Best 5 Foundation Repair Companies in St. Paul, MN

Common Causes of Foundation Problems in St. Paul

A home in St. Paul might experience foundation issues for numerous reasons. Some are specific to the local environment, while others are common nationwide. They include:

• Improper modifications: Landscaping or roofing work that wasn't performed properly could result in your foundation settling.
• Aging plumbing: St. Paul has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1913. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leaking water could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Standing water: Pooling water around your home can be menacing to your foundation's integrity, especially when it gathers in areas your drainage system doesn't reach.
• Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plummet, topsoil abruptly ices over and lower layers can't expand, forcing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can enter a home's foundation through cracks, and may exert pressure that causes your foundation fracturing, pipes leaking, and overall structural deterioration.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

Your home's integrity weighs heavily on its foundation. It's important to choose the most qualified crew possible. Focus your research on these qualities:

Licensing and Experience

Minnesota foundation repair companies need both a residential building contractor and residential remodeler license from the Department of Labor and Industry. The former license lets a company work on new construction, while the latter allows it to modify and repair existing foundations. Business owners need to take 14 hours of continuing education to renew a license. If a contractor makes less than $15,000 from foundation work, they can apply for a Certificate of Exemption and do not need a license. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about how its team will draft plans and pull permits, what local codes apply to your project, and how the company inspects foundations.

Another way to measure a company's credibility is to check its website. There, you can learn how long it's been in business and its trade accreditations. It might also share knowledge and insights through blog posts, podcasts, or videos.

Customer Reviews

We recommend reviewing the company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile to see whether it's accredited and has a positive customer review score. You can see whether other homeowners have shared satisfaction or filed complaints. Pay special attention to what customers say about company warranties. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. Instead, discover how a company manages them. If the management team proactively and consistently resolves issues, it's a good sign. However, if the company lacks accreditation, shows more negative reviews than positive ones, and doesn't communicate well, you should think twice about working with it.

Lastly, we recommend you search other platforms, such as Trustpilot and Google, for additional feedback.

Foundation Repair Cost in St. Paul

The cost of foundation repair can vary substantially based on the degree of the problems and what needs to be done to fix them. For minor foundation fissuring and settling issues, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is quite substantial deterioration, the normal cost will be around $3,000. More complex jobs involving digging, helical piers, or extensive concrete leveling could run you $6,900. This table shows the average foundation repair costs for common issues.