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Estimating the Cost of Foundation Repair


PRELIMINARY COST ESTIMATE FOR FOUNDATION REPAIR

This estimate is provided to help give you a perspective of how much foundation repair may end up costing. The foundation repair company may only provide the cost of their work, but your total project cost should account for all repairs to the building after the foundation is repaired.

Here is an example of how much the cost can vary by differing systems:

Let's assume that you are told that the entire house needs to be lifted or repaired. You are not sure if the price is fair or if there are other options. So…here is an example of how you can compare pricing and scopes of work.

This example is fairly straightforward. It assumes that the entire house needs to be lifted. You should ask, where did we get this information? Well, contrary to some foundation repair contractors' belief, some houses we see do need foundation repair, so we investigate, research, and help clients coordinate the repair. The information that we collect and gather is now shared with you to help keep you better informed. BUT PLEASE UNDERSTAND, THESE NUMBERS VARY ACROSS THE STATE AND BY PROJECT, SO DON’T ASSUME THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE FULLY APPLICABLE TO YOUR PROJECT. Nonetheless, this is a great exercise to start spinning your wheels on what to consider for the project AND to understand how pricing can vary between systems. Also, keep in mind that the list is not complete. There can always be more issues or repairs to address on each project.

Option 1 – Concrete Pressed Piles (This is the cheapest system)

Cost Breakdown –

  • Permitting = $300

  • Engineering Inspection (Don’t call this certification) = $600

  • Pile Cost = (building square footage) x 0.025 x $350

  • Interior Break Out = (building square footage) x 0.0125 x $75

  • Leveling or Lift = $2000

  • Plumbing Static Test = $800

  • Repair Plumbing (with permit) = $3000

  • Landscaping (After Repairs) = $1000

  • Interior Repairs to Cracks in Sheetrock = $3500

  • Repair Floor Tile = $4000

Option 2 – Steel Pressed Piles (Better than concrete pressed piles but still have limits)

Cost Breakdown –

  • Permitting = $300

  • Engineering Inspection (Don’t call this certification) = $600

  • Pile Cost = (building square footage) x 0.025 x $550

  • Interior Break Out = (building square footage) x 0.0125 x $75

  • Leveling or Lift = $2000

  • Plumbing Static Test = $800

  • Repair Plumbing (with permit) = $3000

  • Landscaping (After Repairs) = $1000

  • Interior Repairs to Cracks in Sheetrock = $3500

  • Repair Flooring= $4000

Option 3 – Helical Steel Piles (Probably one of the best systems on the market but with limits)

Cost Breakdown -

  • Permitting = $300

  • Engineering Inspection (Don’t call this certification) = $900

  • Pile Cost = (building square footage) x 0.025 x $700

  • Interior Break Out = (building square footage) x 0.0125 x $75

  • Leveling or Lift = $2000

  • Plumbing Static Test = $800

  • Repair Plumbing (with permit) = $3000

  • Landscaping (After Repairs) = $1000

  • Interior Repairs to Cracks in Sheetrock = $3500

  • Repair Flooring= $4000

Option 4 – Cast in Place Concrete Piers (Most pier designs are very well, but again, with limits)

Cost Breakdown -

  • Permitting = $300

  • Engineering Inspection (Don’t call this certification) = $900

  • Pile Cost = (building square footage) x 0.025 x $950

  • Interior Break Out = (building square footage) x 0.0125 x $75

  • Leveling or Lift = $2000

  • Plumbing Static Test = $800

  • Repair Plumbing (with permit) = $3000

  • Landscaping (After Repairs) = $1000

  • Interior Repairs to Cracks in Sheetrock = $3500

  • Repair Flooring= $4000

Don’t let our comment next to the Option persuade you into buying one system over the other. Our comment is just a perspective on the quality of the system that you should expect in comparison to the not-so-good “concrete pressed piles”. The “with limits” comment on each option means that the system is not invincible; it should perform significantly better than the cheapest pile system, but it can also have issues if conditions are not right.

We suggest that you consult with a licensed structural engineer prior to deciding on getting foundation repair. The information and insight that you can gain from visiting with the engineer can add some real value to understanding what you are doing to your house.