11 Best Foundation Companies in Cincinnati, IL

On average, Cincinnati homeowners spend roughly $3,061 on foundation repair. The total cost of foundation repair depends on several factors. Things like the size of your home, the extent of the damage, and the type of repair needed will all play a part. The easiest way to learn how much a job may cost is to talk to a local foundation repair expert and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

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

Crack repair and leak repair are what they sound like: your foundation contractor will perform an inspection and complete any repairs necessary 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 required. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process reinforces bowing walls with carbon fiber or steel strips, and the total cost will depend on the material and how many strips are used.

Lastly, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs intended to prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and costs can vary greatly. 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 has the proper level of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Cincinnati 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. You should also make sure that you quickly identify and fix any leaking pipes or gutters.

If you have any concerns about your foundation, you can call 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 additional steps to further protect your foundation. Lastly, if you're constructing a new house, ensure to have a soil report done. This can provide information regarding how well the soil on your property will be able to support a foundation, and can highlight potential future issues.

Your foundation repair provider should acquire the needed permits. You can ask the company to provide a detailed explanation of the steps in its process and to see the permits and paperwork it has acquired to ensure everything is properly authorized per Cincinnati regulations.

Signs that you need foundation waterproofing include basement flooding, white powder or spots on your walls, uneven floors, hairline cracks, discoloration or odors, or signs of fungus, mildew, or mold. 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 is generally less costly than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing often involves measures like applying physical barriers to basements and crawl spaces, installing exterior drains, or making changes to your landscaping.

We advise against putting off foundation repairs. A single issue may have an underlying cause that could potentially result in future problems, and it's better 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 the signs are ignored.