Our Ranking Methodology

We aim to make our process as thorough as possible. Using machine learning and natural language processing, we collected and analyzed data of over 20,000 companies nationwide. We extracted the highlights and lowlights for each company and scored them using a variety of review criteria, including:

• Experience: We look for companies with experience in their field, and companies that employ high-quality contractors. We also look for experience with various types of foundation repairs or installations.
• Service area: It's important that a company recommended for San Francisco homeowners serves that area. Higher scores are also given to companies with larger service areas.
• Customer experience: We analyze customer reviews to determine how satisfied customers are with the company.
• Accreditation: Proper licensing and well-educated professionals help boost a company's rating. We consider whether a company meets all of licensing requirements for California and whether it is properly insured.
• Pros and cons: We use the collected information to sort out pros and cons, such as customer satisfaction, experience with certain services, availability, and price. We then use these pros and cons to weigh a company's score.

After we score companies, we map them based on service area in order to show you only the most relevant providers.

• Inspection and Estimate Process: When you speak with a local foundation repair expert, they should provide a free inspection and estimate before starting any repairs. This way, you can learn more about the underlying cause of the issues, what fixes will be needed, and roughly how much you can expect to pay.
• Licensing and Insurance: Make sure that your company has at least general liability insurance. Make sure to also verify that they meet the general contractor licensing requirements for the state of California.
• Warranties: Before signing a contract with a company, it's a good idea to ask about their warranties. Any trustworthy company should offer some form of warranty for their work.
• Cost: It's a good idea to review multiple quotes before hiring someone for foundation repair — and to be wary of those that are extremely high or extremely low. Foundation repairs can be expensive, but the benefits are worth it.
• Structural Engineer Partnerships: You can form your own partnership with a structural engineer if your foundation repair company doesn't already have one. Structural engineers provide both a third-party evaluation of your foundation and an expert opinion on any recommended repairs. This service normally costs a few hundred dollars.

Cost of Foundation Repair San Francisco

The cost of foundation repair in San Francisco might be influenced by a number of factors, including:

• Home Size: The size of your foundation will influence repair costs. A larger foundation will usually have a bigger bill.
• Accessibility and Foundation Type: How easy it is to access your foundation will influence the cost of repairs. Your foundation type will also play a role, whether you have a concrete slab, basement, crawl space, or some other type.
• Severity of Issue: The amount you spend will be influenced by the severity of the issue and how much work will be needed for repairs. If your foundation requires a big leveling job, you will pay more than if your foundation needs minor crack fill.
• Soil Stability and Foundation Settlement: More severe foundation settlement will likely lead to more costly repairs. If the soil around your foundation is less than stable, the result may be that you spend more.
• Permits: A permit may not be needed for small jobs like crack repair, but your company likely will require one for bigger jobs like underpinning. Permits are purchased from the San Francisco government, and the cost may vary based on the job. The range for foundation repair permits varies, although they generally start around $150.
• Labor and Materials: As when completing any home maintenance project, the cost of foundation repairs will be affected by the labor and materials needed. On average, you will pay approximately $242.88 an hour for foundation repair.

Types of Foundation Repair

Your final cost for foundation repairs will also vary based on what needs to be done. Larger repairs include fixes like leveling, while crack repair is an easier, faster job. Services you may hire a foundation repair expert for include:

• Crack Repair: The amount you can expect to spend on crack repair depends on how many cracks need fixing and their size — generally, all cracks bigger than a hairline deserve professional attention. One of the local foundation repair professionals in your area can evaluate the crack(s) in your foundation, figure out the source of the issue, and come up with a plan of action. In certain cases, you might need additional services to remedy the underlying issue. The average cost for crack repair is about $698.
• Stabilization: Have walls that are warped or bowing? If this is happening, you might notice things like leaning chimneys or porches, doors and windows that are difficult to shut, uneven floors, visible bulging of walls, and horizontal cracks on walls. During the stabilization process, your foundation repair expert will insert carbon fiber or steel strips into your walls for support. Your final cost will be based on the materials used and how many strips are needed. You can expect to pay roughly $6,269 for stabilization.
• Piering / Underpinning / Leveling: Your foundation may require underpinning if you notice floor or wall cracks, uneven floors, misaligned doors and windows, or even that your property is leaning. This process contributes a good deal towards fixing problems and mitigating the risk of future ones. Your foundation is leveled by being underpinned with concrete piers for support. The total cost will depend mainly on how many piers are needed for your foundation. Generally, you can expect to pay around $3,218.
• Leak Repair: A local foundation repair expert can visit your home and inspect any foundation leaks to determine their cause. They can then recommend next steps to fix them. The final cost will vary based on certain factors, including the size of the leak and its underlying cause — typically, you can typically expect to pay around $5,938.
• Waterproofing: This process can sometimes be very expensive, but it is often a very effective solution to a number of foundation issues. Waterproofing can consist of small measures such as rerouting your gutters, or more involved fixes like changing your landscaping. The price can vary, but on average, homeowners spend approximately $6,600 on waterproofing.