Foundation Repair Cost Calculator
Cracked walls and sticking doors raise one question first: how much will this cost? Foundation repair cost spans a huge range because “foundation repair” can mean a $250 crack injection or a house lifted onto steel. The average cost of foundation repair in published price guides is about $5,000 to $5,200, and most homeowners pay between $2,200 and $8,200.
The calculator above handles the expensive end, pier installation. Start with the symptoms below to see which kind of job you are likely facing.
Signs your house foundation needs repair
Watch for horizontal or stair-step cracks in brick or block walls wider than a quarter inch, doors and windows that start sticking, floors that slope, basement walls that bow inward, white powder (efflorescence) on masonry and a chimney that leans away from the house. A musty smell in the basement or crawl space can be an early sign too.
Foundation repair cost by problem
| Problem | Typical cost to fix |
|---|---|
| A single wall crack (injection) | $250 to $800 per crack |
| Sunken slab or step (mudjacking) | $500 to $1,300 |
| Bowing basement wall, carbon fiber straps (12) | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Bowing wall, wall anchors | $80 to $150 per foot of wall |
| Sinking foundation or settling | $4,500 to $25,000 |
| Underpinning with piers | $7,000 to $30,000 |
| Lifting the whole house | $20,000 to $30,000 |
| Replacing the foundation | $20,000 to $100,000 |
The first row, the foundation crack repair cost, is the cheapest line on the list. A pier and beam foundation is priced differently again: repairs run $700 to $25,000, and new support beams cost $1,500 to $5,000 each.
Pricing a pier job
How many piers your house needs
Most homes need 7 to 10 piers and larger homes 12 or more. For helical piers the count follows the size of the house, from about 3 piers for 500 to 1,000 sq ft to 12 or more above 3,000 sq ft. The calculator starts at 8.
Steel push piers vs. helical piers cost
Foundation piers cost $1,500 to $3,000 each for steel push piers. Helical piers cost more, $2,000 to $4,000 each, with most quotes between $2,500 and $3,500. A full piering job can reach $10,000 to $40,000, a little above the underpinning range in the table.
Costs that come before the crew
A structural engineer’s inspection costs $300 to $1,000. The calculator includes it, along with a permit, typically $75 to $150.
Some jobs need a soil report first, at $500 to $3,000. Digging can also turn up buried pipes, old concrete or roots, which add $1,000 to $2,500, and putting the garden back runs $200 to $500.
Insurance and warranties on house foundation repair
In most cases homeowners insurance does not cover foundation repairs, because insurers treat the damage as preventable; coverage applies only in limited circumstances.
Warranties are better news. Most foundation repair companies offer lifetime warranties. Ask whether yours transfers to the next owner of the house.
Foundation piers cost per pier
| Pier type | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Steel push piers | $1,500.00 | $2,500.00 |
| Helical piers | $2,500.00 | $3,500.00 |