Raising a section that has settled
When part of a house has dropped, the repair can mean lifting it back toward level. How far it can come up, and how, is something we only know once we've looked closely.
Foundation repair in Yorba Linda CA - a plan built on what's causing the cracks
Cracks in the slab or walls pulling apart at a corner? We look for what's moving your house and tell you plainly what it needs.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free in-person estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
What foundation repair involves at your house
Foundation repair in Yorba Linda is the work of finding out why a slab or wall has shifted and then steadying the foundation, so your house rests on support that isn't moving under it.
The price depends on how much of the foundation is involved, what's causing it to move, how much lifting or support it needs and whether an engineer has to design the repair. The schedule usually turns on that same design work and on the city's permit review and inspections, and your own figure comes from the estimate I write after seeing the house.
The city follows the California building code with its own changes for local climate, geography and terrain, and work that doesn't need a permit still has to meet those codes and the city, county and state rules, so we build to them either way. We're based in Yorba Linda and also work in many of the cities around it, including Placentia, Fullerton, Orange, Irvine and Norwalk.
Plain answers to every question
If you ask why a crack runs the way it does or what a repair involves, I'll answer in plain words, because you should understand the work before you agree to it.
Our own crew, checked by me
Our own masons and helpers do the work, and I'm on site to check it as it goes, because a mason's name stays on every wall long after the job is done.
A clean site every evening
Foundation work brings digging, dust and tools close to your house, so we clean up properly at the end of each day and not just when the job is finished.
How we approach a foundation repair
I start with what's moving the house, because a repair that doesn't answer the cause usually ends up cracking again. Foundation work can call for more than a mason, so when your house needs an engineer's design or a foundation specialist, I'll tell you so plainly rather than guess at it.
Before anyone drills or cores into your slab, I'll ask what kind of slab you have. Some houses sit on a post-tensioned slab, which has steel cables called tendons pulled tight inside the concrete, and drilling into one after it's built can lead to a tendon failing, so I want to know how the plan handles any drilling before work starts.
Once the foundation is steady, cracks often remain in the brick and mortar above it. Our crew handles tuckpointing for those joints, cutting out loose mortar and packing in fresh, and if a chimney has cracked or pulled away as the house moved, we take care of chimney repair as well.
Ways a foundation can be repaired
Lowering where the ground has heaved
Expansive soil can damage a foundation as it swells and again as it shrinks, so some repairs bring a section that was pushed up back down instead of raising it.
Underpinning the foundation
Underpinning adds support below the foundation that's already there, often with piers set under it, so the house is carried by something deeper than what holds it today.
Injecting concrete or mortar
Some foundations are stabilized by injecting concrete or mortar into them, which fills the gaps and steadies what's there without moving the house at all.
Get a free look at your foundation
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out myself, look at the slab and walls, and write a free estimate with no obligation.
Note where the cracks show
A short note on where slab cracks or wall separations show up, and whether they seem to be growing, tells me what to look at first when I come out.
Mention past work or slab type
If the house has had foundation work before, or you know what kind of slab it sits on, please say so, since both change what I look for.
Satisfaction guaranteed on every job
That's our promise on every job we take, and I would rather explain what the finished work will look like than make a bigger promise I can't show you.
Examples of foundation and masonry finishes
These example photos show slab, block and brick finishes and layouts you might want to talk through when I come out.
Foundation repair questions from Yorba Linda homeowners
Here are plain answers to what homeowners ask me most often about cracks, permits, contractor licenses and what foundation work usually costs.
What are the signs my house needs a foundation check?
A slab that lifts or cracks, walls that crack or separate, and walls pulling apart at a corner are the signs to watch for. They can point to the soil heaving under the house, so the first step is finding the cause of the damage before anyone picks a repair.
Do I need a permit for foundation repair in Yorba Linda?
Very likely, since Yorba Linda requires a permit for most construction or repair work the code regulates. We check with the city's Building Department before work begins, and when a job needs a permit, we handle the paperwork and schedule the inspections. A permitted job is complete once the final inspection is made, and the department takes process questions at 714-961-7120.
What license should a foundation repair contractor have in California?
Several classes from the Contractors State License Board cover this work, including building moving and demolition, and pile driving and pressure foundation jacking. The building moving class leaves out repairs to the parts of a house that stay in place, so ask any contractor which class fits your job. We're licensed and insured, and we're glad to walk you through it.
How much does foundation repair cost per pier?
Pier-system foundation repair across the US usually costs about $1,000 to $3,500 per pier. That's a national per-pier figure, not a whole-job total and not our price, since the number of piers and the rest of the work vary from house to house. Your own figure comes from the free estimate I write after looking at the house.
Does an earthquake hazard zone change foundation work in Yorba Linda?
It can. The state's Seismic Hazard Zone Maps show areas where the ground may liquefy or slide during a strong earthquake, and projects on properties in those zones may be required to investigate and reduce the hazard during local permitting. It helps to know early whether your lot sits in one of those zones.
Masonry work that often follows foundation repair
Call us about your foundation today
We take calls until 10 PM every day, so you can reach (714) 386-7680 after work or send the form instead.