6 Best Foundation Companies in Douglas, IL

On average, Douglas homeowners spend around $3,060 on foundation repair. The amount you'll spend on foundation repair is based on several factors. Things like the type of repair needed, the size of your home, and the extent of the damage will all help determine the cost. The best way to determine how much a job is going to cost is to contact a local foundation repair expert and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

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 contractor will perform an inspection and complete any repairs necessary to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will vary depending 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 required. The price of stabilization is also variable. This process involves fixing bowing walls by reinforcing them with carbon fiber or steel strips. The total cost will depend on the material and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a category of repairs intended to prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, or both, and costs can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're interested in waterproofing your foundation.

To protect your foundation, you should make sure it gets the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Douglas 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. Also be sure to quickly identify and fix any leaking gutters or pipes.

If you have any concerns about 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 potential concerns as well as more ideas to help you further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're constructing a new house, be sure to have a soil report done. This can provide information about how well the soil on your property can support a foundation, and can highlight potential future issues.

Foundation repair usually requires a permit, but acquiring one should not be your responsibility. Your foundation repair provider should obtain the permit and all other documents required in Douglas, and should be able to explain the process and/or provide the documents before starting work.

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

Small hairline cracks might seem easy to handle yourself, but in most cases, you should consult a professional before you begin any foundation maintenance. Although you may not want to pay someone for a task you feel you can handle yourself, mistakes made during foundation repair can cost you much more down the line.