11 Best Foundation Companies in Cincinnati, OH

On average, Cincinnati homeowners pay about $2,759 for foundation repair, although the total cost will vary depending on several factors. The fastest way to estimate the cost of a specific job is to request quotes from a few local foundation repair companies. The total price 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 repair expert will perform an inspection and take necessary measures to remedy cracks or leaks. The price will vary depending 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 needed. The price of stabilization varies similarly. This process reinforces bowing walls with carbon fiber or steel strips, and the total cost will depend on what material is used and how many strips are used.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs designed to stop water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can include 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.

One way to protect your foundation is to make sure that it gets the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Cincinnati 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 pipes or gutters.

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 provide you with a list of potential concerns as well as steps you can take to further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're building a new home, make sure to have a soil report done. This can provide information regarding how well the soil on your property can support a foundation, and can highlight potential future problems.

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

Small hairline cracks might seem easy to take care of on your own, but in most cases, you should at least consult a professional before you begin any foundation work. While you may not want to pay someone for a task you feel you can handle yourself, mistakes made during foundation repair can be even more costly down the line.

Foundation repair, particularly extensive repairs such as basement waterproofing, should last a long time. This is particularly true when you hire a reliable company. By solving systemic issues with your foundation, or reinforcing critical areas, you reduce your risk of future problems.