11 Best Foundation Companies in Largo, MD

The cost of foundation repair is based on a number of factors. Things like the size of your home, the type of repair needed, and the extent of the damage will all factor in. On average, Largo homeowners spend roughly $3,202. The easiest way to find out how much a job is going to cost is to talk to 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 Maryland.

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 take necessary measures to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will vary based 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 cost will depend on how many piers are used. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process involves fixing bowing walls by reinforcing them 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 category of repairs designed to prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can involve interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, or both, and costs can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you think your foundation needs waterproofing.

To protect your foundation, you should make sure it gets the proper level of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Largo 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. Also make sure that you promptly identify and repair any leaking gutters or pipes.

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 provide you with a list of things to be aware of as well as steps you can take to further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're building a new home, be sure that you have a soil report done. This report provides information regarding how well the soil on your property can support a foundation and highlights any potential future issues.

Some signs that you need foundation waterproofing include basement flooding, discoloration or odors, white powder or spots on your walls, uneven floors, hairline cracks, or signs of mildew, fungus, or mold. 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 expensive than exterior waterproofing. Exterior waterproofing often involves measures like applying physical barriers to basements and crawl spaces, making changes to your landscaping, or installing exterior drains.

Sometimes, foundation repairs can be considered capital improvements if they fit the criteria of an improvement that adds to your house's overall value, prolongs its life, or adapts it to new uses. In some cases, making capital improvements helps you qualify for tax breaks. (Speak with your Maryland tax professional to learn more.) Tax breaks aside, foundation repairs will, in most cases, positively affect your home's value.

Although some foundation issues might appear small and not worth the cost to repair, when left untreated, they can lead to larger and more expensive problems in the future. Foundation problems may have underlying causes which are not obvious until after a professional inspection. It's important to handle these underlying issues as soon as possible. For these reasons, we recommend you don't procrastinate on foundation repairs.