Best 5 Foundation Repair Companies in Portland, ME

Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Portland

Foundation issues have several possible causes. Here are the top ones for Portland residents:

• Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be a menace to your foundation's integrity, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't cover.
• Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plummet, topsoil freezes rapidly and lower layers can't expand, forcing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
• Soil composition: Soil with large sand or clay concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Portland gets, the soil soaks up moisture like a sponge, then releases it in dry seasons. The constant expansion and contraction puts pressure on nearby foundations, even if the foundations keep dry.
• Aging plumbing: The average Portland home construction year is 1970. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can intrude into a home's foundation through crevices, and may apply force that leads to your foundation cracking, pipes being damaged, and overall structural weakening.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

To choose a foundation repair company, you should think about what's most important to you. Use this list of attributes to help you navigate the process.

Licensing and Experience

Save for strict written contract requirements, Maine doesn't regulate foundation repair companies at the state level. Cities, counties, and regional building districts can issue licenses and (to an extent) set building codes for contractors to follow. We recommend consulting your local officials for more information on laws, regulations, and ordinances before signing any contract. You should also follow the Maine Attorney General's home construction advice. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through the details its representatives share. Inquire about its inspection processes, local building regulations, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.

Contractor websites are among the best places to do your research. Usually, a foundation company will show how long it's been in the industry. It might also share other content to help interested parties.

Customer Reviews

We recommend examining the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to find out whether it's accredited and has a good customer review score. You can see whether other homeowners have reported satisfaction or filed complaints. Pay special attention to what customers say about company warranties. Negative feedback doesn't mean a contractor is bad news. BBB reviews show how the company dealt with complaints. It's a good sign if the company has settled issues favorably and proactively. You should avoid a company with many negative reviews, no accreditation, and no communication regarding issues.

Foundation Repair Cost in Portland

The cost of foundation repair can vary quite a bit depending on the extent of the issues and what needs to be done to resolve them. For minor foundation fissures and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is considerable damage, the average cost will likely fall around $3,100. More complex jobs involving tunneling, helical piers, or concrete leveling could cost $6,900 or more. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.