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 Chicago 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 Illinois 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: Before initiating any foundation repairs, you should make sure that you understand the underlying issue and what is required. Most foundation repair companies should offer free inspections and estimates so you and they can both discover what is necessary.
• Warranties: A trustworthy company will offer some type of warranty for their work. Be sure to get this information from your company before signing a contract.
• Licensing and Insurance: Any company you choose should meet the general contractor licensing requirements in Illinois and should have, at minimum, general liability insurance.
• Structural Engineer Partnerships: You can establish a partnership with a structural engineer on your own if your foundation repair company doesn't already have one. A structural engineer can provide a third-party evaluation of your property and an opinion on any recommended repairs. This service typically costs a few hundred dollars.
• Cost: It's in your best interest to obtain multiple quotes before you begin foundation repair, and to beware of any estimates that are extremely high or extremely low. Foundation repairs can be expensive, but the benefits are well worth it.

Cost of Foundation Repair Chicago

The amount you'll pay for foundation repair in Chicago depends on several factors. These include:

• Home Size: Your foundation's size will influence repair costs. A larger foundation will usually have a bigger bill.
• Accessibility and Foundation Type: The accessibility of your foundation will have an effect on repair costs. So will your foundation type — whether you have a basement or some other type of foundation, such as a concrete slab or crawl space.
• Soil Stability and Foundation Settlement: The amount you pay for foundation repair might be higher if more severe foundation settlement has occurred. This can happen if your foundation is surrounded by soil that is more unstable.
• Severity of Issue: How severe the issue is and how much work needs to be done will affect the amount you pay. Filling a small crack, for example, will cost less than a waterproofing job that requires changing your landscaping.
• Labor and Materials: The price of any home improvements will be affected by the labor and materials needed, and foundation repair is no exception. You can expect to pay roughly $249.76 per hour for foundation repair.
• Permits: If you only need a minor job like crack repair done, you might not need permission from the Chicago government. For larger jobs like underpinning, your company will need to pay for a permit, and this cost can vary depending on what kind of work needs to be done, and starts around $150.

Types of Foundation Repair

Your final cost for foundation repairs will also vary based on what services you need. More minor repairs include services such as crack repair, while something like waterproofing is a bigger, more complex job. Services that your local foundation repair expert can provide may include:

• Leak Repair: Any basement or foundation leaks should be inspected by a local foundation repair technician so that the underlying cause can be diagnosed and treated. The total cost will depend on a number of factors, such as the size of the leak and the type of work that needs to be done. The average cost is around $6,107.
• Waterproofing: Waterproofing can involve bigger projects like modifying your landscaping, or small fixes such as rerouting your gutter system. The total price will vary depending on what kind of work needs to be done — larger projects will be more expensive, but can help both solve current problems and prevent future ones. Generally, homeowners pay $6,787 for waterproofing.
• Crack Repair: Generally, you don't need to be stressed by small hairline cracks, but larger cracks should be examined by a local foundation repair professional. Even when a crack looks like something you could fix yourself, a local foundation professional will be equipped both to fix it and determine the cause. How much you spend on crack repair will vary based on the size of the crack(s) being fixed and whether you need any additional services. Crack repair generally costs around $718.
• Piering / Underpinning / Leveling: This process is often expensive but necessary, and it helps to prevent a variety of future problems. If your foundation requires underpinning, you may notice floor or wall cracks, uneven floors, or doors and windows that are misaligned. You may even notice your property leaning to one side. To level your foundation, your technician will underpin it with large concrete piers (occasionally, other materials are used). The total cost will vary depending on how many piers are used. Typically, piering will cost roughly $3,309.
• Stabilization: Your foundation repair professional can help fix wall bowing that is caused by foundation issues. Signs of wall bowing that you may notice include leaning chimneys or porches, doors and windows that are difficult to shut, visible bulging of walls, horizontal cracks on walls, and uneven floors. Stabilization involves inserting carbon fiber or steel strips into your walls to support them; the final cost will depend on the material of the strips and how many are needed. In general, you can expect to spend about $6,447for this process.