11 Best Foundation Companies in Bel Air South, MD

On average, Bel Air South homeowners pay roughly $2,846 for foundation repair, although the total cost will vary widely depending on several factors. The fastest way to estimate the cost of a specific project is to ask for quotes from one or more local foundation repair companies. Your total cost will be affected by things like the type of the repair(s) and the size of your house.

The main 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 take necessary measures to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will vary depending on the size and cause of the problem.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, 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 carbon fiber or steel strips, and the total cost will depend on the material chosen and how many strips are used.

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

If you're constructing a new home, have a soil report completed. This report contains information about how well the soil on a given piece of land can support a foundation, and can give you a heads-up about any potential future issues. If you have concerns about an existing house, a few hundred dollars will cover an inspection and report by a structural engineer. The engineer can alert you to any issues that could use some attention, and give you advice on avoiding future problems.

It's also important that the moisture around your foundation is at an appropriate level. As Bel Air South sees more rain than many other places, keep an eye on your gutters and landscaping to make sure too much water isn't getting into your soil or 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 its process and to see the permits and paperwork it has assembled to make sure everything is properly authorized per Bel Air South regulations.

Some signs that you need foundation waterproofing include white powder or spots on your walls, hairline cracks, discoloration or odors, basement flooding, uneven floors, 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 generally is less costly than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing can involve applying physical barriers to crawl spaces and basements, installing exterior drains, or making landscape changes.

In general, foundation repair takes from one to several weeks. The range is wide because the time taken will vary greatly depending on factors like the type of repair required and the size of your home. You should talk to your Bel Air South foundation repair company for a more thorough timeline for your specific project.