Foundation Repair glossary
Plain-English definitions of 0 foundation repair terms you will see on quotes and inspection reports.
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Underpinning - stabilizing a foundation by extending support deeper into the ground. Helicon's permit guide lists it among the structural work that typically requires a permit. Push pier - a steel pier driven downward using the structure's own weight; HomeCostLab prices these at $1,000-$3,000 each in 2026. Helical pier - a pier with helical plates screwed into the soil; $1,500-$3,500 each per HomeCostLab.
Slabjacking / mudjacking - pumping a slurry beneath a sunken slab to raise it; $500-$1,500 per HomeCostLab. Polyurethane foam injection - the same idea using expanding polymer; $1,000-$3,000. Wall anchor - hardware tying a bowing wall back against soil pressure; $500-$1,000 each. Carbon fiber strip - reinforcement bonded to a wall's interior face; $300-$700 each.
Expansive soil - clay-rich soil whose minerals absorb water and increase in volume by ten percent or more, then shrink when dry, applying repetitive stress to structures, per Geology.com. Grade beam - a horizontal concrete beam supporting foundation walls; Helicon lists replacing grade beams among work that typically needs a permit.
Structural engineer - a licensed professional who assesses structures and can specify required repairs without selling them. Today's Homeowner puts foundation inspections by an engineer at $400-$1,500 and hourly rates at roughly $70-$250. Free inspection - in this industry, almost always a sales visit by a company that profits only if you buy a repair.
Three rules for every term
- Ask for definitions in the quote itself If a line item uses a term you cannot define, you cannot evaluate the price. Ask.
- Watch for terms used interchangeably "Leveling," "lifting" and "stabilizing" mean different things and imply different outcomes. Pin down which one is being promised.
- Beware proprietary product names Branded system names can obscure whether you are getting a push pier, a helical pier or something else. Ask which category it falls in.
A-Z foundation repair dictionary
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Glossary terms for this industry are being written.
Where related figures come from
Sources last checked
- HomeCostLab - Foundation Repair Cost 2026 · retrieved 2026-07-25
- Geology.com - Expansive Soil Causes Basement & Foundation Problems · retrieved 2026-07-25
- Helicon - Do I Need a Permit for Foundation Repair? · retrieved 2026-07-25
- Today's Homeowner - How Much Does a Structural Engineer Cost? (2026) · retrieved 2026-07-25
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