11 Best Foundation Companies in Ottawa, KS

On average, Ottawa homeowners spend about $2,368 on foundation repair. The cost of foundation repair depends on a number of factors. Things like the extent of the damage, the type of repair needed, and the size of your home will all factor in. The easiest way to find out how much a job is going to cost is to speak with a local foundation repair company 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 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 fixes bowing walls by reinforcing them with steel or carbon fiber strips. The cost will depend on the material chosen and how many strips are used.

Lastly, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs designed to prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can involve exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and costs can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're interested in waterproofing 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 Ottawa 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 be sure to quickly identify and fix any leaking gutters or pipes.

If you think there may be any problems with your foundation, you can call a structural engineer for an evaluation. This will run you a few hundred dollars, but the consultation can provide you with a list of things to look out for as well as more ideas to help you further protect your foundation. Lastly, if you're constructing a new house, be sure that you 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 professional should be the one to get the permits. You can ask the company to provide a detailed explanation of its process and to see the permits and paperwork it has acquired to make sure everything is properly authorized per Ottawa regulations.

Some indicators that you need foundation waterproofing include white powder or spots on your walls, uneven floors, discoloration or odors, hairline cracks, 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 is generally less costly than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing can involve things like applying physical barriers to crawl spaces and basements, changing your landscaping, or installing exterior drains.

We advise against putting off foundation repairs. A seemingly small issue may have an underlying cause that could potentially result in future problems, and it's best to get ahead of the issue as soon as possible. A minor problem now could turn into a large and very expensive one in the future if the signs are ignored.