12 Best Foundation Companies in Mankato, MN

The amount you'll spend on foundation repair will vary greatly depending on several factors. Things like the size of your home, the extent of the damage, and the type of repair needed will all play a part. On average, Mankato homeowners spend around $3,724. The easiest way to determine how much a job is going to cost is to speak with a local foundation repair expert and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

Click here to read a more thorough breakdown of the cost of foundation repair in Minnesota.

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 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 issue.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, is the process of leveling your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The price will be based on how many piers are required. 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 what 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 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.

To protect your foundation, you should make sure it has the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Mankato 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. Additionally, be sure to quickly identify and repair any leaking gutters or pipes.

If you have any concerns about your foundation, you can contact 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. Finally, if you're constructing a new home, be sure a soil report is done. This report provides information regarding how well the soil on your property will be able to support a foundation and highlights any potential future issues.

Most of the time, your foundation repair contractor will be licensed as a general contractor. In the state of Minnesota, licensure is managed by the Department of Labor and Industry. Your contractor will likely hold a Residential Builder license. To obtain this, an individual must have a business license, must pass an exam, and must show proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance. There may be additional requirements for contractors to do certain work with concrete.

While some foundation issues might appear small and not worth the cost to fix, when left untreated, they can result in much larger and more expensive problems in the future. Foundation problems may have underlying causes that 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.

Typically, yes, you can continue living in your home while foundation repair professionals are working. Talk to your foundation repair technician to know for sure.