11 Best Foundation Companies in St. Clair, IL

On average, St. Clair homeowners spend around $2,614 on foundation repair. The amount you'll spend on foundation repair is based on a number of factors. Things like the extent of the damage, the size of your home, and the type of repair needed will all play a part. The best way to find out how much a job may cost is to talk to a local foundation repair company 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 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 problem.

Underpinning, also called leveling or piering, is the process of leveling your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The amount you can expect to spend depends on how many piers are used. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process reinforces bowing walls with steel or carbon fiber strips, and the total cost will depend on the material and how many strips are used.

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

When caring for your foundation, you should make sure that it has the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your St. Clair 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, make sure that you quickly identify and fix any leaking pipes or gutters.

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 consultation can net you a list of things to look out for as well as additional steps to further protect your foundation. Lastly, if you're building a new house, be sure that you have a soil report done. This report provides information regarding how well the soil on your property will be able to support a foundation and highlights potential future problems.

Permits are needed for most foundation repairs, but getting one should not be your responsibility. Your foundation repair professional should put together all the permits and other documents required in St. Clair, 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, white powder or spots on your walls, discoloration or odors, uneven floors, basement flooding, or signs of fungus, mold, 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 tends to be less expensive than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing can involve applying physical barriers to crawl spaces and basements, making changes to your landscaping, or installing exterior drains.

Foundation repairs carried out by a trustworthy company should last a long time. More extensive repairs, like basement waterproofing, can be very involved and expensive, but they go a long way toward reducing the risk of future issues.