It can cost you thousands of dollars to repair a cracked foundation.
If you have uneven flooring, cracked walls, cracked tiles and windows or doors that don't open or close properly, you probably have foundation failure, which is often caused when property shifts and settles after construction. The typical cost to repair a cracked foundation can be quite high. Therefore, it's important to know what's involved in repairs and to get estimates on how much you should expect to spend. Does this Spark an idea?
Inspection Cost
The first thing you need to do if you have a cracked foundation is to determine what's causing it to crack. To determine the cause, you need to have your home inspected by a structural engineer. At the time of publication, an inspection and report by a structural engineer runs about $300 to $800. A geotechnical engineer, who designs foundations for structures and deals with earth materials, including soil, might to need make a soil report. A soil report -- depending on how complex the problem is and the level of detail needed to analyze the situation -- can cost between approximately $500 and $2,000.
Repair Costs
At the time of publication, repairing a simple crack in a poured concrete foundation, depending on how badly damaged it is, can cost from $400 to $800. It will cost you an additional $200 to $400 if you have to replace the entire basement floor. Therefore, the total can add up to $600 to $1,200. Reinforcing the foundation in earthquake-prone areas with anchor bolts, which are embedded into concrete to attach objects or structures, costs about $1,500 to over $3,500. Repairs for a typical house with moderate foundation damage start at about $8,000 but can run as high as $30,000.
What to Expect
A major foundation repair project could require removing most or all of the landscaping surrounding your home. This process possibly involves digging tunnels underneath your home and the use of heavy equipment or construction machinery, such as foundation-drilling and pile-driving equipment. Repairing a cracked foundation, which usually requires a building permit, can be an invasive procedure that can last several weeks. The length of time for repairs may be shorter or longer, depending on the extent of the problem.
Tips
Financing is often available to repair a cracked foundation. Get more than one detailed cost estimate before having your cracked foundation repaired so you can compare the prices. The estimates of how much it will cost to repair a cracked foundation are based on a contractor's inspection of the interior and exterior of the property. Before hiring a company to repair your cracked foundation, make sure it is qualified and experienced by requesting and checking its references. Additionally, make sure it is properly bonded, insured and licensed and check with the Better Business Bureau that no unresolved complaints have been made against it.
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