Is my foundation repair quote fair?

How per-pier pricing works

Settling repairs are priced per pier. The contractor (ideally from an engineer's plan) counts the piers needed along the part of the foundation that moved, usually one every 6–8 feet of affected wall, and multiplies by a unit price that covers the pier, the bracket, excavation and lifting. That is why the pier count matters more than the unit price: the gap between $2,000 and $4,000 per pier across 10 piers is $20,000.

Steel push piers are published at $1,000–$3,000 per pier (HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026). Helical piers cost more — $2,000–$4,000, about $3,000 on average (HomeGuide, 2026) — and a typical 5–10 pier helical project runs $15,000–$30,000 (Today's Homeowner, 2026). Pier-and-beam houses are priced by the job: $1,500–$10,000 to shim and level, $1,500–$3,000 per pier reinforced (HomeGuide, Dec 2025). Non-structural crack injection is $250–$800 per crack (Angi, Dec 2025).

Houston quotes often propose pressed concrete pilings. No neutral publisher reports a per-piling price we can cite, so the checker compares those quotes with the Houston typical repair, $3,276–$6,729 (average $5,003, Angi, Oct 2025).

What moves the price

• Pier count. Set by the length of wall that moved and the house load. Whole-house piering when one side dropped is a common complaint — ask for the elevation readings behind each pier.
• Pier type. Helical piers cost more per pier than push piers; companies often recommend the system they install.
• Depth. Deeper piers cost more. In Houston, stable bearing is 18–28+ ft down (TxDOT), well below where pressed pilings often stop (6–10 ft, Allied Foundation).
• Access. Hand-digging around decks, porches or landscaping adds $200–$500 per pier (HomeGuide, 2026).
• What's bundled. An engineer report ($340–$780, HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026) and permit ($75–$150, HomeGuide, Feb 2026; Houston lists a $33.56 admin fee) may be inside the total.

What a fair quote states

1. Pier count and pier type. "Piers as needed" can’t be compared or enforced.
2. Where each pier goes, on a drawing, with the elevation readings behind it. Piering the whole house when one side moved is among the most common foundation complaints to the BBB.
3. Target depth, and how refusal or torque is verified. In Houston, pressed pilings often refuse at 6–10 ft while stable bearing is 18–28+ ft down (TxDOT).
4. Written warranty: what it covers, the exclusions, and whether it transfers to a buyer. Warranty disputes are the most common foundation repair complaint category at the BBB.
5. Engineer involvement: a sealed report or an engineer’s pier plan. An independent report costs $340–$780 (HomeAdvisor, Jun 2026) and gives every contractor the same scope to bid on.
6. Permit, pulled by the contractor. Pier work usually needs a permit in metro areas; Houston lists foundation repair as its own permit type (Houston Permitting Center).
7. A plumbing test before piers. A slab leak can mimic settlement. Leak detection runs $150–$600 (This Old House, Apr 2026).
8. Cleanup and repair of anything disturbed: landscaping, concrete, lines. Broken lines and driveways left unrepaired are a BBB complaint category of their own.
9. A small deposit, with payments tied to finished stages. The FTC advises against paying in full up front or making the final payment before the work is done (FTC, Jul 2022).

More in how many quotes to get and what to ask, 12 contractor red flags and helical pier cost per pier. For a planning range before you have a quote, use the cost calculator.