11 Best Foundation Companies in Portland, ME

On average, Portland homeowners pay roughly $3,067 for foundation repair, although the actual cost will depend on several factors. The best way to get an estimate for the cost of your specific project is to ask for quotes from a few local foundation repair companies. The amount you pay for a job will be influenced by things like the size of your house and type of repair(s) needed.

The main 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 depend on the size and cause of the issue.

Underpinning, also called leveling or piering, is when a contractor levels your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The price will be based on how many piers are needed. The price of stabilization is also variable. This process fixes bowing walls by reinforcing them with carbon fiber or steel strips, and the total cost will depend on the material and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs that help stop 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 planning to waterproof your foundation.

When caring for your foundation, you should make sure it has the proper level of moisture. Portland sees more rain than many places, so be sure that your gutters and landscaping are arranged to prevent too much water from collecting near your foundation. Also be sure to promptly identify and repair 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 consultation can net you a list of things to be aware of as well as additional steps to further protect your foundation. Lastly, if you're building a new house, ensure that you have a soil report done. This can provide information regarding how well the soil on your property can support a foundation, and can highlight potential future issues.

Your foundation repair expert 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 paperwork and permits it has assembled to confirm everything is properly authorized per Portland regulations.

Sometimes, foundation repairs can be considered capital improvements if they meet the criteria of an improvement that will add to a home's overall market value, prolong its life, or adapt it to new uses. In some cases, making capital improvements lets you qualify for tax breaks. (Talk to your Maine tax professional for more information.) Even without these tax breaks, foundation repairs will generally have a positive effect on your home's value.

While some foundation problems might seem small and not worth the cost to repair, when left untreated, they can lead to much larger and more expensive problems in the future. Foundation issues can also have underlying causes which are not clear until after a professional inspection. It's important to fix these underlying issues as soon as possible. For these reasons, we advise against procrastinating on foundation repairs.