Best 5 Foundation Repair Companies in Reading, PA

Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Reading

A few common reasons why Reading homeowners experience foundation problems include:

• Aging plumbing: The average Reading home construction year is 1970. If you live in an older home, it's likely to have cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start eroding, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Soil composition: Soil with large clay or sand concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Reading receives, 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 stay dry.
• Improper modifications: Roofing or landscaping work that wasn't completed to standard could result in your foundation settling.
• Standing water: Standing water around your home can be menacing to your foundation, especially when it collects in areas your gutter system doesn't protect.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can enter a home's foundation through crevices, and may create stress that results in your foundation cracking, pipes rupturing, and overall structural destabilization.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

Choosing a foundation company doesn't have to be difficult. We encourage you to jot down what you expect most in a company, then evaluate each provider on your selection against these characteristics.

Licensing and Experience

According to the Pennsylvania Attorney General, foundation contractors must register with the commonwealth if they make between $5,000 and $50 million in annual revenue. Registration doesn't involve exams, but it does show a contractor meets bond, insurance, and background check requirements. To further understand your contractor's experience, we recommend asking questions about what local codes apply to your project, how the company inspects foundations, and how its team will draft plans and pull permits.

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

Customer Reviews

When you're researching a company's reputation, go to its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. There, you can find its "letter grade" rating and a list of customer reviews, both complaints and positive experiences. Complaints aren't necessarily a red flag in themselves. You want to discover how a company handles 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 properly, you should avoid working with it.

Finally, we suggest you search other platforms, including Trustpilot and Google, for additional feedback.

Foundation Repair Cost in Reading

The price of your foundation repair project can range widely depending on the scale 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 substantial damage, the average cost lands at about $3,000. More involved projects requiring excavating, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost $6,900+. Below are the average foundation repair costs for common issues.