11 Best Foundation Companies in Virginia Beach, VA

The cost of foundation repair is based on several factors. Things like the type of repair needed, the extent of the damage, and the size of your home will all factor in. On average, Virginia Beach homeowners spend around $2,989. The fastest way to learn how much a job may cost is to contact a local foundation repair expert 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 contractor will perform an inspection and complete any repairs necessary to remedy cracks or leaks. Costs will depend on the size and cause of the problem.

Underpinning, also called piering or leveling, is the process of leveling your foundation by underpinning it with large concrete piers. The cost will depend on how many piers are used. 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.

Finally, waterproofing is an overarching term for a number of jobs that help stop water from getting into your foundation or basement. This can involve exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing, or both, and the price can vary greatly. We recommend contacting a waterproofing specialist if you think your foundation needs waterproofing.

When constructing a new home, make sure that a soil report is done. A soil report will contain information about how well the soil on a given piece of land can support a foundation, and can offer you a heads-up about any potential future problems. If you have concerns about an existing home, a few hundred dollars will cover an inspection and report by a structural engineer. The engineer can point you to any things that could use some attention, and advise you on how to avoid future problems.

It's also important that the moisture around your foundation is appropriate. Don't let the soil around your Virginia Beach home get too dry or too wet; at different times, you might find yourself having to reroute your gutters or water your foundation. Also, be on the lookout for leaky gutters or pipes and repair them quickly.

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

Generally, foundation repairs will positively affect the value of your home. In some cases, foundation repairs may be considered a capital improvement, which can sometimes qualify you for tax breaks. A capital improvement is generally defined as one that adds to your house's overall market value, prolongs its life, or adapts it to new uses. Contact your Virginia tax professional for more information.

We caution against putting off foundation repairs. A single issue may have an underlying cause that could lead to numerous future problems, and it's better to get ahead of the issue as soon as possible. A small and moderately costly problem now could become a large and very expensive one in the future if left untreated.