Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Portland

A few factors can contribute to foundation issues. These are the most prevalent ones for Portland residents:

• Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't done to standard could lead to your foundation settling.
• Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be menacing to your foundation, especially when it gathers in areas your gutters don't reach.
• Soil composition: Soil with large sand or clay concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Portland experiences, the soil soaks up moisture like a sponge, then releases it in dry seasons. The constant expansion and contraction presses against nearby foundations, even if the foundations keep dry.
• Aging plumbing: The average Portland home construction year is 1969. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can encroach on a home's foundation through cracks, and may exert pressure that causes your foundation cracking, pipes rupturing, and overall structural weakening.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

When choosing a foundation contractor, you should consider your personal priorities. Ask each company on your list about the following qualities.

Licensing and Experience

Oregon foundation repair companies need either a Residential General Contractor or Residential Specialty Contractor license from the state Construction Contractors Board. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about how the company inspects foundations, what local codes apply to your project, and how its team will draft plans and pull permits. One of the best ways to evaluate a company's reputation is to visit its website. Look for the company's years in business and the accreditations its team holds. Many top companies offer educational content for potential customers.

Customer Reviews

Before selecting a company, check its online profile with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). You can examine both positive reviews and complaints. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. You want to discover how a company responds to them. If the management team proactively and consistently resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, has an abundance of negative feedback, and doesn't communicate well, you should think twice about working with it.

Finally, we recommend you search different websites, such as Trustpilot and Google, for more opinions.

Foundation Repair Cost in Portland

The price of your foundation repair project can differ quite significantly depending on the extent of the issues and what must be fixed. For minor foundation fissures and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is considerable deterioration, the normal cost falls at about $2,400. More intricate projects requiring tunneling, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $6,700+.

See below the average foundation repair costs for common issues.

More Foundation Resources

National Foundation Repair Ranking Methodology

Mold Remediation Cost Guide

Sources