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Foundation repair services, explained.

Texas Foundation Guide matches homeowners with specialists across every major foundation repair type. Here is what each service involves — the methods used, what problems they solve, and what to expect.

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Most common in Texas

Slab Foundation Repair

Most Texas homes built after 1960 sit on a concrete slab. When the expansive clay soil beneath shifts seasonally, the slab cracks or settles unevenly — producing the sticking doors, diagonal wall cracks, and sloping floors homeowners notice first. The fix is driving piers deep beneath the slab to bedrock or stable load-bearing soil, then hydraulically lifting the foundation back toward level.

Methods & techniques

  • Pressed steel piers Hydraulically driven to refusal depth — the point where the pier will not advance — fast installation with strong load capacity
  • Helical piers Screwed into soil, ideal for expansive clay and tight-access areas
  • Pressed concrete piers Cost-effective option for stable soil conditions
  • Bell-bottom piers Drilled and poured in place — an older Texas standard still used in some markets

Most residential jobs involve 8–20 piers, typically 12–14 for a full-perimeter repair. Smaller localized repairs may need as few as 4–8.

Common in pre-1960s homes

Pier & Beam Repair

Older Texas homes — and many custom builds today — use a raised pier and beam foundation with a crawl space beneath. These foundations flex with the soil better than slabs, but the wood components rot over time, pier blocks sink or shift, and the crawl space accumulates moisture that accelerates deterioration. Repairs target each failing component individually.

Methods & techniques

  • Wood beam replacement Rotted or split main beams and joists replaced with pressure-treated lumber
  • Steel shim adjustment Adjustable shims restore level at individual pier locations without full replacement
  • Center beam reinforcement Sistering new lumber alongside existing beams to restore load capacity
  • Crawl space moisture control Vapor barrier installation and ventilation improvements to slow future decay

Common signs: floors that bounce or sag, doors that drag along the bottom, musty odor from below.

Root cause correction

Drainage Correction

Poor drainage is the underlying cause behind a significant share of Texas foundation problems — yet it is often the last thing homeowners address. When water pools near the foundation or slopes toward the house, soil moisture swings dramatically between rain and drought. That repeated swelling and shrinking is what moves the foundation. Correcting drainage removes the driver of movement, not just the symptoms.

Methods & techniques

  • French drain installation Perforated pipe in gravel trenches collects and redirects subsurface water away from the foundation
  • Surface regrading Ground slope corrected to 5% minimum for unpaved surfaces (6" drop over 10 ft) so water flows away from the home
  • Downspout extension Gutter discharge redirected at least 6 feet from the foundation
  • Sump pump installation Used in low-lying areas where gravity drainage alone is insufficient

Often recommended alongside pier installation to treat the cause of movement, not just stabilize the damage already done.

Non-invasive & fast

Concrete Lifting & Leveling

Settled driveways, walkways, pool decks, patio slabs, and garage floors can be lifted back to grade without demolishing and replacing the concrete. Two methods are used — one older and proven, one newer and more precise — and both are completed in hours rather than days.

Methods & techniques

  • Mudjacking A sand-cement slurry is pumped beneath the slab through 2-inch holes, expanding to lift the concrete. Durable but adds significant load (100+ lbs/cu ft) to soil. Full cure: 24–72 hours
  • Polyurethane foam injection Expanding foam injected through dime-sized (5/8 in.) holes lifts the slab within minutes. Lightweight (2–4 lbs/cu ft), waterproof, and cures in approximately 15 minutes. More precise control than mudjacking

Both methods cost a fraction of full concrete replacement and leave minimal visible evidence of the repair.

Structural & cosmetic

Foundation Crack Repair

Not all foundation cracks are equal — a hairline shrinkage crack is cosmetic, while a diagonal crack that has widened over months may indicate active structural movement. A specialist identifies the crack type, determines whether underlying movement needs to be addressed first, and applies the right repair method.

Methods & techniques

  • Epoxy injection Bonds cracked concrete structurally — used for load-bearing cracks where strength restoration is required
  • Polyurethane foam injection Flexible, waterproof filler for hairline and dormant cracks to stop water intrusion
  • Carbon fiber straps Applied to bowing foundation or stem walls to halt inward movement without excavation
  • Surface patching For cosmetic, non-structural surface cracks — aesthetic repair only

Crack repair alone does not fix an actively moving foundation. A specialist will tell you whether stabilization is needed first.

Always free through us

Structural Assessment & Inspection

Before any repair, you need accurate documentation of what is happening and why. A professional foundation inspection uses elevation survey equipment to map actual height differences across the foundation, revealing movement patterns that are invisible to the naked eye and determining the cause before any repair scope is recommended.

Methods & techniques

  • Elevation survey Readings taken at every pier point and corner — maps the actual profile of foundation movement in fractions of an inch
  • Interior & exterior assessment Cracks, gaps, door frames, and drainage conditions documented with photos
  • Cause identification Specialist determines whether movement is soil-driven, drainage-related, plumbing-related, or structural
  • Written report & quote You receive a written assessment with recommended repair scope and pricing — no verbal-only opinions

Every specialist in our network provides this inspection at no cost. It is where every job starts.

Not sure where to start?

The inspection tells you which service you need

Most homeowners come to us knowing something is wrong — but not which repair applies to their situation. That is exactly what the free inspection is for. A licensed specialist evaluates your home, runs an elevation survey, identifies the cause of movement, and gives you a written recommendation. No guessing, no upselling services you do not need.

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A licensed Texas specialist contacts you within one business day.

No cost, no obligation Written assessment included One specialist, not a flood of calls