11 Best Foundation Companies in Lake Forest, CA

On average, Lake Forest homeowners pay about $3,054 for foundation repair, although the cost will vary depending on several factors. The easiest way to get an estimate for the cost of your specific project is to get quotes from a few local foundation repair companies. The amount you pay for a job will be affected by things like the size of your house and type of repair(s) needed.

The primary types of foundation repair are crack repair, leak repair, underpinning, stabilization, and waterproofing.

Crack repair and leak repair are what they sound like: your foundation repair expert will perform an inspection and take necessary measures to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will depend on the size and cause of the problem.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, is the process of leveling your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The cost will depend on how many piers are used. The price of stabilization is also variable. This process fixes bowing walls by reinforcing them with steel or carbon fiber strips. The total cost will depend on what material is used and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a category of repairs designed to prevent water from getting into your foundation. This can include exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and the price can vary widely. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're planning to waterproof your foundation.

When constructing a new home, have a soil report completed. This report contains information about how well the soil on a given piece of land can support a foundation, and can offer you a heads-up about potential future problems. If your concerns are about an existing house, a few hundred dollars will cover an inspection and report by a structural engineer. They can alert you to any things that need attention, and give you advice on how to avoid future problems.

Also ensure that the moisture around your foundation is appropriate, particularly when the weather gets hot. The weather in Lake Forest tends to be very dry, which means that at times you may need to water your soil and foundation. You should also stay vigilant for leaky gutters or pipes and repair them promptly.

Permits are needed for most foundation repairs, but acquiring one isn't your responsibility. Your foundation repair professional should obtain the permit and all other documents required in Lake Forest, and should be able to provide the documents and/or explain the process if asked.

Some signs that your foundation needs waterproofing include hairline cracks, discoloration or odors, uneven floors, white powder or spots on your walls, basement flooding, or signs of mildew, mold, or fungus. Your contractor can inform you whether you need interior or exterior waterproofing.

Interior waterproofing can involve the use of sealants or the installation of sump pumps and drains and tends to be less expensive than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing can involve applying physical barriers to basements and crawl spaces, changing your landscaping, or installing exterior drains.

Although some foundation problems may seem small and not worth the cost to repair, when left untreated, they can lead to much larger and more expensive problems later on. Foundation issues can also have underlying causes which are not clear until after a professional inspection. It's important to repair these underlying issues as soon as possible. For these reasons, we advise against procrastinating on foundation repairs.