11 Best Foundation Companies in Buffalo, NY

On average, Buffalo homeowners pay about $2,990 for foundation repair, although the total cost will depend on several factors. The fastest way to get an estimate for the cost of your specific job is to request quotes from a handful of local foundation repair companies. The amount you pay for a job will be determined by things like the type of the repair(s) and the size of your house.

The main types of foundation repair are crack repair, leak repair, underpinning, stabilization, and waterproofing.

Crack repair and leak repair are what they sound like: 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 price will be based on how many piers are used. The price of stabilization is also variable. This process fixes bowing walls by reinforcing them with carbon fiber or steel strips, and the cost will depend on what material is used and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a category of repairs intended 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're planning to waterproof your foundation.

To protect your foundation, you should make sure that it gets the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Buffalo 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. You should also be sure to quickly identify and fix 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 engineer's consultation can net you a list of things to look out for as well as steps you can take to further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're building a new home, ensure that you have a soil report done. This can provide information about how well the soil on your property will be able to support a foundation, and can highlight potential future issues.

Your foundation repair professional should be the one to get the permits. You can request that the company provide a detailed explanation of its process and to see the paperwork and permits it has acquired to make sure everything is properly authorized per Buffalo regulations.

Small hairline cracks might seem easy to take care of yourself, but in general, you should consult a professional before you begin any sort of foundation maintenance. While you may balk at the idea of paying someone for a job you feel you can handle yourself, foundation repair mistakes can be even more costly in the future.

We advise against putting off a foundation repair project. Minor issues may have an underlying cause that could potentially result in future problems, and it's best to treat the root of the issue as fast as possible. A small and moderately costly problem now could become a large and very expensive one in the future if the signs are ignored.