Structural repair costs

The national average is close to useless on its own, because "foundation repair" covers everything from a tube of epoxy to lifting a house off its footings. Use the by-method and by-problem numbers instead.

By method (Fixr, 2026): crack sealing or epoxy injection $200-$1,000; mudjacking or slab jacking $500-$1,900; sealing and waterproofing $2,400-$7,000; carbon fiber reinforcement strips $4,000-$12,000; tiebacks $5,000-$15,000; underpinning or piering $10,000-$40,000; house lifting $20,000-$30,000. This Old House prices piering at $1,000-$3,000 per pier, which is the number to ask about, since pier count is what moves the bid.

By problem (Fixr, 2026): a foundation crack $200-$1,000; a foundation leak $2,000-$10,000; a bowing wall from hydrostatic pressure $4,000-$15,000; sinking or uneven settling $4,500-$25,000. By foundation type: slab $1,000-$10,000, pier and beam $2,000-$15,000, crawl space $2,500-$12,000, basement $2,500-$25,000.

Budget separately for diagnosis. This Old House lists a structural engineer report at $500-$1,000 and a soil report at $500-$3,000, and suggests holding $1,000-$2,500 in contingency for what gets found once the ground is open. Paying for a soil report before a five-figure repair is usually money well spent.

How to choose

Compare pier count, not just the total

At $1,000-$3,000 per pier (This Old House, 2026), two bids can differ by thousands simply because one proposes more piers. Ask each contractor why they arrived at their number.

Get the engineer's report before the bids

It gives every contractor the same scope to price. Without it you are comparing three different jobs.

Treat lump-sum, no-detail quotes as a red flag

A real quote lists method, pier count or linear feet, depth, access and warranty terms. "Foundation repair — $18,000" is not a quote.

Ask what is excluded

Landscaping, hardscape, interior cosmetic repair, plumbing re-tests after a lift, and permit fees are frequently excluded. These are real costs.

Don't price-shop a diagnosis you don't trust

Three cheap bids for the wrong repair is worse than one correct expensive one. Confirm the cause first.