11 Best Foundation Companies in Ames, IA

The amount you'll spend on foundation repair depends 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 factor in. On average, Ames homeowners spend roughly $2,873. The fastest way to determine how much a job may cost is to contact a local foundation repair company and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

Click here to read a more thorough breakdown of foundation repair costs in Iowa.

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 repair expert 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 price will be based on how many piers are required. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process reinforces bowing walls with steel or carbon fiber 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 intended to stop water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, or both, and the price can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you think your foundation needs waterproofing.

If you're constructing a new home, have a soil report done. 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 any potential future problems. If you have concerns about an existing home, a few hundred dollars will cover an inspection and report by a structural engineer. They can alert you to any current problems that could use some attention, and give you advice on how to avoid future problems.

You also want to make sure that the moisture around your foundation is appropriate. Don't let the soil around your Ames home get too dry or too wet; at different times, you might find yourself having to reroute your gutters or water your foundation. You should also stay vigilant for leaky gutters or pipes and repair them promptly.

Your foundation repair professional should be the one obtaining the 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 assembled to verify that everything is properly authorized per Ames regulations.

We highly recommend talking with your home insurance provider before beginning any foundation project to determine what might be covered. In general, foundation repairs won't be covered by home insurance unless they are to fix damage caused by a covered weather event.

Foundation repairs undertaken by a reliable company should last a long time. Extensive repairs, such as basement waterproofing, can be involved and expensive but are very helpful in lowering your risk of future issues.