10 Best Foundation Companies in Mount Vernon, VA

The total cost of foundation repair is based on a number of factors. Things like the size of your home, the extent of the damage, and the type of repair needed will all help determine the cost. On average, Mount Vernon homeowners spend around $3,600. The easiest way to determine how much a job might cost is to contact a local foundation repair company and schedule a free inspection and estimate.

Click here for a more thorough breakdown of the cost of foundation repair in Virginia.

The main 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 vary depending 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 needed. The price of stabilization is also variable. This process reinforces bowing walls with steel or carbon fiber strips, and the total cost will depend on what material and how many strips are used.

Lastly, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs that help prevent water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can involve exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and the price 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 that it has the right amount of moisture. Avoid letting the soil around your Mount Vernon 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 make sure that you promptly identify and fix any leaking gutters or pipes.

If you think there may be any problems with your foundation, you can call 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 be aware of as well as steps you can take to further protect your foundation. Finally, if you're constructing a new house, be sure that you have a soil report done. This can provide information regarding how well the soil on your property will be able to support a foundation, and can highlight potential future issues.

Most of the time, your foundation repair contractor will be licensed as a general contractor. In Virginia, contractor licenses are handled by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Licenses can be class A, B, or C, which determines the value of projects that a contractor can complete. Licenses may also have specialty classifications, which have their own examination and experience requirements on top of the general competency requirements for all licenses. There may be additional requirements for contractors to do certain work with concrete.

We strongly suggest reaching out to your home insurance provider before starting any foundation project to learn about what might be covered. Typically, foundation repairs won't be covered by home insurance unless they are to repair damage that was caused by a covered weather event.

You may not love the idea of spending money to hire someone for what seems like a small foundation repair. However, it's always in your best interest to consult a professional. This helps you avoid more expensive issues down the road. It may be possible to take care of small hairline cracks yourself, but it's always in your best interest to get an expert opinion first.