12 Best Foundation Companies in Chicago, IL

On average, Chicago homeowners pay roughly $4,674 for foundation repair, although the actual cost will vary depending on several factors. The best way to get an estimate for the cost of a specific job is to request quotes from one or more local foundation repair companies. The amount you pay for a job will be affected by things like the type of the repair(s) and the size of your house.

Click here for a more thorough breakdown of foundation repair costs in Illinois.

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

Crack repair and leak repair are exactly as they sound: your foundation contractor will perform an inspection and complete any repairs necessary to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will vary based on the size and cause of the issue.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, is when a contractor levels your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The price will be based on how many piers are needed. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process involves fixing bowing walls by reinforcing them with carbon fiber or steel strips, and the total cost will depend on what material and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs designed to stop water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, or both, and costs can vary widely. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're planning to waterproof your foundation.

One way to protect your foundation is to make sure it gets the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Chicago house become too wet or too dry — make changes to your gutter system to route water away, or water your foundation if it starts to get too dry. Additionally, be sure to quickly identify and repair any leaking gutters or pipes.

If you think there may be any problems with your foundation, you can reach out to a structural engineer for an evaluation. This will run you a few hundred dollars, but the engineer's consultation can provide you with a list of things to be aware of as well as steps you can take to further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're building a new home, ensure that you have a soil report done. This can provide information about how well the soil on your property can support a foundation, and can highlight any potential future issues.

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

Interior waterproofing can involve the installation of sump pumps and drains or the use of sealants and generally is less expensive than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing often involves measures like applying physical barriers to basements and crawl spaces, making changes to your landscaping, or installing exterior drains.

We recommend that you do not put off foundation repairs. A seemingly small issue may have an underlying cause that could lead to numerous future problems, and it's best to get ahead of the issue as soon as possible. A minor problem now could become a large and very expensive one in the future if left untreated.

Foundation repairs that are done by a reliable company should last a long time. Some more extensive repairs, such as basement waterproofing, can be rather involved and expensive, but they go a long way toward reducing your risk of future issues.