What Should Be Included in a Foundation Repair Estimate?

Start with the diagnosis, not the price

A written estimate should reference what was actually found during the assessment: which walls or areas were measured, what the measurements showed, and what pattern of movement or damage was observed. If an estimate jumps straight to a repair method and a price without referencing specific findings, it is worth asking what the price is actually based on.

Scope, method, and product

• Which areas of the foundation are included in the work, described specifically rather than in general terms.
• The repair method proposed — for example helical piers, push piers, wall anchors, carbon fibre reinforcement, or crack injection — and why that method fits the diagnosis.
• The specific product or system being used, since methods described the same way can vary between manufacturers.

Quantity, depth, and spacing

• Number of piers, anchors, or brackets proposed, and their planned spacing along the wall or footing.
• Target depth or torque criteria for piers, where applicable, since this affects both cost and expected performance.
• Linear footage for drain tile, waterproofing membrane, or crack injection, rather than a lump description.

Exclusions and what is not covered

An estimate is as useful for what it excludes as for what it includes. It should state clearly whether items like interior finish work, landscaping restoration, concrete flatwork, or unforeseen conditions discovered once excavation begins are included in the quoted price or billed separately.

Restoration, permits, and engineering

• How the site will be restored after the work — backfill, grading, walkway or landscaping repair, and interior patching.
• Whether a permit is required for the proposed work and who is responsible for obtaining it.
• Whether an engineer's review or stamped drawing is part of the scope, and whether that is included in the estimate or arranged separately.

Payment schedule and warranty terms

• How payment is structured across the project — deposit, progress payments, and final payment — and what triggers each.
• The warranty period offered on the work and what specifically it covers, such as pier performance versus cosmetic settling.
• Whether the warranty is transferable to a future owner if the property is sold, which matters for resale.

Next step

Before requesting a repair estimate, it helps to understand your own crack or symptom pattern well enough to ask informed questions during the assessment. Once you have a written estimate, compare it against this list rather than against price alone.