Structural repair components

Footings spread the building's weight onto the soil. Foundation walls or a slab transfer load down to them. Beams, posts and joists carry the floors. Load-bearing walls carry what's above. When one element moves or fails, the effect shows up somewhere else — which is why symptoms rarely sit above the actual problem, and why remote diagnosis is not possible.

Piers are the most common added component. They are driven or screwed below the problem soil so the house's weight bypasses it. Because This Old House prices them at $1,000-$3,000 each, the pier count in a bid is the single biggest lever on your price. Ask for the engineer's basis for that count.

Wall restraint components address inward movement. Carbon fiber strips bond to the wall and resist further bowing. Tiebacks or anchors extend into the yard soil. Steel bracing spans to the floor framing. Each has different excavation needs and different limits on how much movement it can address.

Drainage components — interior or exterior drain tile, sump systems, grading and downspout extensions — are part of many structural scopes, because reducing water in the soil reduces the load that caused the problem. Fixr puts sealing and waterproofing at $2,400-$7,000.

How to choose

Pier count is the price

At $1,000-$3,000 per pier (This Old House, 2026), question any bid that doesn't justify its count.

Ask about depth and load testing

A pier that hasn't reached a competent bearing layer isn't doing its job. Ask how depth is determined and whether each pier is load tested.

Get component specs in the contract

Product, size, spacing and quantity should be written down. "Steel piers as needed" is not a specification.

Don't skip the drainage components

If water is the driver, adding piers without fixing water treats the symptom.