Foundation Repair Questions and Answers

No. Fort Wayne Foundation Repair Co is a referral service. When you contact us through this site, your request goes to an independent local contractor who serves your area. That contractor inspects your home, gives you a quote and does the work. You deal with them directly and decide whether to hire them.

How our service works

Sending a request through this site is free and does not commit you to anything. The contractors we refer requests to offer a free in-home inspection and written estimate. Confirm this with the contractor when they contact you, before they visit. An independent structural engineer report is a separate, paid service.

It depends on what is moving and how much of the house is affected. Sealing one crack can be a few hundred dollars. Bracing a bowing wall or installing piers under a settling corner often runs into the thousands, and larger structural jobs can reach five figures. Our price guide lists typical ranges by type of job. Only an inspection gives you a real number.

foundation repair cost in Fort Wayne

For a single leaking crack or a sunken sidewalk, a contractor inspection is usually enough. For a wall that has moved a lot, a house that is still settling, or a home you are buying or selling, an independent engineer report gives you an opinion from someone who is not selling the repair. Some contractors work with engineers and can arrange one.

Usually not when the damage comes from settling, soil movement or long-term water pressure. Standard policies typically exclude those. Coverage is more likely when a covered event causes the damage, such as a burst pipe that washes out soil under the house. Read your policy or call your agent, and take photos before work starts.

Does insurance cover foundation repair?

Crack injection usually takes a few hours. Mudjacking or foam leveling of a slab is often done in a day. Installing piers or bracing a wall typically takes one to a few days depending on how many are needed. Excavating and rebuilding a wall takes longer and depends on weather and access. Your contractor will give you a schedule with the quote.

Inside work like crack injection, wall bracing and interior drain tile can be done year-round. Piers and outside excavation are easier when the ground is not frozen. Many homeowners plan repairs for summer or fall, before the snowmelt and spring rain that put the most water pressure on basement walls. If a wall is moving now, do not wait for a better season.

Many foundation contractors offer a warranty on their work, but terms vary a lot. Ask whether it covers labor and materials, how long it lasts, whether it transfers to a new owner if you sell, and what it excludes, such as new settlement elsewhere in the house. Get it in writing as part of the contract. We do not provide warranties ourselves.

Thin vertical cracks in poured concrete are common and usually not structural, though they can leak. Horizontal cracks, stair-step cracks in block walls, a wall that bulges inward, a crack where one side sits higher than the other, or a crack that keeps getting wider deserve a prompt inspection.

Signs of foundation problems

In most cases, yes. Piers are installed from outside or from the basement, and wall bracing happens in the basement. Expect noise, some digging in the yard and limited access to the work area. Your contractor will tell you if water, gas or other utilities need to be shut off for a time.

What to expect during foundation repair

Indiana does not have a single statewide license for home improvement contractors, so ask about local licensing or registration with the building department where you live, and ask for proof of insurance. Under the Indiana Home Improvement Contract Act, agreements over $150 should be in writing, signed by both of you, with a copy for you right after signing. The contract should describe the work, the price and the schedule.

Indiana law generally requires sellers of homes with one to four units to give buyers a seller's residential real estate sales disclosure form before an offer is accepted. It covers the known physical condition of the property. Fixing the problem and keeping the contractor's paperwork can make that conversation with buyers easier. For specific questions, talk to your real estate agent or attorney.