Best 5 Foundation Repair Companies in Wilkes-Barre, PA

Common Causes of Foundation Problems in Wilkes-Barre

Foundation issues have several possible causes. Here are the most frequent ones for Wilkes-Barre residents:

• Soil composition: Soil with large clay or sand concentrations is highly expansive. In the heavy rainfall Wilkes-Barre receives, 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 stay dry.
• Topsoil Frost: When temperatures plunge, topsoil freezes rapidly and lower layers can't expand, pushing upper layers to heave and permanently damage infrastructure.
• Aging plumbing: Wilkes-Barre has its fair share of older homes, with a median building year of 1952. Many of these properties use cast-iron plumbing. When the pipes start to erode, leakage could reach your foundation and even pool beneath it.
• Tree Roots: Tree roots can intrude into a home's foundation through cracks, and may apply force that causes your foundation breaking, pipes rupturing, and overall structural weakening.

How to Choose the Best Foundation Repair Company

Your home's foundation is crucial to its stability, so it's important to work with a reliable foundation repair contractor. Evaluate each provider using the following criteria:

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. You can also get a sense of a company's experience through the information its team gives you. Inquire about its inspection processes, local code requirements, permit-pulling procedures, and fees.

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

Customer Reviews

When you're researching a company's credibility, go to its Better Business Bureau (BBB) profile. There, you can find its rating and a list of customer reviews, both positive experiences and complaints. Remember that complaints don't necessarily mean a contractor is incompetent. The BBB shows how companies resolve complaints. A proactive team that strives for positive outcomes is a good one. Avoid a business if you don't see clear communication about problems.

Foundation Repair Cost in Wilkes-Barre

The price of foundation repair can vary substantially depending on the scale of the issues and what's needed to resolve them. For minor foundation fracturing and settling concerns, you may pay as little as $1,800. However, if there is significant deterioration, the typical cost lands at about $2,300. More involved projects involving tunneling, helical piers, or major mudjacking could cost upwards of $6,700. See below the average foundation repair costs for common issues.