11 Best Foundation Companies in West St. Paul, MN

On average, West St. Paul homeowners spend around $3,002 on foundation repair. The amount you'll spend on foundation repair depends on several factors. Things like the extent of the damage, the type of repair needed, and the size of your home will all factor in. The easiest way to find out how much a job could cost is to reach out to a local foundation repair expert and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

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 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 leveling or piering, is the process of leveling your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The cost will depend on how many piers are required. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process involves fixing bowing walls by reinforcing them with carbon fiber or steel strips. The total cost will depend on the material and how many strips are used.

Lastly, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs intended to prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can involve interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, or both, and the price can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you're planning to waterproof your foundation.

If you're constructing a new home, make sure that a soil report is completed. A soil report will contain information about how well the soil on a given piece of land 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. They can point you to any things that need attention, and advise you on avoiding future problems.

Also ensure that the moisture around your foundation is at an appropriate level. Don't let the soil around your West St. Paul home get too dry or too wet; at different times, you might find yourself having to reroute your gutters or water your foundation. You should also stay vigilant for leaky pipes or gutters and repair them quickly.

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 paperwork and permits it has assembled to ensure everything is properly authorized per West St. Paul regulations.

In some cases, foundation repairs can be considered capital improvements if they fit the criteria of an improvement that adds to a home's overall value, prolongs its life, or adapts it to new uses. Making capital improvements sometimes lets you qualify for tax breaks. (Talk to your Minnesota tax professional for the most accurate information.) Even if you don't qualify for tax breaks, foundation repairs will generally have a positive effect on the value of your home.

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