11 Best Foundation Companies in Waterford, MI

On average, Waterford homeowners spend roughly $3,404 on foundation repair. The amount you'll spend on foundation repair will vary greatly depending on several factors. Things like the type of repair needed, the size of your home, and the extent of the damage will all factor in. The fastest way to learn 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 main 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 take necessary measures to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will depend on the size and cause of the problem.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, is when a contractor levels 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 is also variable. This process reinforces bowing walls with steel or carbon fiber strips. The cost will depend on what material is used and how many strips are used.

Lastly, waterproofing is an overarching term for a category of repairs designed to stop water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and the price can vary widely. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're planning to waterproof your foundation.

If you're building a new house, make sure that a soil report is completed. A soil report will contain information regarding how well your soil can support a foundation, and can give you a heads-up about potential future issues. If your concerns are about an existing home, a few hundred dollars will cover an inspection and report by a structural engineer. The engineer can point you to any current problems that could use some attention, and give you advice on avoiding future problems.

Also ensure that the moisture around your foundation is at an appropriate level. Don't let the soil around your Waterford home get too dry or too wet; at different times, you might find yourself having to reroute your gutters or water your foundation. Also, be on the lookout for leaky gutters or pipes and repair them promptly.

Foundation repair usually requires a permit, but applying for one should not be your responsibility. Your foundation repair provider should put together all the permits and other documents required in Waterford, and should be able to provide the documents and/or explain the process before starting work.

Generally, foundation repairs will positively affect the value of your home. In some cases, you may be able to consider foundation repair a capital improvement, which might help you qualify for tax breaks. A capital improvement is generally defined as one that adds to a home's overall market value, prolongs its life, or adapts it to new uses. Talk to your Michigan tax professional to learn more.

While some foundation problems may appear 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 problems may have underlying causes which are not obvious until after a professional inspection. It's important to repair these underlying issues as soon as possible. For these reasons, we advise against procrastinating on foundation repairs.