Cracks in Slab Foundations

We frequently receive calls from clients who are concerned about the slab foundation supporting their home. Often they observe cracks in the walls, ceiling, flooring, or slab itself. They are concerned their foundation may require “foundation repair” and some have even been told by foundation repair companies that their house may collapse on them if repair is not performed quickly!

Does My Foundation Need Repair?

This question, for many clients, is the $50,000 dollar question. Bids for foundation repair often range from $10,000 up to $70,000 depending on the size of the home and the scope of the repair. Their are many different ways to “repair” a slab foundation, and bids from companies often do not align with each other, varying in the number and type of piers proposed to “repair” the foundation. Ultimately, we do not recommend relying on a foundation repair company to determine if your home needs repair.

Biased Opinions

Foundation repair companies make their income by selling “foundation repair”. They are incentivized to sell their product, even to homes that may not benefit from the repair itself. While some companies may tell you your home will not benefit from foundation repair, in my experience, most foundation repair companies will at least recommend some attempt at “foundation repair” for your home.

Unbiased Opinions

As licensed Structural Engineers, we do not sell “foundation repair”. Our objective is to provide assessments to determine if your foundation would actually benefit from foundation repair and give you guidance as to what the cost should be, as well as the type and location of the “foundation repair system”. In our previous experience, many of the homes we have assessed would not have benefited from “foundation repair” when we assessed them. Before you spend tens of thousands on “foundation repair”, give us a call and speak with our engineer.