special type of foam is poured underneath your sinking foundation. This solidifies and lifts the structure while also acting as a support.

In the case of mud-jacking, the material used is concrete.

Similar to the foam, concrete solidifies underneath the structure and lifts as well as acts as a support. Carrying out any of these procedures will cost anywhere from $3 to $25 per square ft.

• Piers as Support Structures

When piers are used in place of foam or mud-jacking procedures, they need to be installed at critical points around the structure. This specifically targets the most vulnerable sections of the sinking foundation.

When a wider area is affected, more piers will need to be installed.

Each pier costs around $700 to $2,100. So, the more piers to be used as support, the higher the cost of the project goes. This excludes labor costs among other things.

To have an idea of how much it will cost, you’ll have to multiply the cost per pier by the total number needed.

Before work commences, the contractor handling the repair job gives you a quote. You can seek multiple quotes to get the best deal possible.

House Leveling Costs

When your home’s foundation sinks the method used to lift and prevent it from sinking is referred to as leveling. Among the most widely used construction materials are foam and concrete.

These tend to be the most inexpensive way to fix the problem compared to using pier supports.

When budgeting for this procedure, it’s important to set aside an amount higher than what’s expected. This helps prevent any surprises that may come up.

Expect a project cost of around $3,000 to $25,000.

Insurance Coverage for Foundation Repairs

What’s your insurance coverage plan like? This is an important consideration that needs to be made because different insurance policies are covering several areas. Depending on how comprehensive it is, it may cover fixing a sinking foundation or may not. You’ll have to find out such details first before anything else.

DIY Repairs are out of the Question

In a bid to cut down on maintenance costs, a lot of homeowners tend to adopt the DIY approach.

However, a sinking foundation isn’t a project that should be considered for such. This is because it’s a delicate situation that requires professional touch and expertise.

You’ll need to focus on strategies that have been tested and proven to work time and again. Only competent intervention can help fix your sinking foundation.

Factors Affecting Repair Costs for Sinking Foundation

Repair costs for sinking foundations aren’t the same across the board.

There are variations in pricing occasioned by multiple factors like your location, the extent of damage, the method of repair adopted, as well as who gets hired to perform the repairs.

• Location

Location is an important price-influencing factor that always has a bearing on the cost outcomes of these types of projects. There are areas with high costs of living as well as those known for lower living costs.

Typically, projects such as these tend to cost more around locations with higher living costs.

• Extent of Damage

To what extent is your structure damaged?

This will have a bearing on how much is paid to rectify a sinking foundation. Fixing a sinking foundation at its earlier stage shouldn’t cost much.

However, when such problems worsen, it becomes even more costly to fix.

• Method of Repair Adopted

In our discussion, we’ve mentioned the different methods of repair used for sinking foundations. Certain methods are more expensive than others.

So, you’ll have to figure out what serves your needs best in terms of having a lasting solution. This might cost more.

• Who Gets Hired for the Job

In your quest to have your sinking foundation fixed, you’ll come across different contractors. You’ll have to find out what each contractor offers in terms of experience, solution, and pricing.

This enables you to choose one that works best for you.

Sinking foundation repair costs have been discussed in addition to highlighting key cost influencing factors. With this knowledge, you’re able to get a better deal for your money while fixing the problem satisfactorily.