How foundation repairs work
Each stage of a foundation repair job explained, from the first call to the written price from the specialist.
Whether you have spotted a crack running up a basement wall, a floor that has started to slope, or a door frame that no longer sits square, the steps below walk you through what happens from your first message to a completed repair and the paperwork in your hands.
Whatever the repair method, foundation repairs across the United States follow the same sequence of stages from first contact to completed work.
Describe what you are seeing
Fill in the form with the address and a description of the problem. Note where the cracks are, which direction they run, roughly how wide they look, and when you first noticed them. If the issue is a sinking concrete slab, a bowing wall, or a pier and beam floor that has dropped, say so. Photos taken next to a ruler or a coin give a useful sense of scale. The quote is free.
A specialist calls you
A foundation repair specialist will contact you to go through the details. The specialist will ask about the building's age, the soil type beneath it if you know, whether any large-rooted trees are growing close by, and whether a drain or gutter has been leaking near the affected wall or floor. If an insurer is already involved, mention that at this stage.
Deciding on a site visit
Based on what you have described, the specialist will judge whether an in-person inspection is needed. For active movement, crack monitoring over several weeks may be set up to record whether the building is shifting seasonally or continuing to settle before any repair method is chosen.
A free written quote
You will receive a written quote naming the most likely cause and the repair that addresses it. That might mean mudjacking a sunken slab, installing piers to reach a stable bearing layer, underpinning a shallow footing, or addressing a drainage problem that has been washing soil away from beneath the foundation.
The repair work
The specialist arranges access, explains which areas will be affected, and confirms the schedule. The specialist confirms which areas will be disturbed and agrees a programme of work before starting. Where the foundation has stopped moving, the repair is limited to what the site evidence actually requires.
Documentation once the work is done
On completion, the specialist provides documentation recording what was found, what work was carried out, and the condition of the structure at the point of handover. Where a certificate is issued, keep it with your property documents. Insurers, mortgage lenders, and buyers' attorneys routinely ask for records of past foundation work.
Get a free quote today
Tell us what you have spotted, where the property is, and which service fits. A specialist will come back to you with a free quote before any work is agreed.
- Free quote, no obligation
- Covers cracks, settlement and underpinning